“Bob’s in an argumentative mood to-night.”

Virginia sighed as she replied: 

“Yes—­he has not much patience.  He always takes the stand that man is the master, that women should have no will of their own.”

Hadley shook his head as he replied: 

“Old-fashioned notion that.  The quicker he gets rid of it the better.”

Virginia looked at him without speaking.  There was an inquiring, wistful expression in her face, as if she longed to unbosom herself to someone, and yet had no one close enough, intimate enough in whom she could confide.  Presently she said: 

“Mr. Hadley, you’ve known my husband a number of years.  Was he always as he is now?”

“In what way do you mean?”

“Was he always as dictatorial, as self-centred and self-willed?”

Hadley laughed.

“Yes, Bob was always inclined that way, and it seems to have grown on him as he has grown older.”

There was still another question hovering on the young wife’s lips.  Dare she ask it?  Why not?  This friend was so loyal, so considerate, that he would understand.  If it worried her at all, it was because her happiness, the future of her unborn children, if she had any, might be at stake.  At last, with an effort, she summoned up courage and ventured to give expression to what was on her mind.

“Mr. Hadley, there’s something else.  I’ve intended to ask you for a long time—­” Hesitating, she said:  “I’ve quite forgotten what it was—­”

He looked at her keenly.  He had observed for some time that things were not quite as they should be in his friend’s home.  Stafford seemed to be more indifferent to his wife, he stayed out more at nights; she, on her side, appeared to be continually on the defensive, as if there was constant friction.  But by no outward sign could she have guessed that he gauged the situation.  Carelessly he said: 

“Is it something about Bob?”

Thus encouraged, she spoke up frankly, just as if she were talking to an elder brother: 

“Yes, that’s it.  Was—­was my husband fond of wine as a young man?  I can ask you this—­you’ve been so intimate with him.”  Hastily and with a forced laugh she added:  “I don’t mean that he drinks to excess now, but I wondered if as a young man he ever took more than was good for him.  I don’t see how he could have done, for it would have interfered with his career.”

Hadley puffed seriously at his cigar.  A kindly man by disposition, he really felt sorry for this brave little woman who was trying to make light of a tragedy.  Slowly he replied: 

“I’m sorry to say that Bob has always had a penchant in that direction.  It has not interfered with his success, but when he’s under the influence of liquor he’s not himself.  He seems to quite lose self-control.”  Looking at her closely, he added:  “He hasn’t been drinking since your marriage, has he?”