“Yes, sometimes I have—”
Adelaide’s eyebrows went up.
“Oh, you have suspected. You had reason to think the whole thing might be dishonest, but you were willing to run away with Mathilde and let her get inextricably committed before you found out—”
“That’s irresponsible, sir,” said Lanley. “I don’t suppose you understood what you were doing, but it was utterly irresponsible.”
“I think,” said Adelaide, “that it finally answers the question as to whether or not you are too young to be married.”
“Mama, I will marry Pete,” said Mathilde, trying to make a voice broken with sobs sound firm and resolute.
“Mr. Wayne at the moment has no means whatsoever, as I understand it,” said Adelaide.
“I don’t care whether he has or not,” said Mathilde.
Adelaide laughed. The laugh rather shocked Mr. Lanley. He tried to explain.
“I feel sorry for you, but you can’t imagine how painful it is to us to think that Mathilde came so near to being mixed up with a crooked deal like that—Mathilde, of all people. You ought to see that for yourself.”