“You know, Mrs. Farron, you have a bad habit of not listening to what is said to you,” Wayne answered firmly.
This sort of impersonal criticism was to Adelaide the greatest impertinence, and she showed her annoyance.
“In spite of the disabilities of age, Mr. Wayne,” she said, “I find I usually can get a simple idea if clearly presented.”
“Why, how absurd that is, Wayne!” put in Mr. Lanley. “You don’t mean to say that you told Mrs. Farron you were going to elope with her daughter, and she didn’t take in what you said?”
“And yet that is just what took place.”
Adelaide glanced at her father, as much as to say, “You see what kind of young man it is,” and then went on:
“One fact at least I have learned only this minute—that is that the finances for this romantic trip were to be furnished by a dishonorable firm from which your son has been dismissed; or, no, resigned, isn’t it?”
The human interest attached to losing a job brought mother and son together on the instant.
“O Pete, you’ve left the firm!”
He nodded.