Somehow her reply embarrassed him. He felt that he had been weighed in the balance and found wanting, and he could not see why.
"You quote Holmes a good deal, don't you?"
"Yes. He says such bright things." And she added eagerly, "Victor, let us read some together this winter. Father and I used to have such good times reading together."
Victor put up his hand as if to ward off an attack.
"Really, Margaret, don't you think you are asking a little too much of me? to settle down to evenings of reading the Autocrat! If you would suggest having some people in to play cards now."
"Very well," she returned, quietly, "we will have some people in to play cards then."
"I am afraid I can't count upon all my evenings," he said, hastily. "I find that things have accumulated in my absence, and I will have to be at the office occasionally at night. Not often, but sometimes."
"I should not want to interfere with your business, Victor, but—"
"Well? What's the rest of it?"
"I was going to say that the men I have known best have been able to work enough in the day and give their evenings to their families."