“Yes,” she answered. “Of course I did. Is that a crime? Am I supposed to humour every caprice?”
Gilbert stopped her with a gesture. He put himself in Alfred’s place; he knew how he would have felt under the circumstances, how humiliated and furious.
“No doubt he had very good reasons. You’ve already remained away for over five weeks—”
“Four weeks.”
“Four weeks, then. You have—in my opinion—you have neglected him.”
Andrée made no defense, but her air was not acquiescent. Gilbert became more fatherly.
“Now, I’ll tell you what you’ll do, Andrée. Telephone your husband, and tell him you’ll be home in an hour or so. And I’ll take you myself, and make the young man’s acquaintance, eh?”
“No, thank you, Father. I’m not ready to go.”
“Get ready then! Get ready! Bertie will telephone for you. Bertie!” he called. “Bertie! Just a moment, please!”
Bertie came running upstairs.