"Left Charley? That's bad, isn't it?" asked Arthur doubtfully.
"I feel so sorry for her, Arthur. It must be terrible to have love end like that."
"But she isn't to blame. Everybody knows that she has forgiven him again and again."
"Yes, everybody knows it," repeated Gabriella, as if she drew bitter comfort from the knowledge, "and she says now that she will never, never go back to him."
For the first time a shadow appeared in Arthur's clear eyes.
"Do you think she ought to make up her mind, darling, until she sees whether or not he will reform? After all, she is his wife."
"That's what mother says, and yet I believe Charley is the only person on earth mother really hates. Now Cousin Jimmy and I will do everything we can to keep her away from him."
"I think I shouldn't meddle if I were you, dearest. She'll probably go back to him in the end because of the children.
"But I am going to help her take care of the children," replied Gabriella stanchly. "Of course, my life will be entirely different now, Arthur," she added gently. "Everything is altered for me, too, since yesterday. I have thought it all over for hours, and I am going to try to get a place in Brandywine's store."
"In a store?" repeated Arthur slowly, and she saw the muscles of his mouth tighten and grow rigid.