Mr. Farley did not know what to say. The situation had been forced upon him unaware and he did not know what to do with it. "This is nonsense, Alice. Your mother knows that." He held his brow with his hand.
"Why is it nonsense? You've given up most of your life to her, but I don't see why you should keep on doing it!"
Mr. Farley could not understand what was happening, nor how it was he felt borne forward on an invisible current that flowed from Alice. He walked up and down the room. "You mustn't start these things, Alice."
Alice watched him contemptuously. "Don't blame me for the nightmare of lies and hypocrisy that exists between you and Mamma."
Mr. Farley kept rubbing his head. Then he walked stealthily to the hall door and closed it. His eyes, as he lifted them to Alice's face, had the blind awareness of a sheep's. He seemed to know all and to perceive nothing. "You mustn't misunderstand me, Alice. It is true that a satisfying companionship cannot exist between me and your mother, but she and I have made compromises for each other that have made it possible for us to live, and I can't think lightly of hurting her."
They were silent. Mr. Farley shaded his eyes with an unsteady hand.
"You did go to see Mrs. Wilson tonight, didn't you?" Alice asked after a minute.
"Yes. She is passing through town. I hadn't seen her for three years."
"My God! You don't need to apologize for it!"
They were quiet again.