“He did what a man does—especially in that business—when he doesn’t do what he wants.”
“Do you mean what somebody else wanted?”
“Well, what he himself DIDN’T. And if he’s unhappy,” she went on, “he’ll know whom to pitch into.”
“Ah,” said Vanderbank, “even if he is he won’t be the man to what you might call ‘vent’ it on her. He’ll seek compensations elsewhere and won’t mind any ridicule—!”
“Whom are you speaking of as ‘her’?” Mrs. Brook asked as on feeling that something in her face had made him stop. “I wasn’t referring,” she explained, “to his wife.”
“Oh!” said Vanderbank.
“Aggie doesn’t matter,” she went on.
“Oh!” he repeated. “You meant the Duchess?” he then threw off.
“Don’t be silly!” she rejoined. “He MAY not become unhappy—God grant NOT!” she developed. “But if he does he’ll take it out of Nanda.”
Van appeared to challenge this. “‘Take it out’ of her?”