CHAPTER XXXV
THE END OF IT ALL
A woman who can prove herself generous and wide-minded is the woman who gets the greatest advantage in every circumstance of life.
“How is it,” said Regina, “that she is here with you?”
The words dropped out one by one. There was a world of torture and suffering, tinged with reproach and bitterness, in Mrs. Whittaker’s tones. Alfred Whittaker gave a great start, and drew his wife down to her seat.
“Queenie,” he said, “you haven’t had it in your mind that that creature is anything to me?”
“I’m afraid I have,” said Regina, and under the comfort of the word “creature” her voice took a softer tone.
“That mixture of fire and vulgarity! Oh, my dear!—Come, come, you’ve been traveling all night, you must have your breakfast. Here is the finest omelette in Paris. I say, waiter, garçon, try if you can’t get madame a few strawberries to follow the bifteck Chateaubriand.—I’m sure, Queenie,” he went on as the waiter whisked the cover off and betook himself away, “that a good breakfast is more important to you at this moment than even the state of my morals. You see, I’ve had my breakfast, so you can hear all about Madame Raumonier while you are taking yours. Now, what could have put it into your head, since you knew I was over here on her business—”
“But I didn’t,” said Regina.