"It was entirely on his step-father's account, Mr. Palmer. Robert is high spirited and would not bend as Mr. Talbot wished."
"Then let me be bold enough to say that I imagine Robert was in the right."
To this Mrs. Talbot made no reply. But she begged Palmer to keep an eye on her son, and if anything went wrong to let her know by sending her a letter in care of the postmaster, and marked for personal delivery only. Then Palmer hurried away, to catch the first train he could for the great city by the lakes.
When her visitor was gone Mrs. Talbot sat down to review the situation in her mind. Her thoughts were not pleasant ones. Her second marriage was proving to be anything but agreeable. She realized that her husband was not the man she had imagined him to be.
Dinner was on the table at twelve, for Mr. Talbot insisted on having his main meal at mid-day. Yet the man did not come in until nearly half an hour later, and then he appeared to be much put out about something.
"I understand you had a visitor this morning," he began, as he and his wife sat down to the table, and Jane brought on the food.
"Yes."
"Some friend of that reckless son of yours," went on Mr. Talbot. "What did Robert send him for, money?"
Mrs. Talbot was surprised.
"How did you learn my visitor was a friend of Robert?" she asked.