After a moment's consideration Hannibal said slowly: "Mother's at the
Waldorf; she wants to see you. You've just about broken her heart, Bob."
"We're not going out much, but perhaps we could call on her—"
"'We'! I said she wants to see YOU."
"And not my wife?"
"Certainly not. Neither do I. You don't seem to understand—"
Bob answered smoothly: "Certainly I understand; you think ninety dollars is too much for a suit. Perhaps I can show you something in scarfs of an exclusive design?"
"Don't be funny!" growled his father.
"Really, dad, you'd better go. That suit of yours is a sight. Somebody may think we made it for you."
Mr. Wharton remained silent for a moment. "The situation is impossible, and anybody but you would see it. We can't accept that woman, and we won't. She's notorious."
"No more so than I—or you, for that matter."