Any fear that his wife had disassociated herself from his interests should have been dispelled by the tone in which she exclaimed: "Dissolve partnership! Penny? Well, I never in my life! Where would Penny be without you, I should like to know! He must be crazy."
These words made George feel happier than anything that had happened to him throughout this day. His self-esteem began to revive.
"I think Penny has been a little hasty," he said, judicially but not unkindly. "He lost all self-control when he heard I had let Betty go."
"Isn't that like a man," said Geneviève, "to throw away his whole future just because he loses his temper?"
George did not directly answer this question, and his wife went on. "However, it will be all right. He has seen Betty this afternoon, and she won't let him do anything foolish."
George glanced at her. "You mean that Betty will prevent his leaving the firm?"
"Of course she will."
George walked to the door.
"I seem to owe a good deal to my former stenographer," he said, "my wife, my partner; next, perhaps it will be my election."