She remembered how antagonistic she had been to Harley under the first rough shock of her mother's startling and what then had appeared to be disloyal aberration, and wanted to make up for it to the big, simple, uncomfortable man who was so obviously in love.

Also she was still all alone in the mental chaos into which everything that had happened last night had conspired to plunge her and was trying, with every atom of courage that she possessed, to hide the fact from her mother's quick solicitous eyes.

SHE of all people must not know that Martin had gone away or find the loose end of her married life! It was one of those painful hours that crop up from time to time in life and seem to leave a little scratch upon the soul.
But when quarter past three came Mrs.Harley pulled herself together.
She had already dropped hints of every known and well-recognized kind to George, without success.

She had even invented appointments for him at the dentist's and the tailor's.

But George was basking in Joan's favor and was too dazzled to be able to catch and concentrate upon his wife's insinuations as to things and people that didn't exist.