Miss Drew's apparently harmless taunt and Mrs.Dan's open criticism told plainly enough how the wind was blowing, but it was Peggy's gentle questions that cut the deepest.

There was such honest concern in her voice that he could see how his profligacy was troubling her and Mrs.Gray.In their eyes, more than in the others, he felt ashamed and humiliated.

Finally, goaded by the remark of a bank director which he overheard, "Edwin P.Brewster is turning handsprings in his grave over the way he is going it," Monty resolved to redeem himself in the eyes of his critics.

He would show them that his brain was not wholly given over to frivolity.
With this project in mind he decided to cause a little excitement in Wall Street.

For some days he stealthily watched the stock market and plied his friends with questions about values.