He lived up to his resolve the next day, bought his flowers as usual,
but this time for Nina and took them with him. And went home with the
orchids which were really an offering to his own conscience.
But Nina was not at home. The butler reported that she was dining at
the Wheelers', and he thought the man eyed him with restrained
commiseration.
"Did she say I am expected there?" he asked.
"She ordered dinner for you here, sir."
Even for Nina that sounded odd. He took his coat and went out again to
the car; after a moment's hesitation he went back and got the orchids.
Dick Livingstone's machine was at the curb before the Wheeler house,
and in the living-room he found Walter Wheeler, pacing the floor. Mr.
Wheeler glanced at him and looked away.
"Anybody sick?" Leslie asked, his feeling of apprehension growing.
"Nina is having hysterics upstairs," Mr. Wheeler said, and continued his
pacing.
"Nina! Hysterics?"
"That's what I said," replied Mr. Wheeler, suddenly savage. "You've made
a nice mess of things, haven't you?"
Leslie placed the box of orchids on the table and drew off his gloves.
His mind was running over many possibilities.
"You'd better tell me about it, hadn't you?"
"Oh, I will. Don't worry. I've seen this coming for months. I'm not
taking her part. God knows I know her, and she has as much idea of
making a home as--as"--he looked about--"as that poker has. But that's
the worst you can say of her. As to you--"
"Well?"
Mr. Wheeler's anxiety was greater than his anger. He lowered his voice.
"She got a bill to-day for two or three boxes of flowers, sent to some
actress." And when Leslie said nothing, "I'm not condoning it, mind you.
You'd no business to do it. But," he added fretfully, "why the devil,
if you've got to act the fool, don't you have your bills sent to your
office?"
"I suppose I don't need to tell you that's all there was to it? Flowers,
I mean."
"I'm taking that for granted. But she says she won't go back."
Leslie was aghast and frightened. Not at the threat; she would go back,
of course. But she would always hold it against him. She cherished small
grudges faithfully. And he knew she would never understand, never see
her own contribution to his mild defection, nor comprehend the actual
innocence of those afternoons of tea and talk.