Then the father told the story as well as he knew how.His son had lost some money, and he had called him a gambler,--and consequently his son would not come near him.'It is bad to lose them both, Arthur.'
'That is so unlike Everett.'
'It seems to me that everybody has changed,--except myself.Who would have dreamed that she would have married that man? Not that I have anything to say against him except that he was not of our sort.He has been very good about Everett, and is very good about him.But Everett will not come to me unless--I withdraw the word;--say that I was wrong to call him a gambler.That is a proposition no man should make to a father.'
'It is very unlike Everett,' repeated the other.'Has he written to you to that effect?'
'He has not written a word.'
'Why don't you go to see him yourself, and have it out with him?'
'Am I to go to that club after him?' said the father.
'Write to him and bid him come to you.I'll give up my seat if he don't come to you.Everett was always a quaint fellow, a little idle, you know,--mooning about after ideas--'
'He's no fool, you know,' said the father.
'Not at all;--only vague.But he's the last man in the world to have nasty vulgar ideas of his own importance as distinguished from yours.'
'Lopez says--'
'I wouldn't quite trust Lopez.'
'He isn't a bad fellow in his way, Arthur.Of course he is not what I would have liked for a son-in-law.I needn't tell you that.But he is kind and gentle-mannered, and has always been attached to Everett.You know he saved Everett's life at the risk of his own.' Arthur could not but smile as he perceived how the old man was being won round by the son-in-law, whom he had treated so violently before the man had become his son-in-law.
'By-the-way, what was all that about a letter you wrote to him?'
'Emily,--I mean Mrs Lopez,--will tell you if you ask her.'
'I don't want to ask her.I don't want to appear to set the wife against the husband.I am sure, my boy, you would write nothing that could affront her.'
'I think not, Mr Wharton.If I know myself well at all, or my own nature, it is not probable that I should affront your daughter.'
'No; no; no.I know that, my dear boy.I was always sure of that.Take some more wine.'
'No more, thank you.I must be off because I'm so anxious about this bill.'
'I couldn't ask Emily about this letter.Now that they are married I have to make the best of it,--for her sake.Icouldn't bring myself to say anything to her which might seem to accuse him.'
'I thought it right, sir, to explain to her that were I not in the hands of other people, I would not do anything to interfere with her happiness by opposing her husband.My language was more guarded.'
'He destroyed the letter.'
'I have a copy of it if it comes to that,' said Arthur.
'It will be best, perhaps to say nothing further about it.Well;--good night, my boy, if you must go.' Then Fletcher went off to the House, wondering as he went at the change which had apparently come over the character of his old friend.Mr Wharton had always been a strong man, and now he seemed as weak as water.
As to Everett, Fletcher was sure that there was something wrong, but he could not see his way to interfere himself.For the present he was divided from the family.Nevertheless he told himself again and again that the division should not be permanent.Of all the world she must always be to him the dearest.
