The Younger Set | Page 2

must be
because of some occult shortcoming on his part. In some way or other
that man persuaded himself of his responsibility for her misbehaviour.
He knew what it meant if he didn't ask the law to aid him to get rid of
her; he knew perfectly well that his silence meant acknowledgment of
culpability; that he couldn't remain in the service under such suspicion.
"And now, Gerald," continued Austin, striking his broad palm with
extended forefinger and leaning heavily forward, "I'll tell you what sort
of a man Philip Selwyn is. He permitted Alixe to sue him for absolute
divorce--and, to give her every chance to marry Ruthven, he refused to
defend the suit. That sort of chivalry is very picturesque, no doubt, but
it cost him his career--set him adrift at thirty-five, a man branded as
having been divorced from his wife for cause, with no profession left
him, no business, not much money--a man in the prime of life and hope
and ambition, clean in thought and deed; an upright, just, generous,
sensitive man, whose whole career has been blasted because he was too
merciful, too generous to throw the blame where it belonged. And it
belongs on the shoulders of that Mrs. Jack Ruthven--Alixe
Ruthven--whose name you may see in the columns of any paper that
truckles to the sort of society she figures in."
Austin stood up, thrust his big hands into his pockets, paced the room
for a few moments, and halted before Gerald.
"If any woman ever played me a dirty trick," he said, "I'd see that the
public made no mistake in placing the blame. I'm that sort"--he
shrugged--"Phil Selwyn isn't; that's the difference--and it may be in his

favour from an ethical and sentimental point of view. All right; let it go
at that. But all I meant you to understand is that he is every inch a man;
and when you have the honour to meet him, keep that fact in the back
of your head, among the few brains with which Providence has
equipped you."
"Thanks!" said Gerald, colouring up. He cast his cigarette into the
empty fireplace, slid off the edge of the table, and picked up his hat.
Austin eyed him without particular approval.
"You buy too many clothes," he observed. "That's a new suit, isn't it?"
"Certainly," said Gerald; "I needed it."
"Oh! if you can afford it, all right. . . . How's the nimble Mr.
Neergard?"
"Neergard is flourishing. We put through that Rose Valley deal. I tell
you what, Austin, I wish you could see your way clear to finance one or
two--"
Austin's frown cut him short.
"Oh, all right! You know your own business, of course," said the boy, a
little resentfully. "Only as Fane, Harmon & Co. have thought it worth
while--"
"I don't care what Fane, Harmon think," growled Austin, touching a
button over his desk. His stenographer entered; he nodded a curt
dismissal to Gerald, adding, as the boy reached the door:
"Your sister expects you to be on hand to-night--and so do we."
Gerald halted.
"I'd clean forgotten," he began; "I made another--a rather important
engagement--"
But Austin was not listening; in fact, he had already begun to dictate to

his demure stenographer, and Gerald stood a moment, hesitating, then
turned on his heel and went away down the resounding marble corridor.
"They never let me alone," he muttered; "they're always at
me--following me up as though I were a schoolboy. . . . Austin's the
worst--never satisfied. . . . What do I care for all these functions--sitting
around with the younger set and keeping the cradle of conversation
rocking? I won't go to that infernal baby-show!"
He entered the elevator and shot down to the great rotunda, still
scowling over his grievance. For he had made arrangements to join a
card-party at Julius Neergard's rooms that night, and he had no
intention of foregoing that pleasure just because his sister's first
grown-up dinner-party was fixed for the same date.
As for this man Selwyn, whom he had never met, he saw no reason
why he should drop business and scuttle uptown in order to welcome
him. No doubt he was a good fellow; no doubt he had behaved very
decently in a matter which, until a few moments before, he had heard
little about. He meant to be civil; he'd look up Selwyn when he had a
chance, and ask him to dine at the club. But this afternoon he couldn't
do it; and, as for the evening, he had made his arrangements, and he
had no intention of disturbing them on Austin's account.
When he reached his office he picked up the telephone and called up
Gerard's house; but neither his sister nor anybody else was