I
WHEN he was away from her, while he kicked about the
garage and swept the snow off the running-board and examined
a cracked hose-connection, he repented, he was alarmed
and astonished that he could have flared out at his wife, and
thought fondly how much more lasting she was than the
flighty Bunch. He went in to mumble that he was "sorry,
didn't mean to be grouchy,'' and to inquire as to her interest
in movies. But in the darkness of the movie theater he
brooded that he'd "gone and tied himself up to Myra all over
again.'' He had some satisfaction in taking it out on Tanis
Judique. "Hang Tanis anyway! Why'd she gone and got
him into these mix-ups and made him all jumpy and nervous
and cranky? Too many complications! Cut 'em out!''
He wanted peace. For ten days he did not see Tanis nor
telephone to her, and instantly she put upon him the compulsion
which he hated. When he had stayed away from her
for five days, hourly taking pride in his resoluteness and hourly
picturing how greatly Tanis must miss him, Miss McGoun
reported, "Mrs. Judique on the 'phone. Like t' speak t' you
'bout some repairs.''
Tanis was quick and quiet:
"Mr. Babbitt? Oh, George, this is Tanis. I haven't seen
you for weeks—days, anyway. You aren't sick, are you?''
"No, just been terribly rushed. I, uh, I think there'll be a
big revival of building this year. Got to, uh, got to work
hard.''
"Of course, my man! I want you to. You know I'm terribly
ambitious for you; much more than I am for myself. I
just don't want you to forget poor Tanis. Will you call me
up soon?''
"Sure! Sure! You bet!''
"Please do. I sha'n't call you again.''
He meditated, "Poor kid! . . . But gosh, she oughtn't to
'phone me at the office.... She's a wonder—sympathy—
`ambitious for me.' . . . But gosh, I won't be made and compelled
to call her up till I get ready. Darn these women, the
way they make demands! It'll be one long old time before
I see her! . . . But gosh, I'd like to see her to-night—
sweet little thing.... Oh, cut that, son! Now you've broken
away, be wise!''
She did not telephone again, nor he, but after five more
days she wrote to him:
Have I offended you? You must know, dear, I didn't
mean to. I'm so lonely and I need somebody to cheer
me up. Why didn't you come to the nice party we had
at Carrie's last evening I remember she invited you.
Can't you come around here to-morrow Thur evening?
I shall be alone and hope to see you.
His reflections were numerous:
"Doggone it, why can't she let me alone? Why can't women
ever learn a fellow hates to be bulldozed? And they always
take advantage of you by yelling how lonely they are.
"Now that isn't nice of you, young fella. She's a fine,
square, straight girl, and she does get lonely. She writes a
swell hand. Nice-looking stationery. Plain. Refined. I
guess I'll have to go see her. Well, thank God, I got till
to-morrow night free of her, anyway.
"She's nice but— Hang it, I won't be madeto do things!
I'm not married to her. No, nor by golly going to be!
"Oh, rats, I suppose I better go see her.''
