III
If his moral fiber had been so weakened by rebellion that he
was not quite dependable in the more rigorous campaigns of
the Good Citizens' League nor quite appreciative of the church,
yet there was no doubt of the joy with which Babbitt returned
to the pleasures of his home and of the Athletic Club, the
Boosters, the Elks.
Verona and Kenneth Escott were eventually and hesitatingly
married. For the wedding Babbitt was dressed as carefully as
was Verona; he was crammed into the morning-coat he wore
to teas thrice a year; and with a certain relief, after Verona
and Kenneth had driven away in a limousine, he returned to
the house, removed the morning coat, sat with his aching feet
up on the davenport, and reflected that his wife and he could
have the living-room to themselves now, and not have to listen
to Verona and Kenneth worrying, in a cultured collegiate manner,
about minimum wages and the Drama League.
But even this sinking into peace was less consoling than his
return to being one of the best-loved men in the Boosters' Club.
