whim of your wife,
due to some cause or causes which you and I needn't try to fathom. But
it will pass happily over, especially if you let her alone. Send her
around to see me."

"Oh! I couldn't do that; there'd be no reason for it," objected Mr.
Pontellier.

"Then I'll go around and see her," said the Doctor. "I'll drop in to
dinner some evening en bon ami.

"Do! by all means," urged Mr. Pontellier. "What evening will you come?
Say Thursday. Will you come Thursday?" he asked, rising to take his
leave.

"Very well; Thursday. My wife may possibly have some engagement for
me Thursday. In case she has, I shall let you know. Otherwise, you may
expect me."

Mr. Pontellier turned before leaving to say:

"I am going to New York on business very soon. I have a big scheme on
hand, and want to be on the field proper to pull the ropes and handle
the ribbons. We'll let you in on the inside if you say so, Doctor," he
laughed.

"No, I thank you, my dear sir," returned the Doctor. "I leave such
ventures to you younger men with the fever of life still in your blood."

"What I wanted to say," continued Mr. Pontellier, with his hand on the
knob; "I may have to be absent a good while. Would you advise me to take
Edna along?"

"By all means, if she wishes to go. If not, leave her here. Don't
contradict her. The mood will pass, I assure you. It may take a month,
two, three months--possibly longer, but it will pass; have patience."

"Well, good-by, a jeudi," said Mr. Pontellier, as he let himself out.

The Doctor would have liked during the course of conversation to ask,
"Is there any man in the case?" but he knew his Creole too well to make
such a blunder as that.

He did not resume his book immediately, but sat for a while meditatively
looking out into the garden.

XXIII

Edna's father was in the city, and had been with them several days.
She was not very warmly or deeply attached to him, but they had certain
tastes in common, and when together they were companionable. His coming
was in the nature of a welcome disturbance; it seemed to furnish a new
direction for her emotions.

He had come to purchase a wedding gift for his daughter, Janet, and an
outfit for himself in which he might make a creditable appearance at
her marriage. Mr. Pontellier had selected the bridal gift, as every
one immediately connected with him always deferred to his taste in such
matters. And his suggestions on the question of dress--whi