The morning after he had reached this conclusion he again met Gerald
at the gymnasium. That young man, while as imperturbable and
languid in movement as ever, concealed an excitement. He explained
nothing until the two, after a shower and rub-down, were clothing
themselves leisurely in the empty couch-room.
"Orde," said Gerald suddenly, "I'm worried about Carroll."
Orde straightened his back and looked steadily at Gerald, but said
nothing.
"Mother has commenced bothering her again. It wasn't so bad as long
as she stuck to daytime, but now she's taken to prowling in a dozen
times a night. I hear their voices for an hour or so at a time.
I'm afraid it's beginning to wear on Carroll more than you realise."
"Thank you," said Orde briefly.
That afternoon with Carroll he took the affair firmly in hand.
"This thing has come to the point where it must stop," said he, "and
I'm going to stop it. I have some rights in the matter of the
health and comfort of the girl I love."
"What do you intend to do?" asked Carroll, frightened.
"I shall have it out with your mother," replied Orde.
"You mustn't do that," implored Carroll. "It would do absolutely no
good, and would just result in a quarrel that could never be patched
up.
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