"I walked into a hock shop and hocked my ring. Believe it or not, that took nerve."
"What are you going to do? Tell me you hocked your ring every three minutes for the next ten years? I know you hocked it. You don't have to keep talking about it."
"Oh, Hubert, don't be so nasty."
"Well, let me alone. I have to go out today; so there's no use telling me I ought to stay in."
Lillian said no more. She gave him his breakfast and he departed. He saw her looking down at him from the window, and his conscience smiting him, he waved to her and smiled. She was a good kid but annoying at times, like all women. She'd probably worry about him all day. But after all a cold was something to worry about, forerunner of a dozen illnesses, and he really did have a bad one. His nose was completely stopped up. He couldn't smell the nice fresh air, but he could see that it was a beautiful day. Not so hot as yesterday. Maybe if things came out all right with Helen he'd take in the ball game that afternoon.
He got the car and started toward his official home. It was nice and early. He'd probably catch Helen while she was breakfasting or dressing for golf or something.
She was not breakfasting. Had she gone already? He strode to the kitchen and found Nellie polishing silver in the pantry.
"Good morning, Mr. Scott."
"Good morning, Nellie. Has Mrs. Scott gone out?"
"No, sir. She ain't up yet."
