Chapter X: Mrs. Case

“I’M very sorry, Mrs. Case,” he began, but she interrupted him.

“That’s all right,” she said, “you would be, caught as you were, and I’m not worrying about what’s past. It’s the girl’s fault as much as your own, and natural enough on both sides, with small blame to either of you. It’s the days and nights to come I’m thinking of. A man with a wife away is bound to be kissing some girl, and if it’s not one it will be another, so another it shall be. We’ve trouble enough in our family, and it will be some other than my Monica that you philander with from now on. I’m not blaming you, Mr. Overbeck, you understand, but the way it is, with you a married man, I’ll just ask you to find another room, and take temptation out of harm’s way.”

“It’s very kind of you to look at it in that way, Mrs. Case,” said Norman, much relieved. “I’ll move to-morrow.--I don’t know how it happened,” he began to explain.

“Oh, I know how it happened,” said Mrs. Case. “There was you, and there was she, and that’s how it happened. I’m not saying a word against human nature. I can’t have it go on in _my_ house, that’s all. I’ll be sorry to see you go, but you know how it is. I can’t be staying awake all night to see that my daughter sleeps in her own bed.”

Norman blushed. “I assure you,” he said, “that we--that I--”

“You can save your assurances for your wife when she comes back, it’s then you’ll need them,” said Mrs. Case. “I know the world of men and women, and I’ve no great quarrel with the way they’re made. It’s all right with me, but you can just be leaving your door unlocked at night for the other girl at your new place, when it comes to that.”

Norman, not quite following her meaning, asked in bewilderment and some indignation:

“What other girl do you mean?”

“Whatever one it chances to be, and I wish you good luck, too,” said Mrs. Case. “There’ll be one. You’re not the sort of young man the girls will let sleep single long, but I’d rather, as I say, it would be some other woman’s daughter that kept you company when the lights are out.”

“Really, Mrs. Case,” said Norman in embarrassment. “You mustn’t think--”

“Oh, it’s only human nature,” said Mrs. Case, “and nothing to apologize for. I think none the less of you, but I have to look after my own as best I may.”

“I think you’re quite right, Mrs. Case,” said Norman.

“We’ll all miss you, I say, and we’ll all be glad to see you when you come to visit your boy. You mustn’t think we’ve any grudge against you, Mr. Overbeck. That’s why I’m asking you to go now, before that happens which we’ll all be sorry for.”

There was more to the same effect, and it was arranged that Norman should find another room and move to-morrow, on the excuse that he had to be nearer to his office.

It was just as well all around, thought Norman; he would take a cheaper room while he was looking for work. He paid Mrs. Case two weeks in advance for the baby; that at least was secure....

“I don’t mind saying I’ll sleep better when you’ve gone, and I don’t have to wonder is every creak a girl’s bare feet on the stairs,” she said, at which Norman blushed again.

Was _that_--he wondered when she had gone--what everybody in this house thought of their brother-and-sisterly friendship?... Well--that kiss hadn’t been very brother-and-sisterly! After all, what did he know about himself? Or Monica? Perhaps this brassy-tongued old woman was right. Anyway, he gathered that these reflections upon his character were not intended by Monica’s mother as uncomplimentary.

As he went to bed, he glanced at the lock on his door. Yes, perhaps it was just as well he was going to leave this place.... What did he really know about girls?