There was no detail whose significance he missed as they went about together. He had keen eyes and was a quite sufficiently¹ practical person on such matters as concerned his own interests. In this case it was to his interest to make up his mind as to what he might gain or lose by the appearance of his wife's family. He did not mean to lose—if it could be helped—anything either of personal importance or material benefit. And it could only be helped by his comprehending clearly what he had to deal with. Betty was, at present, the chief factor in the situation, and he was sufficiently astute² to see that she might not be easy to read. His personal theories concerning women presented to him two or three effective ways of managing them. You made love to them, you flattered them either subtly or grossly, you roughly or smoothly³ bullied⁴ them, or you harrowed them with haughty⁵ indifference—if your love-making had produced its proper effect—when it was necessary to lure⁶ or drive or trick them into submission⁷. Women should be made useful in one way or another. Little fool as she was, Rosalie had been useful. He had, after all was said and done, had some comparatively easy years as the result of her existence. But she had not been useful enough, and there had even been moments when he had wondered if he had made a mistake in separating her entirely⁸ from her family. There might have been more to be gained if he had allowed them to visit her and had played the part of a

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