Georges did, and then exclaimed in dismay. "Is it half past four already? Tabernac! I thought it was earlier."
"And why does the hour matter so much?" Galtier inquired with a certain ironic curiosity, part of which was about whether his guess was right.
Sure enough, his younger son shuffled his feet a couple of times before answering, "When I was in town, I heard there would be a dance tonight. I thought I might go."
"Did you?"
"Yes, I did." Georges attempted defiance. He didn't do a good job of it. His older brother, Charles, or any of his four sisters could have given him lessons.
Lucien and Marie shared amused looks. They'd met at a dance, somewhere a little more than thirty years before. Nor were they the only couple in the neighborhood who had-far from it. Galtier said, "All right, son. Have a good time."
Georges started to argue, to protest. Then he really heard what his father had said. He blinked. "It's all right?" he asked suspiciously.
"I said so, didn't I?"
Marie added, "There's plenty of hot water on the stove, if you have time to bathe and shave before you go."
"Merci, chere Maman. I'll do that quick as a wink." Georges still looked as if he didn't trust his ears. He went off to the kitchen to take the hot water to the bathroom, still scratching his head.
When he was, or at least might have been, out of earshot, Marie said, "High time he got married. I began to worry about Charles when he waited so long."
"Madeleine Boileau is a nice girl, and she made him a good match this past winter," Galtier said. His wife nodded. He went on, "She is a better match than we could have got without our American doctor son-in-law, or without the money from the Americans for the property on which the hospital stands."
"I know that," Marie said. "You must know it, too. Why bring it up now? We've had these things for some time."
"Why bring it up now?" Galtier echoed. "To convince myself what we've done is worthwhile, that's why. Because there are times when I feel our money is like Judas' thirty pieces of silver, that's why. Because I almost envy the Canadians for rising, that's why."
Marie eyed him. "Would you disown your grandson?"
"No. Never." Lucien didn't hesitate. He did laugh. "All right. You have me."
"I should hope so," Marie said.
AmericanEmpire: TheCenterCannotHold