Ruth went to the landing and looked over the banisters.
"That ought to be Bill and Mamie back from their drive," she said.
The sound of a child's voice came to Kirk as he stood listening; and as
he heard it all the old feeling of paternal pride and excitement, which
had left him during his wanderings, swept over him like a wave. He
reproached himself that, while the memory of Ruth had been with him
during every waking moment of the past year, there had been occasions
when that of William Bannister had become a little faded.
He ran down the stairs.
"Hello, Mamie!" he said. "How are you? You're looking well."
Mamie greeted him with the shy smile which was wont to cause such havoc
in Steve's heart.
"And who's this you've got with you? Mamie, you know you've no business
going about with young men like this. Who is he?"
He stood looking at William Bannister, and William Bannister stood
looking at him, Kirk smiling, William staring with the intense gravity
of childhood and trying to place this bearded stranger among his circle
of friends. He seemed to be thinking that the familiarity of the
other's manner indicated a certain amount of previous acquaintanceship.
"Watch that busy brain working," said Kirk. "He's trying to place me.
It's all right, Bill, old man; it's my fault. I had no right to spring
myself on you with eight feet of beard.
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