He is
the millionaire's son who has done Europe and doesn't mean you to
forget it."
"There was a chesty person with a wave of hair coming down over his
forehead. A sickeningly handsome fellow who looked like a poet. I think
they called him Basil. Does he run around in flocks, or is he unique?"
Ruth did not reply for a moment. Basil Milbank was a part of the past
which, in the year during which Kirk had been away, had come rather
startlingly to life.
There had been a time when Basil had been very near and important to
her. Indeed, but for the intervention of Mrs. Porter, described in an
earlier passage, she would certainly have married Basil. Then Kirk had
crossed her path and had monopolized her. During the studio period the
recollection of Basil had grown faint. After that, just at the moment
when Kirk was not there to lend her strength, he had come back into her
life. For nearly a year she had seen him daily; and gradually--at first
almost with fear--she had realized that the old fascination was by no
means such a thing of the past as she had supposed.
She had hoped for Kirk's return as a general, sorely pressed, hopes for
reinforcements. With Kirk at her side she felt Basil would slip back
into his proper place in the scheme of things. And, behold! Kirk had
returned and still the tension remained unrelaxed.
Pages:
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216