Then he recollected a similar
encounter with a bearded man down in the hall when he came in one
morning from his ride in the automobile. A moment later he had
connected his facts.
This man who had no beard was the same man as the man who had a beard,
and this behaviour was a personal eccentricity of his. The thought
crossed his mind that Aunty Lora would not approve of this.
And then, surprisingly, there came the thought that he did not care
whether Aunty Lora approved or not. _He_ liked it, and that was
enough for him.
The seeds of revolt had been sown in the bosom of William Bannister.
It happened that Ruth, returning from her luncheon-party, looked in at
the nursery on her way upstairs. She was confronted with the spectacle
of Bill seated on Kirk's lap, his face against Kirk's shoulder. Kirk,
though he had stopped speaking as the door opened, appeared to be in
the middle of a story, for Bill, after a brief glance at the newcomer,
asked: "What happened then?"
"Kirk, really!" said Ruth.
Kirk did not appear in the least ashamed of himself.
"Ruth, this kid is the most amazing kid. Do you know what happened just
now? He was running along and he tripped and came down flat. And he
didn't even think of crying. He just picked himself up, and----"
"That was very brave of you, Billy. But, seriously, Kirk, you shouldn't
hug him like that.
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