Page:Neith Boyce--The bond.djvu/166

164 "Oh, I'm sure of it. Many of your amusements wouldn't appeal to me at all. But I understand all you say about the claims of the temperament, and, do you know, I believe I have got a temperament, too! I'm certain I'm dying to be amused. And, then, if I am amused, I shan't mind if you are. You may investigate life as much as you choose, and make all the psychological experiments you please. And I won't be a bit jealous. I've made up my mind to get rid of that mean, sneaking feeling, and I will. And this is the way to do it."

"What is? You've always had your friends, if that's all. There's Page, and Alvord—and Dallas spends hours alone with you every week." "Gerald! Dear old Gerald! … No, I'm not talking about him!"

"Well, who then, you little wretch?"

Basil laughed heartily and contemplated his wife with easy admiration. But she cast a glance at him from under her lashes, smiled slightly, and began to talk about something else.

She spent the summer with the baby at a dull resort on the Maine coast; and this rounded out an entire year devoted to Ronald Grange. Ronald was weaned, and throve, and began certainly to pay for himself. He was a vigorous and beautiful little creature; and Teresa, who bathed him herself and mixed his food and