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Rh on long walks alone, and was moody and bored when Basil was of the party. When he was alone with Teresa, he spent most of his time in criticising Basil. He declared that Basil was volatile, lazy; that he only amused himself with work and life; that he did not take even his wife seriously enough.

"He suits me," Teresa said calmly, a good deal amused. "He's a charming companion, and always interesting. And I can assure you that he takes me and the baby with the utmost seriousness."

"But he leaves you alone here all summer."

"He had to make some money, poor dear. You've no idea how expensive Ronald is. If you think he wasn't glad to get here!"

"Oh, I suppose he was. He's fond of you, I think, in his way."

Teresa smiled.

"He's an awfully good fellow," Erhart proceeded. "It's too bad his habits are so irregular—bad for his work and everything, I should think. He's got some talent, and if he'd only pitch in and work"

"Once for all, Basil isn't a grub. He knows he'll never be a great painter, and he's too much humour to take himself with awful seriousness. He knows perfectly well the measure of his ability, he can do good work and he knows it, but what he cares most about is living."