Page:Neith Boyce--The bond.djvu/364

362 was nearly seven o'clock, and Ronald had been put to bed, when Basil came. Teresa was lying on her bed, her head still whirling from the effect of the voyage. Basil wanted first to see Ronald again. The child was in the next room, not yet asleep. He went in, and Teresa heard his voice—pleasant-toned, fond, and joking—and heard Ronald laugh sleepily. At last Basil came back, shutting the door, and sat down beside Teresa.

"What a splendid fellow he is what a beauty!" he said, with a little shake in his voice. "I'm fond of that boy, Teresa."

"Turn on the light—I want to see you," said Teresa lazily.

Basil turned on the light and took off his coat, showing a pale-blue silk shirt which fastened neatly about his strong throat with a blue tie and a gold pin; then he sat down again on the edge of the bed. Teresa lay looking at him. Her loose dark hair swept across her forehead and cheek, and her lowered eyelids showed a narrow line of blue. "How hot you look, poor dear," she said softly, looking at his forehead.

"Yes—beastly weather. Must have a bath before dinner. Are you too tired to go out somewhere? I'll find a cool place to eat." "Tired—no. Only my head's queer yet. We had a rough voyage."