Part 15 (2/2)
”Well, that's all,” she said. ”I just fell in love with him.”
Mr. Bannister nodded.
”You just fell in love with him,” he repeated. ”Pretty quick work, wasn't it?”
”I suppose it was.”
”You just took one look at him and saw he was the affinity, eh?”
”I suppose so.”
”And what did he do? Was he equally sudden?”
Ruth laughed. She was feeling quite happy now.
”He would have liked to be, poor dear, but he felt he had to be cautious and prepare the way before telling me. If it hadn't been for Bailey, he might be doing it still. Apparently, Bailey went to him and said I had said I was going to marry him, and Kirk came flying round, and--well, then it was all right.”
Mr. Bannister drew thoughtfully at his cigar. He was silent for a few moments.
”Well, my dear,” he said at last. ”I think you had better consider the engagement broken off.”
Ruth looked at him quickly. He still smiled, but his eyes were cold and hard. She realized suddenly that she had been played with, that all his kindliness and amiability had been merely a subst.i.tute for the storm which she had expected. After all, it was to be war between them, and she braced herself for it!
”Father!” she cried.
Mr. Bannister continued to puff serenely at his cigar.
”We needn't get worked up about it,” he said. ”Let's keep right on talking it over quietly.”
”Very well,” said Ruth. ”But, after what you have just said, what is there to talk over?”
”You might be interested to hear my reasons for saying it.”
”And I will argue my side.”
Mr. Bannister waved his hand gently.
”You don't have to argue. You just listen.”
Ruth bit her lip.
”Well?”
”In the first place,” said her father, ”about this young man. What is he? Bailey says he is an artist. Well, what has he ever done? Why don't I know his name? I buy a good many pictures, but I don't remember ever signing a cheque for one of his. I read the magazines now and then, but I can't recall seeing his signature to any of the ill.u.s.trations. How does he live, anyway, without going into the question of how he intends to support a wife?”
”Aunt Lora told me he had private means.”
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