Part 16 (2/2)
”Of course!”
There was a sneer in his voice which he did not try to hide. It flicked Ruth like a whip. Her painfully preserved restraint broke up under it.
”Do you think Kirk is afraid of you, father?”
”It crossed my mind.”
”He is not.”
”I have only your word for it.”
”You can have his if you want it. There is the telephone. You can have him here in ten minutes if you want to see him.”
”A very good idea. But, as it happens, I do not want to see him. There is no necessity. His views on this matter do not interest me. I----”
There was a hurried knock at the door. Bailey burst in, ruffled and wild as to the eyes.
”Father,” he cried, ”I don't want to interrupt you, but that infernal woman, Aunt Lora, has arrived, and says she won't go till she has seen you. She's downstairs now.”
”Not now,” said Lora Delane Porter, moving him to one side and entering the room. ”I thought it would be a comfort to you, Ruth, to have me with you to help explain exactly how matters stand. Good evening, John.
Go away, Bailey. Now let us discuss things quietly.”
”She is responsible for the whole thing, father,” cried Bailey.
Mr. Bannister rose.
”There is nothing to discuss,” he said shortly. ”I have no wish to speak to you at all. As you appear to have played a large part in this affair, I may as well tell you that it is settled. Ruth will not marry Mr. Winfield.”
Lora Delane Porter settled herself comfortably in a chair. She drew off her gloves and placed them on the table.
”Please ask that boy Bailey to go,” she said. ”He annoys me. I cannot marshal my thoughts in his presence.”
Quelled by her eye, Bailey removed himself. His father remained standing. Ruth, who had risen at her aunt's entry, sat down again. Mrs.
Porter looked round the room with some approval.
”You have a nice taste in pictures, John,” she said. ”That is a Corot, surely, above the mantelpiece?”
”Will you----”
”But about this little matter. You dislike the idea of Ruth marrying Mr. Winfield? Have you seen Mr. Winfield?”
”I have not.”
”Then how can you possibly decide whether he is a fit husband for Ruth?”
”I know all about him.”
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