Part 45 (2/2)
”Ruth, old girl, I've had a bully good idea. It's getting too warm for anything in New York. Did you ever feel anything like it is to-day? Why shouldn't you and I pop down to the shack and camp out there for a week or so? And we would take Bill with us. Just we three, with somebody to do the cooking. It would be great. What do you say?”
What Ruth said languidly was: ”It's quite impossible.”
It was damping; but Kirk felt that at all costs he must refuse to be damped. He clutched at his cheerfulness and held it.
”Nonsense,” he retorted. ”Why is it impossible? It's a great idea.”
Ruth half hid a yawn. She knew she was behaving abominably, and she was glad of it.
”It's impossible as far as I'm concerned. I have a hundred things to do before I can leave New York.”
”Well, I could do with a day or two to clear up a few bits of work I have on hand. Why couldn't we start this day week?”
”It is out of the question for me. About then I shall be on Mr.
Milbank's yacht. He has invited me to join his party. The actual day is not settled, but it will be in about a week's time.”
”Oh!” said Kirk.
Ruth said nothing.
”Have you accepted the invitation?”
”I have not actually answered his letter. I was just going to when you came in.”
”But you mean to accept it?”
”Certainly. Several of my friends will be there. Sybil for one.”
”Not Sybil.”
”Oh, I know Bailey has made some ridiculous objection to her going, but I mean to persuade her.”
Kirk did not answer. She looked at him steadily.
”So Bailey did call on you this afternoon? He told me he was going to, but I hoped he would think better of it. But apparently there are no limits to Bailey's stupidity.”
”Yes, Bailey came to the studio. He seemed troubled about this yacht party.”
”Did he advise you to forbid me to go?”
”Well, yes; he did.”
”And now you have come to do it?”
”Not at all. I told Bailey that you were not the sort of woman one forbade to do things.”
”I'm not.”
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