"
"It's so tasteless without high seasoning, Basile says," said Ramsey.
She meditated. "Basile loves to eat."
Said Hugh, "It's a life I don't want you to live," and for an age of
seconds they looked into each other's eyes.
Then Ramsey--not drooping a lash--"I love the river."
"For keeps?"
She nodded, and still they looked. At length said Hugh:
"I tried hard to make friends with the twins, but----"
"They wouldn't. I know. Mr. Watson told Mrs. Gilmore."
"Yet a while ago, on the strength of it, they sent for me, to ask me to
ask my father to indorse their note."
Ramsey gasped: "You declined, of course?"
"Yes, but I told those other two passengers if they cast another card
with any of your brothers they'd go ashore, themselves, as quick as the
boat could land."
Ramsey turned and gazed out on the subsiding storm. "Why are the senator
and the general down there?"
"For quite another matter."
"Weapons. I know. Mr. Watson told Mrs. Gilmore. I thought that was
settled."
"It is."
"Then why is your father there?"
"To get the twins away from the senator and the general, and their
brother away from them and back to his----"
"Sister!" softly laughed Ramsey. "Oh, not to mom-a! just to me! I'll
go--" She started, but Hugh said:
"To you, yes, when my father has put him in a way to cover his loss
without telling your mother.
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