is why adults may be permitted to mix with other adults without
preliminary sterilization. But in the case of a growing child it is
entirely different. No precaution is excessive. So......'
From below at this point there came the sound of the front-door bell.
Ruth went to the landing and looked over the banisters.
'That ought to be Bill and Mamie back from their drive,' she said.
The sound of a child's voice came to Kirk as he stood listening; and as
he heard it all the old feeling of paternal pride and excitement, which
had left him during his wanderings, swept over him like a wave. He
reproached himself that, while the memory of Ruth had been with him
during every waking moment of the past year, there had been occasions
when that of William Bannister had become a little faded.
He ran down the stairs.
'Hello, Mamie!' he said. 'How are you? You're looking well.'
Mamie greeted him with the shy smile which was wont to cause such havoc
in Steve's heart.
'And who's this you've got with you? Mamie, you know you've no business
going about with young men like this. Who is he?'
He stood looking at William Bannister, and William Bannister stood
looking at him, Kirk smiling, William staring with the intense gravity
of childhood and trying to place this bearded stranger among his circle
of friends. He seemed to be thinking that the familiarity of the
other's manner indicated a certain amount of previous acquaintanceship.
'Watch that busy brain working,' said Kirk. 'He's trying to place me.
It's all right, Bill, old man; it's my fault. I had no right to spring
myself on you with eight feet of beard. It isn't giving you a square
deal. Never mind, it's coming off in a few minutes, never to return,
and then, perhaps, you'll remember that you've a father.'
'Fa-a-a-ar!' shrieked William Bannister triumphantly, taking the cue
with admirable swiftness.
He leaped at Kirk, and Kirk swung him up in
the air. It was quite an effort, for William Bannister had grown
astonishingly in the past year.
'Pop,' said he firmly, as if resolved to prevent any possibility of
mistake. 'Daddy,' he added, continuing to play upon the theme. He
summed up. 'You're my pop.'
Then, satisfied that this was final and that there could now be no
chance for Kirk to back out of the contract, he reached out a hand and
gave a tug at the beard which had led to all the confusion.
'What's this?'
'You may well ask,' said Kirk. 'I got struck that way because I left
you and mummy for a whole year. But now I'm back I'm going to be
allowed to take it off and give it away. Whom shall I give it to?
Steve? Do you think Steve would like it? Yes, you can go on pulling it;
it won't break. On the other hand, I should just like to mention that
it's hurting something fierce, my son. It's fastened on at the other
end, you know.'
'Why?'
'Don't ask me. That's the way it's built.'
William Bannister obligingly disentangled himself from the beard.
