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THE BOND
141

rent of things? It's easier to go with the tide—to let one's self go——"

Teresa stretched out her arms with a vague, sensuous gesture and sighed.

"I can't understand it," said Alice. "Is Basil pleased?"

"I believe he is."

"Of course. There's more paternal instinct than maternal, I think, and no wonder, as they've none of the bother of it. I believe Horace would like to have fifty children, if he'd married somebody else. But he knows I won't. … What shall you do all this winter to amuse yourself, Teresa? Shan't you be awfully bored?"

"Perhaps. People will come and see me, I suppose. And I shall do some work—little things. I began a bust of Basil, but that must wait, now, till afterwards."

"Well, I'm glad to see you so happy about it. I shall send you something pretty for the baby. And you'll come and dine with us soon, won't you—just ourselves? Give my love to Basil. Has he been working?"

"Oh, yes. He's doing some panels now for a bungalow that Mrs. Perry's building down on her Long Island place."

Alice looked suddenly interested.

"Bungalow? But I thought she was building a big house in stone."