He and Mr. Gray found
many subjects to discuss with mutual interest, and the nodding of the
two heads in assent at frequent intervals proved how well they found
themselves agreeing.
Richard, as at the time of the Grays' brief visit at his own home,
devoted himself to the lady whom he always thought of as "Aunt Ruth,"
secretly dwelling on the hope that he might some day acquire the right
to call her by that pleasant title. He led her, by artful
circumlocutions, always tending toward one object, to speak of her
nieces and nephews, and when he succeeded in drawing from her certain
all too meagre news of Roberta, he exulted in his ardent soul, though he
did his best not to betray himself.
"Maybe," said she, quite suddenly, "you'd enjoy looking at the family
album. Robby and Ruth always get it out when they come here--they like
to see their father and mother the way they used to look. There's some
of themselves, too, though the photographs folks have now are too big to
go in an old-fashioned album like this, and the ones they've sent me
lately aren't in here."
Never did a modern young man accept so eagerly the chance to scan the
collection of curious old likenesses such as is found between the covers
of the now despised "album" of the days of their grandfathers.
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