Day dreams lifted his thought out of the present. This thing was only a beginning. He would go on. There was a kinship in him with people. The memory of the day lay like a love in his heart. He was still young. Years ahead of him and he would end--where? High up.
He looked around and noticed he was walking toward Doris' studio. Odd, he hadn't been aware where he was going. But he might as well. He frowned. She would ridicule what had happened. Well, that was all right. Her hatred of such things couldn't wipe out what was in his heart now. He became practical. Think of tomorrow's session. But why? The details were annoying. He had had enough details for one day. He would take care of things when the proper time came. This was a sort of reward, to walk and dream. As for the blot on the face of civilization, yes that would all be taken care of at the proper time. But the important thing, the most important thing was Basine--high up.
Schroder looked at his watch. Late, perhaps she wouldn't come. Intellectual women were always the most uncertain. It was twilight. Summer bloomed incongruously in the small city park.
"She probably didn't mean it, anyway," he thought.
Ruth appeared walking calmly down the broad pavement. He watched her. She had come, but the business was still uncertain. Amorous affairs were one thing. Seduction was another. He liked her, of course. But what if she had notions about things? Love, fidelity, virtue, marriage, decency. Oh well, he could always step away and say good-bye, I'm sorry.
She was one of the kind who made a pretense of frankness. If you let her she would talk about sex till the cows came home, as if it were a problem in algebra. He knew the kind. Full of theories....
"Let's sit here a while. How's his Honor."
"Yes, after the Commission adjourned for the summer."
The memory of the commission made him smile.
She nodded. "But Judge Basine is made, don't you think?"
"So you left him," he smiled. They sat in silence. He would wait for her to take the lead. She began talking as the park grew darker.
"I didn't intend coming," she said, "because I ... I know what you want."
Her voice quivered and her fingers tightened over his hand.
"But I came to tell you ... I can't. I'm not being foolish or anything. But--it isn't worth it."