"There's another thing makes your brothers wild," he said, "which they're not to blame for."
"What's that?"
"Our starving plantation life," said Hugh, speaking low.
"Why, they call it the only life for a gentleman!"
"That's because they're so starved, so marooned."
"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: