Having discovered Aimée, and having found her inaccessible, he had reconciled himself to the inevitable. After all, what could he do that could really help a demented girl? And would not the sight of her keep alive his old sorrow?
His neighbors of the White House kept to themselves. He was not likely to see anything of them.
The bungalow was furnished to his liking, and Davis, who had been a soldier, would make an excellent servant. Philip felt more reconciled to life than he had done for a long while.
Dan Webster’s cheerfulness under his affliction was not without its influence on Philip.
To have the eyes go wrong, for a young painter of such promise, was nothing less than a catastrophe, yet Dan never played the part of a wet blanket.
True, he was petted and made much of all round. Phyllis Lane was particularly sweet to him.
Phyllis, who was under her father’s displeasure because she had refused the offer of Herbert Langridge the second time, saw with some relief that her kindness to Dan did not meet with parental reproof. But Philip rather quenched her spirits by speaking a warning word.
After dinner Mrs. Barrimore, Uncle Robert, Dan and Philip had gone to the sea-front to listen to the band and watch the gay pedestrians, when they encountered Colonel Lane and his daughter. Phyllis at once allied herself to Dan.
Chairs for all the party could not be found together, so Phyllis and Dan were at some distance from the others.
Philip, who found himself alone with Uncle Robert, watched Phyllis furtively, while his uncle poured out quotations.