"It's about James I want to see you," he said, then stuck for lack of words with which to clothe his idea. He prodded at the rug with the point of his cane.
"Yes, about James," Kirby presently reminded him, smiling.
"He's not so bad as you think he is," Jack blurted out.
"He's as selfish as the devil, isn't he?"
"Well, he is, and he isn't. He's got a generous streak in him. You may not believe it, but he went on your bond because he liked you."
"Come, Jack, you're tryin' to seduce my judgment by the personal appeal," Kirby answered, laughing.
"I know I am. What I want to say is this. I believe he would have married Esther McLean if it hadn't been for one thing. He fell desperately in love with Phyllis afterward. The odd thing is that she loves him, too. They didn't dare to be above-board about it on account of Uncle James. They treated him shabbily, of course. I don't deny that."
"You can hardly deny that," Kirby agreed.
"But, damn it, one swallow doesn't make a summer. You've seen the worst side of him all the way through."
"I dare say I have." Kirby let his hand fall on the well-tailored shoulder of his cousin. "But I haven't seen the worst side of his brother Jack. He's a good scout. Come up to Wyoming this fall an' we'll go huntin' up in the Jackson Hole country. What say?"