Morton Bassett was not a man who could be hit off in a few hundred words, but a complex character he did not pretend to understand.

Threads of various hues had passed before him, but how to intertwine them was a question that already puzzled the reporter.

Bassett had rested his hand on Dan's shoulder for a moment as the younger man bent over one of the prized volumes, and Dan was not insensible to the friendliness of the act.
Mrs.Bassett and the two children appeared at the door a little later.
"Come in, Hallie," said the politician; "all of you come in." He introduced the reporter to his wife and to Marian, the daughter, and Blackford, the son.
"The children were just going up," said Mrs.Bassett.

"As it's Saturday they have an hour added to their evening.

I think I heard Mr.Bassett talking of books a moment ago.