Ruth was surprised to
see her landlord at that, for him, late hour. Also, remembering
the unceremonious way in which he had permitted her to depart at
the end of their interview that forenoon, she was not as cordial as
usual. She had made him her confidant, why she scarcely knew;
then, after expressing great interest and sympathy, he had suddenly
seemed to lose interest in the whole matter. She was acquainted
with his eccentricities and fits of absent-mindedness, but
nevertheless she had been hurt and offended. She told herself that
she should have expected nothing more from "Shavings" Winslow, the
person about whom two-thirds of Orham joked and told stories, but
the fact remained that she was disappointed. And she was angry,
not so much with him perhaps, as with herself. WHY had she been so
foolish as to tell any one of their humiliation?
So when Jed appeared at the back door she received him rather
coldly. He was quite conscious of the change in temperature, but
he made no comment and offered no explanation. Instead he told his
story, the story of his interview with Captain Hunniwell. As he
told it her face showed at first interest, then hope, and at the
last radiant excitement. She clasped her hands and leaned toward
him, her eyes shining.
"Oh, Mr. Winslow," she cried, breathlessly, "do you mean it? Do
you really believe Captain Hunniwell will give my brother a
position in his bank?"
Jed nodded slowly.
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