And
so, unless he asks, I shall not tell him that even you know; and I
am sure you will understand and not--not--"
"Not say anything when he's around that might let the cat out of
the bag. Yes, yes, I see. Well, I'll be careful; you can count on
me, Mrs. Ruth."
She looked down into his homely, earnest face. "I do," she said,
simply, and went out of the room. For several minutes after she
had gone Jed sat there gazing after her. Then he sighed, picked up
his pencil and turned again to the drawing of the gull.
And the following evening young Phillips came. Jed, looking from
his shop window, saw the depot-wagon draw up at the gate. Barbara
was the first to alight. Philander Hardy came around to the back
of the vehicle and would have assisted her, but she jumped down
without his assistance. Then came Ruth and, after her, a slim
young fellow carrying a traveling bag. It was dusk and Jed could
not see his face plainly, but he fancied that he noticed a
resemblance to his sister in the way he walked and the carriage of
his head. The two went into the little house together and Jed
returned to his lonely supper. He was a trifle blue that evening,
although he probably would not have confessed it. Least of all
would he have confessed the reason, which was that he was just a
little jealous. He did not grudge his tenant her happiness in her
brother's return, but he could not help feeling that from that time
on she would not be as intimate and confidential with him, Jed
Winslow, as she had been.
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