But the question, nevertheless, was a staggerer.
"W-e-e-ll," he admitted, "I--I hardly know what to say, I will give
in. To be right down honest--and the Lord knows I hate to say it--
it wouldn't do for a minute to let those two young folks get
engaged--to say nothin' of gettin' married--with this thing between
'em. It wouldn't be fair to her, nor to Sam--no, nor to him or
you, either. You see that, don't you?" he begged. "You know I
don't say it for any reason but just--just for the best interests
of all hands. You know that, don't you--Ruth?"
"Of course, of course. But what then?"
"I don't really know what then. Seems to me the very first thing
would be for you to speak to him, put the question right up to him,
same as he's been puttin' it to himself all this time. Get him to
talk it over with you. And then--well, then--"
"Yes?"
"Oh, I don't know! I declare I don't."
"Suppose he tells me he means to marry her in spite of everything?
Suppose he won't listen to me at all?"
That possibility had been in Jed's mind from the beginning, but he
refused to consider it.
"He will listen," he declared, stoutly. "He always has, hasn't he?"
"Yes, yes, I suppose he has. He listened to me when I persuaded
him that coming here and hiding all--all that happened was the
right thing to do. And now see what has come of it! And it is all
my fault.
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