"Yes," he said very slowly. "I like him first-rate."
"I'm glad. Because--well, because I have come to like him so much.
Jed, he--he has asked me to be his wife."
There was absolute stillness in the little room. Then, after what
seemed to her several long minutes, he spoke.
"Yes . . . yes, I see . . ." he said. "And you? You've . . ."
"At first I could not answer him. My brother's secret was in the
way and I could not tell him that. But last night--or this
morning--Charlie and I discussed all our affairs and he gave me
permission to tell--Leonard. So when he came to-day I told him.
He said it made no difference. And--and I am going to marry him,
Jed."
Jed's chair creaked again, but that was the only sound. Ruth
waited until she felt that she could wait no longer. Then she
stretched out a hand toward him in the dark.
"Oh, Jed," she cried, "aren't you going to say anything to me--
anything at all?"
She heard him draw a long breath. Then he spoke.
"Why--why, yes, of course," he said. "I--I--of course I am. I--
you kind of got me by surprise, that's all. . . . I hadn't--hadn't
expected it, you see."
"I know. Even Charlie was surprised. But you're glad, for my
sake, aren't you, Jed?"
"Eh? . . . Yes, oh, yes! I'm--I'm glad."
"I hope you are. If it were not for poor Charlie's going away and
the anxiety about him and his problem I should be very happy--
happier than I believed I ever could be again.
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