She was ironing and did not seem best pleased to see the visitors. Neither did Joe Burt, who was sitting by the fire with little Alice on his knees.
The little lady ignored the engineer.
"Where are the other children?" she asked Ruth pleasantly.
"Where they oughrer be," Joe answered—"in bed."
The Colonel came to the rescue.
"Is Caspar anywhere about?" he asked.
"He's on his allotment, I reck'n," Ruth answered coldly. "Mr. Burt joins him there most in general every evening."
"Yes," said Joe, "and was on the road now when A was interfered with." He kissed little Alice, put her down, and rose. "Good evening, Colonel." And he went out sullenly.
Mrs. Lewknor, aware that negotiations had not opened auspiciously, now broached her project. Ruth, steadily ironing, never lifted her eyes. She was clearly on the defensive, suspicious in her questions, evasive and noncommittal in her replies. The Colonel became impatient.
"Mrs. Caspar might accept our offer—to oblige," he said at last.