She saw, too, that Tom pulled something from his pocket hastily and thrust it into Parloe's hand. The old man chuckled slily, said something else to the boy, and then turned away and climbed into his wagon again. He drove away as Ruth ran down the path to the waiting auto.
"Hullo, Tom!" she cried. "I told you I wouldn't keep you waiting long."
"How-do, Ruth," he returned; but it must be confessed that he was not as bright and smiling as usual, and he looked away from Ruth and after Parloe the next moment.
As the girl reached the machine Uncle Jabez came to the mill door again. He observed Ruth about to get in and he came down the steps and strode toward the Cameron automobile. Jasper Parloe had clucked to his old nag and was now rattling away from the place.
"Where are you going, Ruth?" the miller demanded, sternly eyeing Tom Cameron, and without returning the lad's polite greeting.
"She is going up to our house to lunch with my sister, Mr. Potter," Tom hastened to say before Ruth could reply.
"She will do nothing of the kind," said Uncle Jabez, shortly. "Ruth, go back to the house and help your Aunt Alvirah. You are going about too much and leaving your aunt to do everything."
This was not so, and Ruth knew very well that her uncle knew it was not so. She flushed and hesitated, and he said:
"Do you hear me? I expect to be obeyed if you remain here at the Red Mill. Just because I lay few commands upon you, is no reason why you should consider it the part of wisdom to be disobedient when I do give an order."
"Oh, Uncle! do let me go," begged Ruth, fairly crying. "Helen has been so kind to me—and Aunt Alvirah did not suppose you would object. They come here—"