"Let her tell you. I just stopped to say 'howdy,' then I'll be off. Come here, Ruth, I want to speak to you. Excuse secrets, Hetty."
He drew Ruth to one side. "Don't say anything about the paper till you see me again. I'll be back later in the evening."
Ruth nodded understandingly, and the doctor took his departure.
Billy busied himself in laying another place and bustled about like one accustomed to such service as setting tables and preparing supper. At intervals, he gave out pieces of news.
"Old Petty is awful sick; they say he can't live. Squire Field has got a new horse, a beauty, bay with one white stocking. Phil Reed's little dog is dead. Phil wanted to buy Stray but me and Aunt Hester couldn't part with him. There's a new teacher at our school; he's A No. 1, I tell you," and so on.
Meanwhile, Miss Hester and Ruth sat with arms around each other, Ruth answering the many questions and finding it hard to keep back the fact of the receipt.
"I say, you look like a howling swell in that hat," said the observant Billy. "Ain't you going to take it off and stay awhile?"
"Maybe I'll stay forever," returned Ruth with a happy laugh.
The simple little supper of porridge and milk was on the table when again a knock was heard at the door. Billy rushed to open and returned with a basket in his hand.
"Did you order these, Aunt Hester?" he asked.