"I didn't want my business done in that way," said Miss Hester proudly.
"Well, it will be put through now," returned the squire. "Get me the papers when you can and I'll do my best to strike while the iron is hot. You'll be living in your own home yet, Hester."
"And won't I, too?" asked Ruth. "Don't you know, Aunt Hester, I said I was only going to make a visit. Must I go back?"
"Not unless you want to," said Aunt Hester.
Then the squire and the doctor went away and the three left behind talked of the coming true of their old dream. The big house with the pillars would be Miss Hester's again. She would have enough to support herself and the children, and there would be no more buttonholes to make.
True to his promise, Martin came the next day but Miss Hester would not let Ruth go.
"I will write to Mr. Mayfield," she said.
She was not long in doing this, and as Mrs. Mayfield was by no means anxious that Ruth should make her home with her uncle, she persuaded him that it was best to leave Ruth with her adopted aunt. Mr. Mayfield came to Springdale to talk the matter over. He found Ruth so happy and so eager to remain where she was that he made no effort to take her away. He offered a certain sum to be paid yearly for her support, but Miss Hester refused proudly.
"She is my adopted daughter," she said. "She bears my name and I am able to do for her as I would for my own."
Therefore Mr. Mayfield went away determining that he would send Ruth a present once in a while and that he would not lose sight of her.