"And he asked you?"
"He asked me to be his wife," answered the girl, with a shudder.
"Well!"
"His wife at once; and you promised that he should not come until I was better prepared. Oh, father, it was cruel. He seemed to take it for granted that I must be whatever he wished."
"That was ill-timed; but Dick has been kept back, and he is so fond of you, Ruth."
"Fond of me? Of me? No, no! The thought is awful."
"It was his loving impatience that broke forth at the wrong time. Nothing could be worse; but you were not very harsh with him, Ruth?"
"I could not help it, father, he was so rude."
"Hang the fellow! I hope he won't get over the buffet I gave him in one while. The fool should have known better than treat my daughter with so little ceremony. She is of a daintier sort than he often mates with. He deserves all he has gotten from her and from me."
While these thoughts were troubling Jessup's mind, Ruth stood before him with tears swelling under her eyelids, till the long, black lashes were heavy with them. They touched the father's heart.