"It's your own fault, Ruby; isn't it?"
"I don't know as I've done anything out of the way."
"Don't you think it's anything out of the way to be engaged to a young man and then to throw him over? All this has come because you wouldn't keep your word to Mr. Crumb. Only for that your grandfather wouldn't have turned you out of his house."
"He didn't turn me out. I ran away. And it wasn't along of John Crumb, but because grandfather hauled me about by the hair of my head."
"But he was angry with you about Mr. Crumb. When a young woman becomes engaged to a young man, she ought not to go back from her word." No doubt Mrs. Hurtle, when preaching this doctrine, thought that the same law might be laid down with propriety for the conduct of young men. "Of course you have brought trouble on yourself. I am sorry that you don't like the place. I'm afraid you must go to it now."
"I am agoing,—I suppose," said Ruby, probably feeling that if she could but bring herself to condescend so far there might yet be open for her a way of escape.
"I shall write and tell Mr. Crumb where you are placed."
"Oh, Mrs. Hurtle, don't. What should you write to him for? It ain't nothing to him."
"I told him I'd let him know if any steps were taken."
"You can forget that, Mrs. Hurtle. Pray don't write. I don't want him to know as I'm in service."