"Captain—Sir Oliver (bless me, how I forget! ) has an aversion from ladies' society—Boston ladies. . . . It is not for me to criticise, but the distaste is well known."
"And the gentlemen, Manasseh—they will have taken a great deal of wine by now?"
Manasseh spread out his hands, and again his teeth gleamed. "To be sho', Mis' Josselin; it is not ebery day in the yeah dat Cap'n Vyell become Sir Olivah—"
"I did not ask you," interrupted Ruth coldly, "to excuse your errand.
. . . And now, Tatty dear, do you still bid me to go?"
"On the contrary, I forbid it."
Ruth stepped close to the little lady. Said she, standing straight before her and looking down, "It cost you some courage to say that."
"It may cost me more to-morrow; but I am not afraid."
"My brave Tatty! But the courage is thrown away, for I am going."
"You do not mean this?"
"I do mean it. My master sends for me. You know what duty I owe him."