Mrs. Ellis took her hands from her face. She looked pale and worn. She would not turn to the boys, but kept her face averted.
"I know you're as good a boy as ever lived," she faltered. Then she glanced quickly at Tom and Jack, the tears began to run down her face, and she threw her apron over her head.
"God's love!" gasped the bursting Tom, sinking on a chair.
They all waited in silence. Mrs. Ellis suddenly wiped her face on her apron and turned with a wan smile to the boys.
"I've saved enough to buy a little place near Beverley, which is where I belong," she said. "So me and the children are all right. And I've got my eye, at least Lennie's got his on a good selection east of here, between this and my little house, for Lennie. But we want cash for that, I'm afraid. Only it's not that. That's not it."
"Lennie's young yet to take up land, Ma!" Tom plunged in. "Why won't he stop here and go shares with me?"
"He wants to get married," said the mother wanly.
"Get married! Len! Why he's only seventeen!"
At this very natural exclamation, Ma threw her apron over her head, and began to cry once more.
"He's been so good," she sobbed. "He's been so good! And his Ruth is old enough and sensible enough for two. Better anything—" with more sobbing—"than another scandal in the family."