“Reuben!” cried the old man, sternly. He rose with more open signs of agitation than Reuben had yet seen in him, and walked hurriedly to and fro. “Reuben! Reuben!” he repeated, in a voice of keen reproach. “Ah! when was ever youth and folly separate? I never thought thee wast the lad to cry thine uncle's trouble i' the market-place!”
“No, uncle, no! Don't think that of me,” cried his nephew. “I did not know what to do. I asked Ruth's advice. I could not be certain that the note was meant for you. And—guessing what I thought I guessed—I was afraid to bring it.”
“Well, well! Well, well!” said Ezra. “It's been too sad an' mournful all along for me to go about to make a new quarrel on it. Let it pass. I make no doubt you acted for the best. Art too good a lad to tek pleasure in prying into the pain of an old man—as—loves thee. Leave it alone, lad. Let's think a while, and turn it over and see what may be done.”
He went back to his arm-chair, and Reuben watched him in sympathetic silence.
“I know her to be bitter hard upon me in her thoughts,” said Ezra, after a time. “The kind of scorn her bears for me is good for nobody, not even if it happens to be grounded i' the right. It might be a blow to her at first, but it 'ud be a blow as 'ud carry healing with it i' the long run. Let the wench tek the letter. It'll be easier for her to get it at a woman's hands.”
He drew the cracked and faded letter from his waistcoat-pocket, and held it out towards Reuben without looking at him.
“I think that will be the best and kindest course, sir,” said Reuben, accepting the letter and placing it in his pocket-book. “It may not be easy for Ruth to speak to her just at first, for she is very angry with her for having engaged herself to me.”
“I have heard word of her opposing it,” answered Ezra. “Theer are them in Heydon Hay as elsewheer—folks, without being aythur coarse-hearted or hard-minded, as talk of their neighbors' affairs, and love to tell you whatever there is to be heard as is unpleasing. I have been told as her describes me as a villin, and speaks in the same terms of you, Reuben. And that's why I advised you to speak out before there should be time to make mischief, if by any chance mischief might be made. And I've seen enough to know as theer's no staple so easy to mannyfacture as ill-will, even betwixt them as thinks well of each other. But, Reuben, even the best of women are talkers, and I look for it to be made a point on between Ruth and you, that no word of this is breathed except between your two selves.”
“You may trust Ruth as much as you trust me, uncle,” said Reuben.
“Like enough,” answered Ezra. “And I've a warm liking for her. But there'll be no unkind-ness in naming my particular wish i' this affair.”