"I am glad he is coming, papa." She hesitated, and then continued in a low voice: "Are you going to assist him?"
"I thought we had agreed to close that discussion, Ruth?" said her father with some coldness. "Assist him? What can I do? I have told him that I will endeavour to prove his mother's innocence, but I have not much hope of success. Whatever you may say, Ruth, I believe the woman is guilty."
"I think she is innocent," cried the girl, throwing back her head with a look of defiance.
"I know you do. Well, if her innocence can be proved so much the better. At present Neil has promised not to worry more than he can help. I want to see him on his feet again, therefore he must have cheerful company to distract his mind."
"Is that why you asked him down here?" asked Ruth, ironically. "I am afraid his spirits will not rise in this house. Amy left it because she found the dulness intolerable."
"Amy is a frivolous butterfly, my dear. I hope you have more sense. You must do your best to amuse Neil, and above all you must say nothing to him about this case. It is becoming a sort of monomania with him, and his thoughts must be kept off it."
"In that case I shall get Jennie to amuse him," replied Ruth "for I find it difficult not to become a monomaniac on the subject myself. Besides, I want her to marry him."
Mr. Cass stroked his chin and did not appear to look unfavourably on this proposal. "Neil might do worse," he said, after a pause. "Jennie is a good little creature and will make him a very adaptable wife. You would never have suited yourself to the boy. Geoffrey Heron is more in your way, Ruth. He will be at once your husband and your master."
"So long as he is not a domestic tyrant I do not care. I am very, very fond of Geoffrey, now that I have got over my foolish feeling for Neil. I do wish Geoffrey would come to see me oftener."
At that moment, as if in answer to her words, a servant appeared with a card, which he presented to his master. "Queer!" exclaimed Mr. Cass, glancing at it through his eye-glass. "Here is the very man you want."