"In his parents?" she asked.
"Amongst other things," was the reply. "My dear child"--he took her hand--"if you are wise, you will leave things as they are. I should like you to marry Heron; but if you do not wish it. I will not press the matter. As to Neil, put him out of your head, once and for all. He can never be your husband! Now go." And he pushed her gently outside the library door.
"What on earth can it be?" thought the girl, as she took her way to the winter garden. "Has Neil committed some crime, or has----"
She had reached this point in her meditations when she suddenly came upon Mr. Marshall. He was pale, and had a look of alarm on his face. When he saw her he gave a startled cry. "Why, good gracious, uncle, what is the matter?" asked Ruth.
"Oh, it's you!" replied Marshall. "I thought--never mind what I thought. I'm upset."
"Oh, Aunt Inez has been giving you a bad time," said the girl, with some amusement. She knew very well what a tight hand that lady kept over her elderly Don Juan; and when her uncle nodded, she continued: "I am upset myself, uncle. He has gone away!"
"Are you talking of Neil Webster?" he asked, with an obvious effort.
"Yes; did you know how much I cared for him, uncle--and--what's the matter?"
For Mr. Marshall, with an ejaculation, had jumped up and was looking at her with an expression of dismay. "Nothing is the matter," he gasped, and it was quite evident that he was not speaking the truth. "But I must confess I did not know that you cared for him. Ridiculous! Why, he can never marry you."
"So papa says," replied Ruth, somewhat disconsolately. "He has refused his consent."