"He is much kinder than I supposed," thought Ruth. "I must have misjudged him."
"I wrote to you a few days since," she began.
"Indeed! I don't think I can have received your letter."
"But you answered it, sir."
"I answered a letter from you? What then is your name?"
"Ruth Patton."
"Oh!" returned Ferguson, his face darkening. He no longer felt inclined to be gracious, for he had a premonition that the interview would not be agreeable to him.
"My mother and I were quite overwhelmed by the news you sent us. We had no idea that my father left so little, and she wished me to come on and ask for some particulars."
"I have very little to tell you beyond what I wrote," said Mr. Ferguson coldly.
"My father led us to think that we should be comfortably provided for."