"Perhaps he does. You see, he is years older than either of us; but his main concern was that you should not feel in any way under an obligation to him."
"I do not understand."
"William feels very sensitive where you are concerned. The truth is, he was going to advance most of the money for the purchase of Hillside."
"Ralph!"
"It is true, dear; and until this morning we hoped we should get it."
"Well?"
"It has been sold to somebody else."
For a long time no other word was spoken. Ruth made a pretence of eating, but she had no longer any appetite for her dinner. Ralph had given her food of another kind—food for reflection. A dozen questions that had been the vaguest suggestions before suddenly crystallised themselves into definite form.
When the dinner was over, Ralph put on his hat and made for the door.
"I am going down to Perranpool," he said. "I have one or two things I want to talk over with Robert Telfer before I go."