"William, breathless and excited, burst in upon him."
"I say, Ralph, we've got it," William cried excitedly, without noticing Ruth.
"Got what?" Ralph said, turning suddenly round.
"Got the farm," was the reply. "We jumped to conclusions too soon on Saturday. Jewell says our offer has been accepted."
"Accepted!"
"Ay. Here is the letter, if you like to read it. Shut up your portmanteau, and take it out of sight. You are not going abroad yet awhile."
Ruth, who had risen to her feet on William's sudden appearance, now ran out of the room to hide her tears.
Ralph seized the lawyer's letter and read it slowly and carefully from beginning to end. Then he dropped into a chair and read it a second time. William stood and watched him, with a bright, eager smile lighting up his face.