"My dear fellow, what are you talking about?" Ralph said, with a smile. "Why, we owe nearly everything to you."
"No, no. I couldn't have done less, and so far I have received far more than I gave. But I must be getting back, or things will have got tied into a knot," and putting on his hat, he hurried away.
Ruth came back into the room as soon as William had disappeared. Her eyes were still red and her lashes wet with tears, but there was a bright, happy smile on her lips.
"Oh, Ralph," she said, "isn't it almost too good to be true?"
"It may not be so good as it looks," he said, in a tone of banter.
"Oh, it must be, Ralph; for, of course, we shall go back again to Hillside to live."
"But we can't live on nothing, you know, and the whole thing may turn out a frost."
"But you are quite sure it won't, or you and William Menire would not be so elated at getting it."
"Are we elated?"
"You are. You can hardly contain yourself at this moment. You would like to get on the top of the house and shout."