“‘I hardly like to interfere in what isn’t really my affair at all, but as you’ve asked me I’ll say that if Ruth were my daughter I should forbid him the farm.’
“‘That clinches it,’ said Amos, bringing his hand down on the table. ‘We’ll have the girl in and tell it her straight away. You’ve voiced my own feelings, sir, and I’m grateful to you.’
“Here Mrs. Pennistan began to cry.
“‘My poor Ruth! and what if she’s fond of the boy?’
“‘Better for her to shed a dozen tears for him now than a hundred thousand in years to come. I’ll call her in.’
“She came, wiping her hands on her blue apron.
“‘Father, the butter’ll spoil.’
“‘Never mind the butter. Now listen here, my girl, we’ve been talking about you, your mother and I, and we’ve decided that you and Rawdon have seen more of each other than is good for you. So I’m going to tell him that he’s to keep over at his own place in the future, and I expect you to keep over here; that is, I won’t have you slipping out and meeting that young good-for-nothing when the fancy takes you.’
“What a gentleman he is, I thought to myself, to have kept my name out of it.
“I looked at Ruth, wondering what she would do, and hoping, yes, hoping that she would rebel.