in it, had
checked his pace to ride alongside, and so, disregarding Mr. Trask's
counsel, had brought her home. Nay, dismissing the men with a guinea
apiece, he had desired them to return to Mr. Trask and report his
conduct.

"Listen to me," he said suddenly, checking Old Josselin in full flow.
"You say, both of you, that Ruth here will live under disgrace; and I
dare say you are right. Why not send her away? Get her out of this."

The woman by the window turned her head with a vague simper. The old
man, building a small heap of chips on the hearthstone, distended his
cheeks and let out his breath slowly, as though coaxing a fire already
kindled.

"All very well--but where? And where's the money to come from?
Besides, we can't spare the child; she vittles us. Dorm it, Ruth," he
exclaimed, on a sudden recollection, "you don't say you ha'n't brought
back the gun!"

"No, grandfather."

"Why? The magistrates would have given it back. It's ruination for us
without the gun, and that you might have remembered. Better step over
and ask 'em for it to-morrow."

"Must I?" asked the girl slowly.

"'Course you'll have to," said her grandparent. "_I_ can't walk the
distance, and that you know.--My eyesight's poor," he explained to the
Collector, "and I can't walk, because--" here he stated an organic
complaint very frankly. "As for M'ria, she's an eye like a fish-hawk;
but you never saw such a born fool with firearms. Well, must heat some
water, I reckon, to bathe the poor maid's back."

"First give her food," said the Collector. He stepped forward and
himself cut her a large manchet from the loaf the old man produced.
She took it from him and ate ravenously, like a young wild animal,
tearing at the crust with her white teeth. "They haven't broken your
body's health, then," he thought to himself. Aloud he said, "You don't
quite take my meaning, Mr. Josselin, and I'll put it to you in a
straight offer. Let her come with me to Boston. She shall be put to
school there, say for three years; she shall live among folk who will
treat her kindly, and teach her at any rate to build up her spirit again
and be happy, as she will never be within these miles of Port Nassau;
and in return--"

"Ah!" said the old man significantly.

"In return you shall accept from me a decent pension--enough, at any
rate, to fend off want. We will not quarrel over the amount, up or
down. Or, if you prefer, I will get the lawyers to l