en in vain--"

"Exposed! Exposed!" cried Fuller. "What's this here maggot about
exposin'? Who talks about exposin' a lad like that? The best lad i' the
country-side without a 'ception!"

"You tell me then," said Rachel, turning upon him slowly, as if Ruth's
eyes had an attraction for her, and she could scarcely leave them--"you
tell me then that this Reuben Gold has your approval in making
approaches to your daughter?"

"Approval!" shouted Fuller. "Yis. I've seen 'em gettin' fond on each
other this five 'ear, and took a pleasure in it. What's agen the lad?
Nothin' but the mumblin' of a bumble-bee as an old maid's got in her
bonnet. A spite agen his uncle is a thing as _is_ understandable."

"Indeed, sir," said Aunt Rachel, with frigid politeness. "Will you tell
me why?"

"Well, no," said Fuller. "I'd rather I didn't. Look here. Let's have
harmony. I'm no hand at quarrelin', even among the men, let alone among
the petticuts. Let's have harmony. The wench has got her letter back,
and theer's no harm done. And if theer is, ye'd better fight it out
betwigst ye." With this he turned his back and waddled a pace or two.
Then he turned a laughing face upon them, moving slowly on his axis.
"Mek it up," he said, "mek it up. Let's have no ill blood i' the family.
Nothin' like harmony."

Having thus delivered himself he rolled in-doors, and there sat down
to his morning pipe. But anger and laughter are alike provocative of
thirst, and seeking a jug in the kitchen he took his way to the cellar,
and there had a copious draught of small beer, after which he settled
himself down in his arm-chair, prepared to make the best of anything
which might befall him.

The quarrel from which he had withdrawn himself did not seem so easy to
be made up as he had appeared to fancy. Ruth and Rachel stood face
to face in silence. To the younger woman the offence which had been
committed against her seemed intolerable, and it took this complexion
less because of the nature of the act itself than because of its
consequences. It had mocked Reuben, and it had made her seem as if she
were the mocker.

"You are angry, child!" said Rachel, at length. "I was prepared for
that. But I was not prepared for your father's acquiescence in the
ruinous course upon which you have entered."

"Ruinous course?" said Ruth.

"I repeat," said the old lady, "the ruinous course upon which you have
entered. These men are villains."

"Do they steal other people's