Page:A Colonial Wooing.djvu/32

 "Do not speak, dear, until I have done. Thee cannot in thy soberer moments acquit thyself for such light conversation and—"

"And what?" asked Ruth, as her mother paused for a moment, opening her magnificent eyes to the fullest extent and gazing into her mother's face.

"And conduct towards John."

Ruth had been sitting on a low stool at her mother's feet during the conversation, but when she heard these words, she sprang to her feet and repeated them with an emphasis suggestive of mingled indignation and surprise.

"Conduct towards John! Why, I have known him since almost a baby, and never a word of this until now. What has been said to thee about us, or what has thee or father noticed that I should be so strangely taken to task?"

"Does thee not know that John is much impressed by thee?"

"No, mother, nor is he aware of it, nor is thee, nor is any one except the idle busybodies that have crept into our scattered