"Who's that coming up the garden-walk, doctor?" said the old lady;
"Ruth's father, as true as the world. Ah! I understand, we shall see
what we shall see; mind you keep a stiff upper lip, doctor."
"Good morning, doctor," said Mr. Ellet.
"Good morning, sir," said the doctor, stiffly.
"Fine place you have here, doctor."
"Very," replied the doctor.
"I have just come from a visit to Ruth," said Mr. Ellet.
The imperturbable doctor slightly nodded to his visitor, as he took a
pinch of snuff.
"She seems to take her husband's death very hard."
"Does she?" replied the doctor.
"I'm sorry to hear," remarked Mr. Ellet, fidgeting in his chair, "that
there is nothing left for the support of the family."
"So am I," said the doctor.
"I suppose the world will talk about us, if nothing is done for her,"
said the non-committal Mr. Ellet.
"Very likely," replied the doctor.
"Harry was _your_ child," said Mr. Ellet, suggestively.
"Ruth is yours," said the doctor.
"Yes, I know," said Mr. Ellet; "but you are better off than I am,
doctor."
"I deny it--I deny it," retorted the doctor, fairly roused; "you own
the house you live in, and have a handsome income, or _ought_ to have,"
said he, sneeringly, "at the rate you live. If you have brought up your
daughter in extravagance, so much the worse for _her_; you and Ruth must
settle that between you. I wash _my_ hands of her. I have no objection
to take Harry's _children_, and try to bring them up in a sensible
manner; but, in that case, I'll have none of the mother's interference.
Then her hands will be free to earn her own living, and she's none too
good for it, either. I don't believe in your doll-baby women; she's
proud, you are all proud, all your family--that tells the whole story."
This was rather plain Saxon, as the increased redness of Mr. Ellet's
ears testified; but pecuniary considerations helped him to swallow the
bitter pill without making a wry face.
"I don't suppose Ruth could be induced to part with her children," said
Mr. Ellet, meditatively.
"Let her try to support them then, till she gets starved out," replied
the doctor. "I suppose you know, if the mother's inability to maintain
them is proved, the law obliges each of the grand-parents to take one."
This was a new view of the case, and one which immediately put to flight
any reluctance Mr. Ellet might have had to force Ruth to part with
her children; and remarking that he thought upon reflection, that the
children _would_ be better off with the doctor, Mr. Ellet took his
leave.
"I thought that stroke would tell," said the doctor, laughing, as Mr.
Ellet closed the door.
"Yes, you hit the right nail on the head that time," remarked the old
lady; "but those children will be a sight of trouble. They never sat
still five minutes at a time, since they were born; but I'll soon cure
them of that. I'm determined Ruth shan't have them, if they fret me to
fiddling-strings; but what an avaricious old man Mr. Ellet is. We ought
to be thankful we have more of the gospel spirit. But the clock has
struck nine, doctor. It is time to have prayers, and go to bed."