"Well, now, I don't know," she answered, visibly softening, "but I'll
think it over, and let you know."
"What would you like, Uncle James?"
"You needn't trouble him about it," explained his wife. "He'll like
whatever I do, won't you, James?"
"Yes'm, just as you say."
After dinner, when Ruth broached the subject of furniture, she was
gratified to find that Aunt Jane had no serious objections. "I kinder
hate to part with it, Ruth," she said, "but in a way, as you may say,
it's yours."
"'Tisn't like giving it away, Aunty--it's all in the family, and, as you
say, you're not using it."
"That's so, and then James and me are likely to come and make you a long
visit, so I'll get the good of it, too."
Ruth was momentarily stunned, but rallied enough to express great
pleasure at the prospect. As Aunt Jane began to clear up the dishes,
Mr. Ball looked at his niece, with a certain quiet joy, and then,
unmistakably, winked.
"When you decide about the wedding present, Aunty, let me know, won't
you?" she asked, as Mrs. Ball came in after the rest of the dishes. "Mr.
Winfield would like to send you a remembrance also." Then Ruth added, to
her conscience, "I know he would."
"He seems like a pleasant-spoken feller," remarked Aunt Jane. "You can
ask him to supper to-night, if you like."
"Thank you, Aunty, but we're going to Miss Ainslie's."
"Huh!" snorted Mrs. Ball. "Mary Ainslie ain't got no sperrit!" With this
enigmatical statement, she sailed majestically out of the room.
During the afternoon, Ruth finished her packing, leaving out a white
shirt-waist to wear to Miss Ainslie's. When she went down to the parlour
to wait for Winfield, Aunt Jane appeared, with her husband in her wake.
"Ruth," she announced, "me and James have decided on a weddin' present.
I would like a fine linen table-cloth and a dozen napkins."
"All right, Aunty."
"And if Mr. Winfield is disposed to it, he can give me a lemonade
set--one of them what has different coloured tumblers belongin' to it."
"He'll be pleased to send it, Aunty; I know he will."
"I'm a-layin' out to take part of them two hundred dollars what's sewed
up in James's belt, and buy me a new black silk," she went on. "I've got
some real lace to trim it with, whet dames give me in the early years of
our engagement. Don't you think a black silk is allers nice, Ruth?"
"Yes, it is, Aunty; and just now, it's very stylish."
"You appear to know about such things. I guess I'll let you get it
for me in the city when you buy the weddin' present. I'll give you the
money, and you can get the linin's too, while you're about it."