Part 8 (1/2)
”I am afraid I did,” laughed his brother. ”But what else was there for me to do? I knew no way in which I might help, as Flora did.”
”That's so,” rejoined Alec, in a relieved tone, willing to share in his brother's self-absolution.
”Of course neither of you could have done anything, for you did not know Ruth. But tell me, what will be best to do?” asked Flora, pausing with a dish she was carrying to the table.
”I know,” said Harry. ”To-morrow is Sat.u.r.day and market day also, and we all can go and see Major Joe in his stall, and tell him what we have heard, and what we think. If he is interested, one of us can stay at his stall while he goes and sees Ruth.”
”How glad he will be; and how glad I am,” said Flora. ”It would be dreadful for Ruth and poor little Jem to be left with no one to take care of them.”
Thus the question was decided.
The next morning Major Joe was surprised by a visit from all three of his young friends, and none the less delighted to see them, however, because they came unexpectedly, and he gave them a hearty welcome. It was understood beforehand that Flora was to be the one to open the subject, and explain matters. She did not tell everything at once, as Alec thought she ought to do, but approached the object of their visit in a delicate way.
”Major Joe; guess what brought us here to-day.”
”I'm sure I can't say,” answered the old man, rubbing his rough hands together, with a beaming smile. ”Maybe to see your old friend?”
”To be sure; we're always glad to do that,” replied Flora, as she placed the little bunches of parsley and thyme in more perfect order. ”We have come for something else. Something very important,” she added, seeing that Major Joe had no curiosity as to the nature of their errand with him.
”What would you say if I told you we had found somebody who belongs to you?”
”To me?” queried the puzzled man. ”I don't see how you could do that.”
”Yes, but I have,” said Flora. ”I am sure of it.”
The old major shook his head doubtingly.
”And I want you to come with me and see if what I said is not true,”
persisted Flora, coaxingly.
”But how can I?” questioned Major Joe in reply. ”I cannot leave my stall--who would wait on my customers?”
”Why not let me take charge until you return,” asked Harry, speaking for the first time.
”And I can help,” added Alec.
”Now you see it's all fixed,” said Flora.
”Surely you're not afraid to trust us, are you?” asked Harry, as he saw his old friend still undecided.
”No, no; it's not that, my boy; only----”
”Only nothing,” interrupted Flora, laughingly. ”You must come, so say no more about it.” And she caught his arm and led him away, an unwilling and unbelieving captive.
Ruth opened the door in answer to Flora's gentle tap. The latter could no longer restrain her impatience.
”Now, Major Joe,” she exclaimed, softly, for fear of disturbing the sick man, ”whom does this little sobersides remind you of?”
At first the old man looked from one to the other in a bewildered manner. Then his eyes rested on Ruth's face long and attentively. The tears gathered, and he involuntarily held out his hand, and said, softly, ”Ruthie.”