"Try until she DOES listen," continued Peter. "Tell her you will
be very lonely if she doesn't go, and that she is the one and only
thing in Corklesville that interests you outside of your work--and
be sure you mention the dear girl first and the work last--and
that you won't have another happy hour if she leaves you in the--"
"Oh!--Uncle Peter!"
"And why not? It's a fact, isn't it? You were honest about Isaac;
why not be honest with Ruth?"
"I am."
"No, you're not,--you only tell her half what's in your heart.
Tell her all of it! The poor child has been very much depressed of
late, so Felicia tells me, over something that troubles her, and I
wouldn't be at all surprised if you were at the bottom of it. Give
yourself an overhauling and find out what you have said or done to
hurt her. She will never forget you for pulling her father out of
that hole, nor will he."
Jack bristled up: "I don't want her to think of me in that way!"
"Oh, you don't! don't you? Oh, of course not! You want her to
think of you as a great and glorious young knight who goes
prancing about the world doing good from habit, and yet you are so
high and mighty that--Jack, you rascal, do you know you are the
stupidest thing that breathes? You're like a turkey, my boy,
trying to get over the top rail of a pen with its head in the air,
when all it has to do is to stoop a little and march out on its
toes.
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