e had expressed a proper admiration for the wax-flowers; she
had heard, though she might have forgotten, for she was but young, the
price of the "real Brussels" carpet, and so she might safely be
permitted to sit in the kitchen, and watch Mrs. Eccles darning her son's
socks.

I am almost afraid Ruth liked the kitchen best, with its tiled floor and
patch of afternoon sun; with its tall clock in the corner, its line of
straining geraniums in the low window-shelf, and its high mantle-piece
crowned by two china dogs with red lozenges on them, holding baskets in
their mouths.

"Yes, a deal of talk there is, but nobody rightly seems to know anything
for certain," continued Mrs. Eccles, spreading out her hand in the heel
of a fresh sock, and pouncing on a modest hole. "Ye see, we never gave a
thought to _him_, with that great hearty Mr. George, his eldest brother,
to succeed when the old gentleman went. And such a fine figure of a man
in his clothes as poor Mr. George used to be, and such a favorite with
his old uncle. And then to be took like that, horseback riding at polar,
only six weeks after the old gentleman. But I can't hear as anybody's
set eyes on his half-brother as comes in for the property now. He never
came to Vandon in his uncle's lifetime. They say old Mr. Dare couldn't
bide the French madam as his brother took when his first wife died--a
foreigner, with black curls; it wasn't likely. He was always partial to
Mr. George, and he took him up when his father died; but he never would
have anything to say to this younger one, bein' nothin' in the world, so
folks say, but half a French, and black, like his mother. I wonder
now--" began Mrs. Eccles, tentatively, with her usual love of
information.

"I wonder, now," interposed Ruth, quietly, "how the rheumatism is
getting on? I saw you were in church on Sunday evening."

"Yes, my dear," began Mrs. Eccles, readily diverted to a subject of such
interest as herself. "Yes, I always come to the evening service now,
though I won't deny as the rheumatics are very pinching at times. But,
dear Lord! I never come up to the stalls near the chancel, so you ain't
likely to see me. To see them Harrises always a-goin' up to the very
top, it does go agen me. I don't say as it's everybody as ought to take
the lowest place. The Lord knows I'm not proud, but I won't go into them
chairs down by the font myself; but to see them Harrises, that to my
certain knowledge hasn't a bite of but