Rachel turned right about face with an almost military precision,
and passing her arm through Ruth's led the girl away, leaving Reuben
shaken back into internal chaos. Ruth's blushing face and humid brown
eyes were turned towards him in momentary but keen apology, and he was
left standing alone on the cobbled pavement with a feeling of perfect
wreck.

"Aunt Rachel!" said the girl, as she suffered herself thus ignominiously
to be towed away. "How could you make me behave so rudely?"

"Have nothing to do with those people," replied Aunt Rachel, frigidly.
"They are bad, root and branch. I know them, my dear. That young man has
the audacity to admire you. You must not encourage him."

"I am sure," said Ruth, guiltily, only half knowing what she said, "he
has never spoken a word--"

"It is not necessary to wait for words," returned the old lady. "I
can see quite clearly. I am experienced. I know the Golds. I have been
familiar with the method of their villany for many years."

"How can you speak so?" the girl asked, recovering something of her
native spirit. "I am sure that there is no better man in the world than
Mr. Ezra Gold. Everybody speaks well of him."

"It is not quite accurate, my dear," said Aunt Rachel, "to say that
everybody speaks well of him, when a person even so inconsiderable
as myself is in the act of speaking ill of him." The quaint veneer of
fashion with which for many years she had overlaid her speech and manner
was more apparent in this address than common, but suddenly she broke
through it and spoke with an approach to passion. "I know them; they are
villains. Have nothing to do with any member of that family, my dear,
as you value your happiness." She pinched her niece's arm tightly as she
spoke, and for a little time they walked on in silence, Ruth not knowing
what to say in answer to this outburst, but by no means convinced as
yet of the villany either of Ezra or Reuben. "Now, my dear," Aunt Rachel
began again, with a return to her customary mincing tones, "you are not
far from your own residence. I observe," with a swift glance over her
shoulder, "that the person still lingers at the corner. But if he should
attempt to follow you may rely upon me to intercept him. My niece must
act like my niece. You must show your detestation of his odious advances
in a proper manner."

"But, Aunt Rachel!" protested Ruth, "he has never made any advances, and
I--I haven't any detestation."

"All in good ti