"I could not accept his offer, Ralph. I think a woman must care an awful lot for a man before she can consent to marry him." "And _vice versâ_," he answered. "Yes, yes, I think you are quite right in that. But how did he take it, Ruth?" "Not at all badly. Indeed, I think he was prepared for my answer. When he was leaving he met Mary Telfer outside the gate, and he stood for quite a long time laughing and talking with her." "I did not know he knew her." "He met her here a fortnight ago." "Did Mary know why he came here?" "I don't know. I never told her." "I am very glad on the whole you have said No to him. Mind you, he's a good fellow, and, as things go, an excellent catch. And yet, if I had to make choice for you, it would not be Sam Tremail. At least I would not place him first." "And who would you place first?" she questioned, raising her eyes timidly to his. "Ah, well, that is a secret. No, I am not going to tell you; for women, you know, always go by the rule of contrary." "If you had gone abroad," Ruth said, after a long pause, "and I had been left alone, I might have given Mr. Tremail a different answer. I don't know. When a good home is offered to a lonely woman the temptation is great. But when I knew that you were going to stay at home, and that Hillside was to be ours once more, I could think of nothing else. Do you think I would leave Hillside for Pentudy?" "But Hillside is not ours altogether, Ruth." "It is as good as ours," she answered, with a smile. "William Menire does not want it; he told me so. He said nothing would make him happier than to see me living there again." "Did he tell you that?" "He did." "That's strange. I always understood he did his best to bring about a match between you and Sam Tremail." "He may have done so. I don't know. He had always a good word for his cousin. On the whole, I think he was quite indifferent." "William can never be indifferent where his friends are concerned." "Oh, then, perhaps he will be pleased that I am going to remain to keep house for you." And then the subject dropped. Directly supper was over, Ralph retired to his work-room and laboratory, and began with such appliances as he had to grind the stones into powder. It was no easy task, for the rock was hard and of exceedingly fine texture. Ruth joined him when she had finished her work, and watched him with great interest. His first test was made with the ordinary "vanning shovel," his second with the aid of chemicals. But neither test seemed conclusive or satisfactory. "There's something wrong somewhere," he said, as he put away his tools. "I must do my next test in the daylight." Ruth got very anxious as the days passed away. She learned from her brother that he had employed more men to sink further prospecting pits along the course of the lode, but with what results she was unable to discover.