Then they both looked away.
Captain Hunniwell prated proudly on, chanting praises of his daughter's capabilities and talents, as he did to any one who would listen, and varying the monotony with occasional references to the wonderful manner in which young Phillips had "taken hold" at the bank.

Ruth nodded and murmured something from time to time, but to any one less engrossed by his subject than the captain it would have been evident she was paying little attention.

Jed, who was being entertained by Babbie and Petunia, was absently pretending to be much interested in a fairy story which the former was improvising--she called the process "making up as I go along"-- for his benefit.

Suddenly he leaned forward and spoke.
"Sam," he said, "there's somebody comin' up the walk.

I didn't get a good sight of him, but it ain't anybody that lives here in Orham regular." "Eh?
That so ?" demanded the captain.