博炮作文网

第3部分（第2页）

〃You　say　that　word；　Ruth；　as　though　youd　never　heard　it　before。　And　yet　your　friends　are　doing　it　all　round　you　every　day。〃

〃Oh！　I　know　that。　But　…〃

She　stopped；　biting　her　lip。　Her　father　nodded　prehendingly。

〃I　know；　Ruth。　Youre　like　me；　you　cant　bear　to　let　go。　But　Ive　learnt；　and　youve　got　to　learn；　that　there　are　times　when　its　the　only　way。　I　might　find　ways　of　whistling　Derek　back　to　you；　but　it　would　all　e　to　the　same　in　the　end。　Hes　no　good；　Ruth；　hes　rotten　through　and　through。　And　mind　you；　I　blame　myself　for　ever　letting　you　marry　him。　But　you　were　kind　of　set　on　having　him；　and　he　seemed　in　earnest　about　turning　over　a　new　leaf　…　and　well；　Id　crossed　you　once；　honey。。。〃

He　did　not　look　at　her　as　he　said　the　last　words。　Had　he　done　so；　he　might　have　seen　the　swift　colour　that　came　up　in　her　face。

〃You　did；〃　she　said　in　a　hard　voice。

〃I　was　too　darned　soft…hearted　to　do　it　a　second　time。　I　cant　tell　you　how　I　wish　I　had；　though。　Youve　led　a　poor　kind　of　life　for　the　last　few　years；　Ruth。〃

〃It　has　not　been　very　…　agreeable；〃　agreed　Mrs　Kettering。

〃Thats　why　I　say　to　you　that　this　thing　has　got　to　stop！〃　He　brought　his　hand　down　with　a　bang　on　the　table。　〃You　may　have　a　hankering　after　the　fellow　still。　Cut　it　out。　Face　facts。　Derek　Kettering　married　you　for　your　money。　Thats　all　there　is　to　it。　Get　rid　of　him；　Ruth。〃

Ruth　Kettering　looked　down　at　the　ground　for　some　moments；　then　she　said；　without　raising　her　head：

〃Supposing　he　doesnt　consent？〃

Van　Aldin　looked　at　her　in　astonishment。

〃He　wont　have　a　say　in　the　matter。〃

She　flushed　and　bit　her　lip。

〃No　…　no　…　of　course　not。　I　only　meant　…〃

She　stopped。　Her　father　eyed　her　keenly。

〃What　did　you　mean？〃

〃I　meant　…〃　She　paused；　choosing　her　words　carefully。　〃He　maynt　take　it　lying　down。〃

The　millionaires　chin　shot　out　grimly。

〃You　mean　hell　fight　the　case？　Let　him！　But；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　youre　wrong。　He　wont　fight。　Any　solicitor　he　consults　will　tell　him　he　hasnt　a　leg　to　stand　upon。〃

〃You　dont　think　…〃　she　hesitated　…　〃I　mean　…　out　of　sheer　spite　against　me　…　he　might　try　to　make　it　awkward？〃

Her　father　looked　at　her　in　some　astonishment。

〃Fight　the　case；　you　mean？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃Very　unlikely。　You　see；　he　would　have　to　have　something　to　go　upon。〃

Mrs　Kettering　did　not　answer。　Van　Aldin　looked　at　her　sharply。

〃e；　Ruth；　out　with　it。　Theres　something　troubling　you　…　what　is　it？〃

〃Nothing；　nothing　at　all。〃

But　her　voice　was　unconvincing。

〃You　are　dreading　the　publicity；　eh？　Is　that　it？　You　leave　it　to　me。　Ill　put　the　whole　thing　through　so　smoothly　that　there　will　be　no　fuss　at　all。〃

〃Very　well；　Dad；　if　you　really　think　its　the　best　thing　to　be　done。〃

〃Got　a　fancy　for　the　fellow　still；　Ruth？　Is　that　it？〃

〃No。〃

The　word　came　with　no　uncertain　emphasis。　Van　Aldin　seemed　satisfied。　He　patted　his　daughter　on　the　shoulder。

〃It　will　be　all　right；　little　girl。　Dont　you　worry　any。　Now　lets　forget　all　about　this。　I　have　brought　you　a　present　from　Paris。〃

〃For　me？　Something　very　nice？〃

〃I　hope　youll　think　so；〃　said　Van　Aldin；　smiling。

He　took　the　parcel　from　his　coat　pocket　and　handed　it　to　her。　She　unwrapped　it　eagerly；　and　snapped　open　the　case。　A　longdrawn　〃Oh！〃　came　from　her　lips。　Ruth　Kettering　loved　jewels　…　always　had　done　so。

〃Dad；　how　…　how　wonderful！〃