and replied, "It is very difficult for a mother to keep track of all a young man's fancies."
"This is more than a fancy, Mrs. Sewall. Ruth and your son are engaged to be married," I announced calmly.
A slight flush spread over Mrs. Sewall's face to the very roots of her marcel wave, but her voice showed no emotion when she spoke.
"Would it not have been more delicate to have allowed my son to have told me this piece of news," she asked me cuttingly.
"I was not thinking much about the delicacy of my call, I'm afraid."
"Evidently," she agreed.
"I have come simply to find out if you approve of this engagement and, if not, what we can do about it."
Mrs. Sewall looked me up and down deliberately, then:
"You seem to be a very courageous young person," she said, "but I fear this interview cannot alter my opinion. Your sister is no doubt a very charming young girl, but I have other ambitions for my son, Mrs. Maynard."
"I thought so. I guessed it from a conversation I overheard, and that is why I have come this morning. I thought we could work better together than alone."
"I plainly see," said Mrs. Sewall, gazing pityingly upon me, "that it will be necessary to be quite blunt with you. Did you never suspect that I closed Grassmere three years ago, simply to separate my son from your sister? As soon as I learned that my son actually intended to marry Miss Vars I was forced to
