So he made
it out on parchment. Now, woman, try and read it!" said she,
giving it to Ruth.
Ruth smiled, and began to read; Sally listening with rapt
attention. When Ruth came to the word "testatrix," Sally stopped
her.
"That was the first sixpence," said she. "I thowt he was going to
fob me off again wi' plain language; but when that word came, I
out wi' my sixpence, and gave it to him on the spot. Now, go on."
Presently Ruth read "accruing."
"That was the second sixpence. Four sixpences it were in all,
besides six-and-eightpence as we bargained at first, and
three-and-fourpence parchment. There! that's what I call a will;
witnessed, according to law, and all. Master Thurstan will be
prettily taken in when I die, and he finds all his extra wage
left back to him. But it will teach him it's not so easy as he
thinks for, to make a woman give up her way."
The time was now drawing near when little Leonard might be
weaned--the time appointed by all three for Ruth to endeavour to
support herself in some way more or less independent of Mr. and
Miss Benson. This prospect dwelt much in all of their minds, and
was in each shaded with some degree of perplexity; but they none
of them spoke of it, for fear of accelerating the event. If they
had felt clear and determined as to the best course to be
pursued, they were none of them deficient in courage to commence
upon that course at once.
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