said Margaret, hurriedly, taking his arm. "I don't like Dunham any better than you do."
"I can believe that," said he. "You liked it well enough before I came. This is your place. I can make none so pleasant to you. This is the prettiest garden in the world, and there is a townfull of girls—no—no."
"Do you think I care for gardens, or for the girls—as I do for you, father? I am going to talk to Ross. She knows more than anybody!"
This purpose was uttered with a rapidity that equalled its formation.
It seemed as if Mr. Hazard had so long been guided and governed by others that he had no will of his own left. He had none, certainly, for arguing this point, or any other in which the happiness of his child was concerned, with her. He, too, had been thinking about Miss Ross. If she felt, as he well knew she did, an interest in Margaret like that she had manifested toward her mother, whose playmate and school-fellow she had been in youth, she might have some counsel to give.
And so, even before Margaret found an opportunity to speak with Miss Ross, Mr. Hazard sought her, and said,
"Miss Ross, I can't bear it any longer. I want to talk with you about Margaret."
"Yes." That little word was as serviceable as any other would have been, for Miss Ross had foreseen this conclusion, if not this conversation, and had asked herself, with concern, more than once, how long Joseph Hazard would be able "to endure it."
"Yes," he repeated. "I can't endure it. I knew what it would be, of course, when I came and I didn't intend to come. Not right away. But there was no such thing as getting clear of the judge. I should have gone out of the country. I am glad now that I did not. It was better to come right here. It was better to be crushed and ground to powder, Ross, than to go off and stay till I forgot what I went for."
"I think so myself," said dear Miss Ross, with spirit. "I expect you never had as many friends in Dunham, either, as you have this minute. But what makes you talk about going away? I should fight it right out here."
Miss Ross shook when she said this. It was more than mere tremulousness that took hold of her. To think of saying such things to Joseph Hazard! But he had paid her the compliment of coming to talk about her old friend's daughter, and to consult with her, and she wanted to let him know her sense of his noble behavior.
"I cannot do it," said he. "There is no use talking. It would be downright self-murder. If I had intended to kill myself, I should have done it seven years ago. Maggy sees it as I do. She sees that I must go away. She wants to go with me. I can't take her."
"But of course you must, Joseph."
How grateful was the look with which he regarded old Miss Ross when she said that! But he could hardly believe his ears.
"You must, of course," she continued, "for that was her mother's wish. It would be her grandfather's wish, too, I think. There was never a juster man than Judge Forrest."
"You don't see, Ross, that there's only one place I'm fit for, and that place wouldn't be fit for her."
