Chapter 22
RALPH'S NEW SITUATION. After the squire had vanished Ralph closed the front door and locked it. He returned to the sitting-room to find his mother pale and trembling. Unable to stand, the poor woman had sunk back on the lounge. "Oh, Ralph!" was all she could say just then. "Don't look so scared, mother," he replied, soothingly. "He has gone now." "Oh, my boy, how could you?" she went on, half in reproach, and yet secretly admiring his courage. "I wouldn't have done it had he not cast a slur on your fair name, mother. I might have stood what he said against me, but I'll never allow any one to say one word against you, never." And the look he gave her out of his honest eyes showed that he meant what he said. "But the squire! What will he do now?" "I don't care what he does. We haven'
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