Ruby's Reward — page 76: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

true grit about you, and you’ve always been a favourite of mine. Td just enjoy helping you over the ground a little faster than you'd be able to go alone, and show Edmund that there are other folks to appreciate and look after you, if he doesn’t.” Walter coloured crimson at this offer. He was deeply touched, for, aside from ood Mra Coxon, who had shown him many ittle favours during the past year, there had been no one to take a friendly intcrest in him since Mr Carpenter’s death. ‘‘You are very kind,” he said, in a voice that was a trifle unsteady; ‘and, 1 sup- pose, if you had made me this offer at the outset, 1 should have asked you to help me through college, and then let me study in some architect’s office. I asked Edmund to lend me the money for that purpose, promising to return it as soon as I could earn it-—-—”’ ‘*And wouldn’t he?’ demanded Mr Ruggles, ina sharp tone, while his small, round grey eyes glistened with resent- ment. ‘*No. He was offended because 1 would not do as he wished, and told me to go my own way; he should wash his hands of me entirely. Perhaps I should not tell you this. 1 know {have had a great deal done for me in the past, and I would not appear ungrateful.” “Well,” returned Mr Rugeles, after thinking a moment, “ what hinders you from letting me help you now ?” comicbootss.com