"Rebecca, I fear,
teaches you to forget that you are still a child."
"Do not scold her," said the old man. "She is a good girl."
"It is Anton that forgets that nature is making Ruth a young woman,"
said Rebecca.
"I do not want to be a young woman a bit before uncle Anton likes it,"
said Ruth. "I don't mind waiting ever so long for him. When he is
married he will not care what I am."
"If that be so, you may be a woman very soon," said Rebecca.
"That is more than you know," said Anton, turning very sharply on her.
"What do you know of my marriage, or when it will be?"
"Are you scolding her too?" said the elder Trendellsohn.
"Nay, father; let him do so," said Rebecca. "He has known me long
enough to scold me if he thinks that I deserve it. You are gentle to me
and spoil me, and it is only well that one among my old friends should
be sincere enough to be ungentle."
"I beg your pardon, Rebecca, if I have been uncourteous."
"There can be no pardon where there is no offence."
"If you are ashamed to hear of your marriage," said the father, "you
should be ashamed to think of it.
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