But there was no real good reason why she should economize either in bonnets or in anything else she wanted.

McGowan, of course, would be held responsible; for whatever damage had been done he would have to pay.

He had been present when the young architect's watchful and trained eye had discovered some defects in the masonry of the wing walls of the McGowan culvert bridging the stream, and had heard him tell the contractor, in so many words that if the water got away and smashed anything below him he would charge the loss to his account.

McGowan had groveled in dissent, but it had made no impression on Garry, whose duty it was to see that the work was properly carried out and whose signature loosened the village purse strings.
None of these details would interest Ruth; nor was it necessary that they should.

The bonnet, however, was another matter.