RUTH. 105

“Now I propose that we go to your house. I will go in
first, and, while the man is announcing me to your aunts, you
can slip up to your room. I do not want you to have a scold-
ing, and you must not run away again,” he said, kindly.

Ruth was too accustomed to direct obedience not to follow
his advice, and was soon in her room.

About dusk she was called down-stairs, and found her aunts
amiably chatting with their nephew. He made no allusion to
their former meeting, but before he left said he had heard of a
little cousin Ruth and brought her a small gift, at the same
time handing her the box containing the lovely doll.

Ruth could hardly speak her thanks, but the delight in her
face gave them truthfully.

Cousin John’s visit was such an event to the old ladies that
Ruth received no more lecturing that evening, but was allowed
to go to her room with her doll and gloat over it to her heart’s
content.

The next day when Ruth returned from school she flew to
her room for a glimpse of the dear darling, but what was her
horror to find her precious doll lying upon the floor with a
great dreadful hole in her face. Poor little heart-broken
Ruth! this last grief seemed more than she could bear. And as
she did not come down to supper her Aunt Maria went to seek
her. The swollen eyes and tear-stained face told their own
tale. For a moment Miss Maria was inclined to be sympa-
thetic, but the repression of a lifetime was too much for her,