e such people should be allowed to come
here. To think of such wickedness under the same roof! Do come away,
my dear, and don't flatter her by such notice."

The husband returned to the breakfast-table; he smelt the broiled
ham and eggs, and he heard his wife's commands. Whether smelling
or hearing had most to do in causing his obedience, I cannot tell;
perhaps you can.

"Now, Harry, go and see if nurse and baby are ready to go out with
you. You must lose no time this beautiful morning."

Ruth found Mr Bellingham was not yet come down; so she sallied out
for an additional half-hour's ramble. Flitting about through the
village, trying to catch all the beautiful sunny peeps at the scenery
between the cold stone houses, which threw the radiant distance into
aerial perspective far away, she passed by the little shop; and, just
issuing from it, came the nurse and baby, and little boy. The baby
sat in placid dignity in her nurse's arms, with a face of queenly
calm. Her fresh, soft, peachy complexion was really tempting; and
Ruth, who was always fond of children, went up to coo and to smile
at the little thing, and, after some "peep-boing," she was about to
snatch a kiss, when Harry, whose face had been reddening ever since
the play began, lifted up his sturdy little right arm and hit Ruth a
great blow on the face.

"Oh, for shame, sir!" said the nurse, snatching back his hand; "how
dare you do that to the lady who is so kind as to speak to Sissy."

"She's not a lady!" said he, indignantly. "She's a bad naughty
girl--mamma said so, she did; and she shan't kiss our baby."

The nurse reddened in her turn. She knew what he must have heard;
but it was awkward to bring it out, standing face to face with the
elegant young lady.

"Children pick up such notions, ma'am," said she at last,
apologetically, to Ruth, who stood, white and still, with a new idea
running through her mind.

"It's no notion; it's true, nurse; and I heard you say it yourself.
Go away, naughty woman!" said the boy, in infantile vehemence of
passion to Ruth.

To the nurse's infinite relief, Ruth turned away, humbly and meekly,
with bent head, and slow, uncertain steps. But as she turned, she saw
the mild sad face of the deformed gentleman, who was sitting at the
open window above the shop; he looked sadder and graver than ever;
and his eyes met her glance with an expression of deep sorrow. And
so, condemned alike by youth and age, she stole with timid