n what Will called "the
sentimental strain."

CHAPTER IV.

THE JOURNEY.

Several letters passed between Mrs. Arnold and her sister-in-law; and as
it was arranged that Ruth was to go the following week, there was not
much time for preparation, and every spare minute was fully occupied.
Her entire wardrobe had to be inspected and replenished, as far as
slender means would permit; old garments were made to look as much like
new as possible, and little bits of ribbon and lace which had not seen
the light for years, because there were so few suitable occasions for
wearing them in a quiet country place, now reappeared in the form of
bows and tuckers for the neck.

As Mrs. Woburn, Ruth's aunt, lived a great many miles from Cressleigh,
it was decided that her niece should go direct to Stonegate, the
watering-place where they were to spend the holidays. She was therefore
to take a long railway journey, quite an event in itself, as she had
rarely been farther by rail than the county town, twelve miles distant,
and even there she had always been accompanied by her father or mother.
But just now there was so much to be done on the farm, that her father
could spare neither the time nor money for a long journey, and the young
girl was obliged to travel alone, a formidable undertaking, which seemed
almost to spoil the anticipated pleasure of the sea-side visit.

One bright morning in the early part of July, Ruth woke with the
thought, "I am really going away to-day, and perhaps I may not sleep in
this dear little room for a whole year, or for six months at least."

She had rarely called her chamber a "dear little room" before; in fact,
she had often grumbled because it was so small; but now that she was
about to go away it had suddenly become dear, for was it not part of her
home, and what place in the world could ever be so dear as home?

How strange it all seemed that morning! The coming downstairs and
finding the little trunk packed and corded in the hall; the hurried
breakfast, at which every one but mother talked very fast, because they
had so much to say and such a short time in which to say it; the
leave-takings, the good-byes, and parting injunctions.

Ruth drove off at last beside her father, feeling like one in a dream,
so dimly did she see everything through the mist of tears which hung
about her eyes.

There was another farewell to be said at the railway junction, for Mr.
Arnold could only wait a few min