life and
energy that she challenged Rupert to a race.

"Just look at her, mamma!" exclaimed Julia, who was sitting beside her
mother on a rustic seat. "Did you ever see any one so wild and vulgar?
And that frightful dress, as old-fashioned as possible! To think of our
going on the Esplanade with her!"

"Is that the reason you did not wish to go there?"

"Of course it was. Every one would have stared at her antiquated dress.
Indeed, she is altogether old-fashioned; she actually asked me last
night if I had any dolls, and if I went to Sunday-school. I didn't think
that having a poor relation to live with us would be quite so annoying
and humiliating."

Mrs. Woburn was very seldom angry with her spoilt child, but now she was
thoroughly roused, and said in low distinct tones, "Remember, Julia,
that you speak of my brother's daughter. While Ruth is here she will be
treated as your sister. You little know what you owe to your uncle, and
if I ever hear you speak in that contemptuous way of any of his family I
will send you to your room at once."

Such a threat was quite strange to Julia, who at fourteen began to
consider herself almost grown-up, and quite above reproof or punishment;
but it was sufficiently determined to prevent her making any more
remarks of the sort in her mother's hearing, though it did not increase
her affection for her cousin.

During the walk home Ruth was merry as ever, romping with Rupert,
chatting with that usually shy lad, Ernest, and planning an afternoon on
the shore to collect sea-weeds. But Julia walked slowly beside her
mother, so evidently determined to be silent that the rest of the party
tacitly agreed to leave her to herself.

Mr. Woburn and his eldest son, Gerald, arrived at Stonegate that
afternoon, and Ruth saw them for the first time. She soon felt at home
with her uncle, a plain-featured, middle-aged man of business, but with
his son she felt wonderfully shy. It seemed hardly possible that the
handsome young man with the dark moustache and manly bearing could be
her cousin. She had expected to see a boy two or three years older than
Will, but still a boy, not a polite and self-possessed young man, who by
his way of speaking to her made her feel a very little girl indeed.

"How have you been improving the shining hours, my lad?" was his
greeting to Ernest.

"He has been down on the shore collecting shells for Ruth," said Julia
mischievously.

"Ernest becoming a lady's man! D