igh.

"What is the matter, my fair coz?" asked Gerald, who was standing near
and heard the sigh. "Are the Fates very unpropitious?"

"No, Cousin Gerald," she answered shyly.

She could not understand the young man who patronized her, and talked to
her as if she were a little child, and she fancied that he was making
fun of her.

"Then why do you sigh?" he inquired.

"I have nothing else to do," she said, smiling.

"Has Julia left you without any introduction? Well, we will soon remedy
that," he said as he led her towards a very fair young girl, dressed in
blue and white, and having introduced the two girls he left them
talking, and strolled off with a friend.

Ruth's companion was by no means shy, she had a great deal to say, and
began by making remarks upon the people on board, and telling little
scraps of their personal histories.

"You see that old gentleman walking with Mr. Woburn. That is Mr. Amass,
the banker. They say that he is awfully rich, but I am sure that he is a
terrible screw. Only look at his wife, and see how shabbily she dresses.
Don't you see her over there with the daisies in her bonnet? And that is
her niece, Miss Game, flirting with Mr. Trim. Ah! he is walking away
now; he prefers a chat with Edith Thorpe. How amused they look! I
suppose he is telling her what Miss Game has been saying. Yes, I am sure
they are laughing at her!"

"But surely," said Ruth, looking rather shocked, "he would not be so
rude as to talk to a young lady, and then go away and laugh at her!"

"My dear child," replied the other, laughing, "every one does it, more
or less."

"But are none of them _friends_? Do none of them care for each other
sufficiently to refrain from laughing?" asked Ruth earnestly.

"Very few persons care enough for their friends to be quiet about their
follies and weaknesses," replied this worldly-wise young lady, and then
she continued her running commentary upon the visitors until the steamer
arrived at its destination, a beautiful little bay where the water was
so clear that one could see the sea-weeds growing underneath. Tall trees
grew not far from the shore, and upon a slight eminence was situated an
old castle, not possessing many historical associations, but in a fairly
good state of preservation, and much frequented by pleasure parties from
Stonegate.

The older ladies at once made their way to a shady nook under the trees,
and the rest of the party strolled about the grounds in t