ibrary, with its rows of standard authors in
uniform binding, the music-room, the pianos--in fact, the whole
establishment exceeded Ruth's brightest dreams of school; and her desire
for knowledge, which had somewhat lessened during her sojourn at the
sea-side, seemed at once to be kindled afresh.

She answered readily the questions given to test her previously acquired
knowledge, and it soon became evident that what she professed to know
had been thoroughly learnt. In English studies she was pronounced fairly
proficient for her age; but in French, music, and other accomplishments
she was very backward, and she found that she would have to work very
hard in order to obtain a good place in her class.

The work of the morning was so novel and interesting to Ruth, that she
was quite astonished when the bell rang for recess, and the girls
trooped off to an anteroom, where their tongues were unloosed and the
pleasures and events of the holidays were discussed, with many other
topics.

"Have you heard the news about Mr. Stanley?" asked a bright lively girl,
Ethel Thompson by name, the gossip and news-monger of the school.

"No; what is it?" cried several voices.

"Well, you must keep it to yourselves, you know," she said in a
confidential tone, "but he has failed, he is a bankrupt."

"Are you sure it is true?" asked one and another.

"How do you know?"

"I am sure it is quite true, for my father was talking about it last
night, and of course I understood how it was that Mabel's place was
vacant this morning," continued Ethel.

"Vacant! I should think it was! You don't suppose she would show her
face here, do you?" exclaimed Julia Woburn. "Of course no one would take
any notice of her. Only fancy the idea of being seen with a bankrupt's
daughter!" she added scornfully.

"Well, it is not _her_ fault." "I suppose she could not help it," said
one or two of the girls.

"If it is not her fault it is her father's, and of course it is a great
disgrace to the family. I shouldn't think they would ever hold up their
heads again," remarked Julia proudly.

"It is very sad." "I always thought them rich." "Mabel was never proud,"
began a chorus of voices, but the luncheon bell ringing at that moment
put an end to the conversation.

The subject was not forgotten, however, and was referred to again in the
afternoon, when the girls were preparing to return home.

"What do you think the Stanleys will do?" asked a girl of Ethel