our_ society."

"Very well! Very well!" said the Preceptress, hastily. "You may have
the same rights, and under the same conditions, that the older clubs
have. And now, Miss Fielding, stop here a moment, I have another
matter to speak to you about."

The other girls went away and Ruth, somewhat troubled by the manner of
Mrs. Tellingham, waited her pleasure. The Preceptress took up a letter
from her desk and read it through again.

"Dr. Davison you know, Ruth," she said, quietly. "He and your uncle,
Mr. Jabez Potter, have arranged to send here to school a lame girl
named Curtis------"

"My uncle!" gasped Ruth. "O, I beg your pardon, Mrs. Tellingham. But
are you sure it is my uncle who is sending Mercy Curtis?"

"With Dr. Davison--yes," the Preceptress said, in some surprise. "They
have equally charged themselves with her expenses at Briarwood--if she
can remain here. You know her, of course?"

"Helen and I have talked of her almost every day, Mrs. Tellingham,"
said Ruth warmly. "She is very quick and sharp. And she is much
improved in disposition from what she used to be."

"I hear you speak of her so kindly, with pleasure, Miss Fielding," said
the head of the school. "For it opens the way to a suggestion that Dr.
Davison makes. He wishes Mercy Curtis to room with you."

"With Helen and me!" cried Ruth, in delight. "Of course, I slept in
Mercy's room all the time she was at the Red Mill last summer, and we
got on nicely together."

"But you do not know how Miss Cameron will receive the suggestion of
having a third girl in your small room?"

"Oh, Helen is so kind!" Ruth cried. "I do not believe she will object.
And she is sorry for Mercy."

"I know you have been Helen's constant companion. Do you think you
have been as good friends as you were when you came to Briarwood,
Ruth?" asked Mrs. Tellingham, with sharpness.

"Helen! Oh, I hope so, Mrs. Tellingham!" cried Ruth, in great
distress. "I am sure I love her just the same--and always shall."

"But she evidently finds her friends among the Upedes. Why did she not
join this new society that you have started?"

"I--I did not mean to start it without her," stammered Ruth. "It was
really only my suggestion. The other Infants took it up----"

"But you named it?"

"I _did_ suggest the name," admitted Ruth.

"And you did not join the Up and Doing Club with your chum."

"No, Mrs. Tellingham. Nor did I join the F. C.'s. I did not like t