ion to carry
out the decision to which she had so recently come, and she had not the
least idea how to set to work to carry it out. She went with the rest to
the large tent to hear Mrs. Clark's address to primary class teachers.

"I'm not a primary class teacher, and not likely to be, but I am a
woman, and gifted with the natural curiosity of that sex to know what a
woman may have to say in so big a place as this. I don't see how she
dares to peep." This was Eurie's explanation of her desire to go to the
reception.

Ruth went because to go to meeting seemed to be the wisest way that she
knew of for carrying out her decision, and a good time she had. She had
not imagined that teaching primary classes was such an art, and involved
so much time and brain as it did. She listened eagerly to all Mrs. Clark
had to say; she followed her through the blackboard lessons with
surprise and delight, and she awoke at the close of the hour to the
memory that, although she had been interested as she had not imagined it
possible for her to be on such a theme, she had done nothing toward her
determination to make a Christian of herself, and that she knew no more
how to go to work than before.

"When I _do_ find out how to be one I know I will go to work in the
Sabbath-school; I have changed my mind on that point." This she told
herself softly as they went back to dinner.

It was a strange afternoon to her. She became unable to interest herself
heartily in the public services; her own heart claimed her thought. It
was noticeable also that for the first time Chautauqua chose this day in
which to be metaphysical and scientific, to the exclusion of personal
religion. Not that they were irreligious, not that they for a moment
forgot their position as a great religious gathering; but there was an
absence of that intense personal element in the talk which had so
offended Ruth's taste heretofore, and she missed it.

She wandered aimlessly up and down the aisles, listening to sentences
now and then, and sighing a little. They were eloquent, they were
helpful; she could imagine herself as being in a state to enjoy them
heartily, but just now she wanted nothing so much as to know what to do
in order to give herself a right to membership with that great religious
world. Why should Chautauqua suddenly desert her now when she so much
needed its help?

"If I knew a single one of these Christian people I would certainly ask
them what to do." This