He nodded, smiling down at her with eyes full of brotherly affection for
a most lovable girl. He followed her into the church and took his place
beside her, feeling that he would rather be here, just now, than
anywhere in the world.

It must be admitted that he hardly heard the service, except for the
music, which was of a sort to make its own way into the most abstracted
consciousness. But the quiet spirit of the place had its effect upon
him, and when he knelt beside Ruth it seemed the most natural thing in
the world to form a prayer in his heart that he might be a fit husband
for the wife he was so soon to take to himself. Once, during a long
period of kneeling, Ruth's hand slipped shyly into his, and he held it
fast, with a quickening perception of what it meant to have a pure young
spirit like hers beside him in this sacred hour. His soul was full of
high resolve to be a son and brother to this rare family into which he
was entering such as might do them honour. For it was a very significant
fact that to him the people who stood nearest to Roberta were of great
consequence; and that a source of extraordinary satisfaction to him,
from the first, had been his connection with a family which seemed to
him ideal, and association with which made up to him for much of which
his life had been empty.

A proof of this had been his invitation, through his grandfather, who
had warmly seconded his wish, to Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Gray, to come and
stay with the Kendricks throughout this Christmas party, precisely as
they had done the year before. To have Aunt Ruth preside at breakfast on
this auspicious morning had given Richard the greatest pleasure, and the
kiss he had bestowed upon her had been one which she recognized as very
like the tribute of a son. From her side he had gone to St. Luke's.

"Good-bye, dear, for a few hours," he whispered to Ruth, as he put her
into the brougham, driven by the old family coachman, in which she had
come alone to church. "When I see you next I'll be almost your brother.
And in just a few minutes after that--"

"Oh, Richard--are you happy?" she whispered back, scanning his face with
brimming eyes.

"So happy I can't tell even you. Give my love, my dearest love, to--"

"I will--" as he paused on the name, as if he could not speak it just
then. "She was so glad to have us go to church together. She wanted to
come herself--so much."

He pressed the small gloved hand held out to him. He knew