or rather a
willingness to be taught, and that is the reason I can never see or feel
like Agnes in spiritual things."

Such a sense of want, such a longing came into her soul, that she
almost cried out; but Agnes returned, and driving back her emotion, Ruth
went on with her preparations.

With the greatest care Agnes set the table, bringing out the best china,
and arranging and re-arranging until she was sure everything was right,
then she and Ruth found it was time to dress.

"Fixing up like other girls," still ran in Ruth's mind, and going to the
wardrobe, she selected her maroon colored merino dress, because Guy said
it suited her complexion.

"Your best dress and lace bow," exclaimed Agnes, who considered herself
quite well dressed in her black alpaca, though it had been turned, and a
blue neck-tie.

"Yes," replied Ruth, "my best dress and lace bow. Extravagant, isn't it?
Promises well for the year?"

"One would think you expected somebody."

"So I do; a gentleman."

"O, Guy, you mean; but what is the reason you have your best dress on?"

"Indeed that is the very reason. I don't know for whom I should want to
dress, if not for Guy."

"Of course, Ruth, we should do more for him than for anyone, but you are
so careful of your good clothes, and so seldom wear them at home."

"Well, I have been thinking perhaps I had better pay more attention to
my appearance. Fix up a little more to be like other people, I mean. One
feels better satisfied with herself when she is looking well. And then,
Agnes, as Guy goes more into society, I fancy he is becoming
fastidious."

"Yes, I suppose so," returned Agnes, re-arranging her neck-tie. "How do
I look, Ruth; does this dress look shabby?"

"Shabby! one would scarcely know that it is not new. You always look
well dressed; but it takes a great deal of fixing to set me off."

Guy's face showed his approbation as he glanced over the table, and his
"Why, girls, this is a feast fit for a king!" carried with it, greater
pleasure, than the most graceful compliment from other lips could have
done. After dinner they walked out together "to see the New Year," Guy
said; and the girls felt sure that he must know all the great men of the
town, he bowed to so many. Then he was not the least ashamed of his
sisters either, Ruth thought, and she became quite animated, so that
Agnes, who knew nothing of the reason, wondered at the unusually high
spirits. _She_ was very happy, for she