nd and laid it over her daughter's. It was the
signal of capitulation, and Ruth recognised it as such, and felt a
sinking of the heart.

"You will let me go, mother?" she asked.

And Mrs Connor answered brokenly--

"If I must, I must! You would come home for the holidays: we should not
lose you altogether. But oh, Ruth, not yet! Wait until the beginning
of the term. Years ago, when things were at their very worst with me,
and I did not know where to turn for help, God sent my dear husband to
take care of me and you two babies. Perhaps--perhaps something may
happen again. Perhaps, after all, it may not be necessary!"

They kissed each other silently, and parted for the night. Half-way
upstairs Ruth remembered that her mother had not once inquired as to the
nature of the work she intended to undertake, and smiled whimsically to
herself. It was so very characteristic of the irresponsible little
mistress of the household!

CHAPTER THREE.

A PROPOSAL AND A REFUSAL.

It was tacitly understood in the household that after Easter Ruth was
going to do "something" to retrieve the family fortunes, but what that
"something" should be remained vague and undefined. Ruth herself
debated the question morning, noon, and night, and, like many another
poor girl in the same position, bitterly regretted an education which
had given her no one marketable qualification. She could play a little,
draw a little, speak French a little, speak German a little less, make
her own clothes in amateur fashion, and--what else? Nothing at all that
any able-bodied woman could not accomplish equally well. If she had
concentrated her energies on one definite thing, and learnt to do it,
not pretty well, nor very well, but just as well as it could possibly be
done, what a different prospect would have stretched before her now!

If she decided to teach, she must be content to accept juvenile pupils
and a poor salary; if she became a companion, she must sacrifice all
spirit of independence, and become a dutiful drudge, while she knew in
her inmost heart that it would be wrong to take up nursing, since she
felt no real vocation for the task.

It was useless to ask advice of anyone at home, so, one afternoon, Ruth
betook herself to almost the only intimate friend she possessed,--a
middle-aged spinster who kept house for an adored doctor brother. The
brother was a friend into the bargain--a tall, thin, clever--looking man
of thirty-eight