, engrossed in his practice, which was one of the most
prosperous in the neighbourhood. Brother and sister were seated at tea
together when Ruth was announced, and she looked round the pretty room
with admiring eyes. Pink silk lamp-shades, luxurious cushions, bowls of
spring flowers, a tea equipage, bright and dainty and complete,--oh, how
delightful it all looked after the bare shabbiness of the room at home;
and what fascinating clothes Eleanor was wearing!

Despite her affection, one-and-twenty was inclined to think pretty
things thrown away upon an antediluvian creature of forty, but if Ruth
could have had a glimpse of herself as "others saw her" at that moment,
she might have been more content. The subdued lamp-light dealt kindly
with the old blue serge coat and skirt, the pink scarf at her neck
matched the colour on her cheeks, and the eyes underneath the black
brows were unusually bright and animated. She was always a welcome
guest at this hospitable house, and it was a pleasant variety to be
petted and fussed over, provided with cushions and footstools, and
tempted to eat by a fresh supply of hot buttered scones and a delectable
chocolate cake studded over with walnuts. Ruth laughed, and dimpled
into ever brighter beauty.

"It makes me feel so nice and young," she cried, "as if I were a spoilt
only child, instead of the staid eldest daughter of a family! But I
ought to be staid; I can't afford to frivol any longer, for I am going
to take a most important step, and start life on my own account."

Brother and sister alike looked up with sharp inquiry, and Ruth,
understanding, broke into a merry laugh.

"Oh, not that! Nothing half so interesting! Merely going to earn my
living, and I came to ask your advice as to how I had best set about it.
Nothing is decided so far, except that I am to earn enough money to
keep myself, and contribute largely to home expenses. That's the end,
but the puzzle is to find out the means."

"Poor lassie!" said Miss Maclure gently. She had a soft, Scotch burr in
her voice, and her plain face was full of an almost motherly kindness as
she looked at the pretty girl across the hearth. She had private means
of her own, and her brother was a prosperous man; but she knew enough of
the world to understand the nature of the struggle of which Ruth spoke
so lightly.

"It's easier saying than doing, I'm afraid, dearie. There are so many
women searching for work nowadays, and for m