Stone.

"I had made arrangements to do this before you came," the girl of the
Red Mill said, rather provoked. "You must take me at my word. I
cannot do differently. I never told you girls a falsehood in my life."

"Goodness, Ruthie!" exclaimed Helen, with sudden good sense. "Say no
more about it. Of course we know you would not desert us if it could
be helped. If Tom would only come while you are gone----"

"I may be able to communicate with him," Ruth said, turning her head
quickly so that her chum should not see her expression of countenance.
"And there is something you girls can do for me while I am gone."

"I warrant!" groaned Jennie. "No rest for the wicked. Don't try to
think up anything in the line of cooking for _me_, Ruthie Fielding, for
I won't do it! I have come here to get away from cooking."

"Will you fast then, while you remain at Clair?" asked Ruth rather
wickedly.

"Ow-wow!" shrieked the plump girl. "How you can twist a fellow's
meaning around! No! I merely will _not_ cook!"

"But she still hopes to eat," said Helen. "What is it you want of your
poor slaves, Lady Ruth?"

"Do my work here while I'm gone. Look out for the supplies. I can
break you both in this morning. I do not know just when I shall be
called for----"

"By whom, pray?" put in the saucy Jennie drawlingly.

Ruth ignored the question. "You will not find this work difficult.
And, as Jennie suggests, it will be a change."

"Good-_night_!" groaned Jennie.

"Don't lose heart, sister," said Helen cheerfully. "I understand that
Ruth often goes into the wards and writes letters for the poor poilus,
and feeds them canned peaches and soft puddings. Isn't that what you
do, Ruthie?"

"Better not let me do that," grumbled Jennie. "I might be tempted to
eat the goodies myself. I'll write the letters."

"Heaven help the home folks of the poor poilus, my dear," Helen
responded. "Nobody--not even Madame Picolet--could ever read your
written French."

"Well! I do declare!" exclaimed the fleshy girl, tossing her head. "I
suppose the duty will devolve upon me to eat all the _blesses'_ fancy
food for them. Dear me, Ruthie Fielding! Don't stay long. For if you
do I shall utterly ruin my figure."

It was very kind of the girls to agree to Ruth's suggestion, and she
appreciated it. But she could not tell them anything about what she
was to do while she was absent from the hospital.

Indeed, she barely knew hersel