t money."

"What money?"

"Oh, I will tell you another time; it doesn't really matter. There was a
little bit of ingratitude there, but it doesn't matter. Only I made no
fortune by grocery--barely enough to put my boy into the army and to
educate him for it, and enough to keep us with a pittance now that we
are old. But I have nothing to leave you, sweetest. You just have your
pension from the Government, which don't count for nothing at all."

Ruth rose to her feet.

"I am glad I got into the school," she said. "I hope to do wonders
there. I mean to take every scrap of good the place opens out to me. I
mean to work as hard as ever I can. You shall be desperately proud of
me; and so shall granny, although she doesn't hold with much learning."

"But I do, little girl; I love it more than anything. I have got such a
lovely scheme in my head. I will work alongside of you, Ruth--you and I
at the same things. You can lend me the books when you don't want them."

"What a splendid idea!" said Ruth, clapping her hands.

"You look quite happy, my dear."

"And so I am. I am about the happiest girl on earth. And now, may I
begin to look through my lessons for to-morrow?"

The old man arranged the lamp where its light would be most comfortable
for the keen young eyes, and Ruth sat down to the table, got out her
books, and worked for an hour or two. Mrs. Craven came in, looked at her
proudly, wagged her head, and returned to the kitchen. After a time she
came to the door and beckoned to the old man to follow her. But the old
man had taken up one of Ruth's books and was absorbed in its contents;
he was muttering words over under his breath.

"Coming, wife--coming presently," he said.

Ruth's head was bent over her books. Mr. Craven rose and went on tiptoe
into the kitchen.

"We mustn't disturb her, Susan," he said. "We must let her have her own
way. She must work just as long as she likes. She is going to be a great
power in the land, is that child, with her beauty and her talent;
there's nothing she can't aspire to."

"Now don't you be a silly old man," said Mrs. Craven. "And what on earth
were you whispering about to yourself when I came in?"

"I am going to work with her. It will be a wonderful stimulation, and a
great interest to me. I always was keen for book-learning."

Mrs. Craven suppressed a sigh.

"If I even had fifty pounds," she said, "I wouldn't let that child spend
every hour at school. I'd dress up s