ent stamps," replied Ruth, suiting her actions
to her words and picking up the stamps which the machine dropped into
the receiving tray.

"That's real fun," said Alfaretta. "I'd always buy stamps here, but Ma
Babcock would not like it."

"Why not?" asked Ruth.

"Because Ma always wants to talk, and would not think she had her
money's worth without it."

They put the stamps on the cards and then mailed them in the large
gilt mail box near the door in the corner.

"I guess it's most time for us to go back to the hotel for luncheon,"
said Aunt Betty.

"Almost," replied Ruth, looking at her small gold watch. "It's now
just eleven-thirty."

"I want to get some blue ribbon," said Dorothy, "before we leave for
the hotel."

"And I must get a veil," added Ruth.

The girls departed on their quests and in less than two minutes met
Mrs. Calvert at the door and all went back together to the hotel for
luncheon. It was a quiet mid-day meal, and as soon as it was over they
had to devote their attention to their trunks, as they were to leave
that afternoon for their next stopping place.

Mr. Dauntrey and Mr. Ludlow attended to the baggage and the tickets
and very soon all were ready.

Just as they were leaving the hotel to go to the station, Mr. Dauntrey
singled Ruth out, and approaching her, said, "Will you come and walk
down with me?"

"With pleasure," said the girl, suiting her steps to his, and they
started slowly to stroll down to the station.

"I have a box of Huyler's here for you," remarked Mr. Dauntrey. "I
thought perhaps you would like it. I thought it would be nice for you
to have on the train."

"Why thank you ever so much. You are very kind."

"Not half as kind as I would like to be, if you would only afford me
the opportunity."

Ruth made some answer that turned the conversation to some less
personal subject. She kept up a run of chatter about indifferent
matters.

So many people were upon the streets and so many conveyances on the
roadways that progress was slow, and when they reached the station
they found Mr. Ludlow very much provoked that Ruth should have kept
them all waiting, nearly causing the loss of their train.

"Couldn't you have walked a little faster, Ruth?" Mr. Ludlow asked.
"Or taken the stage to the station if you were so tired? This must not
happen again."

Ruth, who disliked being reprimanded before everybody, angrily
exclaimed, "Well, you didn't have to wait here for me, I am