lieve. I'm afraid,
deary, that unless there's a change he won't want you to keep on at
that school you're going to, it's so expensive," and Aunt Alvirah
gathered the startled girl into her arms and rocked her to and fro on
her bosom.

"That's what I was comin' to, deary," she sobbed. "I had ter tell
ye; he told me I must. Ye can't go back to Briarwood, Ruthie, when it
comes Fall."

CHAPTER VI

UNCLE JABEZ AT HIS WORST

It was true that Mr. Potter had promised Ruth only one year at school.
The miller considered he owed his grand-niece something for finding and
restoring to him his cash-box which he had lost, and which contained
considerable money and the stocks and bonds in which he had invested.
Jabez Potter prided himself on being strictly honest. He was just
according to his own notion. He owed Ruth something for what she had
done--something more than her "board and keep"--and he had paid the
debt. Or, so he considered.

There had been a time when Uncle Jabez seemed to be less miserly. His
hard old heart had warmed toward his niece--or, so Ruth believed. And
he had taken a deep interest--for him--in Mercy Curtis, the lame girl.
Ruth knew that Uncle Jabez and Dr. Davison together had made it possible
for Mercy to attend Briarwood Hall. Of course, Uncle Jabez would cut off
that charity as well, and the few tears Ruth cried that night after she
went to bed were as much for Mercy's disappointment as for her own.

"But maybe Dr. Davison will assume the entire cost of keeping Mercy at
school," thought the girl of the Red Mill. "Or, perhaps, Mr. Curtis
may have paid the debts he contracted while Mercy was so ill, and will be
able to help pay her expenses at Briarwood."

But about herself she could have no such hope. She knew that the cost of
her schooling had been considerable. Nor had Uncle Jabez, been niggardly
with her about expenditures. He had given her a ten-dollar bill for
spending money at the beginning of each half; and twice during the
school year had sent her an extra five-dollar bill. Her board and
tuition for the year had cost over three hundred dollars; it would cost
more the coming year. If Uncle Jabez had actually lost money in this
Tintacker Mine Ruth could be sure that he meant what he had left to
Aunt Alvirah to tell her. He would not pay for another school year.

But Ruth was a persevering little body and she came of determined folk.
She had continued at the district school when the circ