his, then, was the cause of your agitation?" he said at length.

"Not wholly. It was the treatment I received from Miss Ferguson that
affected me most."

"Miss Ferguson! Do you know Miss Ferguson?" Lindsay asked quickly.

"I met her for the first time yesterday afternoon."

"Where--may I ask?"

"In the Erie train. I entered the cars at Port Jervis. She was already
on board, but I do not know from what point she had come."

"I think I know. She had been visiting a school friend at Binghamton."

"You know her, then?"

"Yes. I met her at a party about a year since."

"If she is a friend of yours I will not say anything to her
disadvantage."

"But I want you to tell me all there is to tell. I have a special
reason for learning all I can about her. You say she treated you ill?"

"She treated me cruelly. She took offense in the cars because the
conductor removed her dog from a seat in order to make room for me."

"Was there no other seat in the car?"

"None, or I would not have disturbed her. I did not like to stand all
the way from Port Jervis to New York."

"Of course not. Please favor me with the particulars."

The young man listened attentively while Ruth in simple language--not
exaggerating in any respect--told her story. Young Lindsay's brow
contracted, for he felt indignant at the cold selfishness shown by the
young lady who had hitherto attracted him. He felt that, if it were all
true, he could never again look upon her even with ordinary friendship.

"She feigned to look upon me as a servant," Ruth concluded, "and
sharply rebuked me for thrusting myself upon her. I would gladly have
taken another seat had any been unoccupied, but the car was full. I
heard from the train boy that it was on account of an excursion to
Shohola Glen."

"I confess, Miss Patton" (Ruth had told her name), "I am surprised and
pained by what you have told me. I never knew that Luella--Miss
Ferguson--had such unlovely traits. To me she has always seemed kind
and considerate."

Looking in the young man's expressive face, Ruth Patton felt that she
understood better than he why Miss Ferguson had assumed to be what she
was not. She was not surprised that Luella should desire to make a
favorable impression upon one who seemed to her the most attractive
young man she had ever met. But of course she could not give utterance
to the thought that was in her mind, and remained silent.

"To change the subject," said Lindsay, after a