uman interest with which Kemp's
acquaintances regarded her passed by her unnoticed.

A moment later they were in the fresh, open air.

"How beautiful it is!" said Ruth, looking up at the stars. "The wind has
entirely died away."

"'On such a night,'" quoth Kemp, as they approached the curb, "a closed
carriage seems out of season."

"And reason," supplemented Ruth, while the doctor opened the door rather
slowly. She glanced at him hesitatingly.

"Would you--" she began.

"Right! I would!" The door was banged to.

"John," he said, looking up at his man in the box, "take this trap round
to the stable; I shall not need the horses again to-night."

John touched his hat, and Kemp drew his companion's little hand through
his arm.

"Well," he said, as they turned the corner, "Were you satisfied with the
great man to-night?"

"Yes," she replied meditatively, "fully; there was no exaggeration,--it
was all quite natural."

"Except Jessica in boy's clothes."

"Don't mention her, please; I detest her."

"And yet she spoke quite prettily on the night."

"I did not hear her."

"Why, where were you while all the world was making merry on the stage?"

"Not with them; I was with the weary, heart-broken old man who passed
out when joy began."

"Ah! I fancied you did not half appreciate Gratiano's jesting. Miss
Levice, I am afraid you allow the sorry things of life to take too
strong a hold on you. It is not right. I assure you for every tear there
is a laugh, and you must learn to forget the former in the latter."

"I am sorry," replied Ruth, quite sadly; "but I fear I cannot learn
that,--tears are always stronger than laughter. How could I listen to
the others' nonsense when my heart was sobbing with that lonely old man?
Forgive me, but I cannot forget him."

They walked along silently for some time. Instinctively, each felt the
perfect accord with which they kept step. Ruth's little ear was just
about on a level with the doctor's chin. He hardly felt the soft touch
of her hand upon his sleeve; but as he looked at the white profile of
her cheek against the dark fur of her collar, the knowledge that she was
there was a pleasing one.

"Did you consider the length of our walk when you fell in with my
desire?" he asked presently.

"I like a long walk in pleasant weather; I never tire of walking."

"You have found the essentials of a good pedestrian,--health and
strength."

"Yes; if everybody were like me, all y