at
promise. Ruby had had a parting frolic with Tipsey, and Ruthy had
promised to come over and play with the kitten very often, so that she
would not miss her little mistress too much, and now Ruby was going to
say good-by to her mother, and have a few quiet minutes with her,
before it should be time to put her hat and jacket on.

The room was dark and quiet, and when Ruby went in, old Mrs. Maggs, who
spent all her time in staying with sick people and nursing them, got up
and went out, so that the little girl should have her mother all to
herself.

Ruby cuddled her face down beside her dear mother's face, in the
pillow, and it was all the little girl could do to keep from bursting
into tears, and begging that she might not be sent away. She
remembered her promise to her father to be brave, and she swallowed the
lump in her throat, back, over and over again, while her mother told
her how she hoped that her little daughter would be a good girl, so
that all she should hear from Aunt Emma would be good news, of Ruby's
improvement in her studies, and of her good conduct.

Ruby listened to every word, and she promised her mother very earnestly
that she would indeed try to conquer her self-will, and be good.

"That will help you get well, won't it, mamma?" she asked, stroking the
white face tenderly.

"Yes, darling, nothing will help me get well faster than that," her
mother answered, giving her a tender kiss.

It was very hard to say good-by when papa's voice called,--

"Come little daughter, the carriage is ready." It was harder than Ruby
had had any idea that it would be. It seemed as if she could not
possibly say good-by to her mother, and go out of the room, knowing
that she could not kiss her good-night or good-morning any more for
weeks and weeks. If it had been any one else, but to go away from her
seemed quite impossible.

"Good-by, darling. Remember you are going to help me get well again,"
her mother said, drawing the little girl's face down for a last kiss,
and that helped Ruby to be very brave. She kissed her mother over and
over again, and then jumped up and went out of the room without one
word.

The lump in her throat was growing so big that she knew she should cry
in a moment if she did not hurry away.

"I was brave, papa, I was brave," she said, when she went out into the
hall and found her father waiting for her; but the tears came then fast
and thick for a moment.

"Now you will be my