"It was a bad trade, my darling. I had several severe losses. It was
very unfortunate my lending that money."

"What money?"

"Oh, I will tell you another time; it doesn't really matter. There was a
little bit of ingratitude there, but it doesn't matter. Only I made no
fortune by grocery--barely enough to put my boy into the army and to
educate him for it, and enough to keep us with a pittance now that we
are old. But I have nothing to leave you, sweetest. You just have your
pension from the Government, which don't count for nothing at all."

Ruth rose to her feet.

"I am glad I got into the school," she said. "I hope to do wonders
there. I mean to take every scrap of good the place opens out to me. I
mean to work as hard as ever I can. You shall be desperately proud of
me; and so shall granny, although she doesn't hold with much learning."

"But I do, little girl; I love it more than anything. I have got such a
lovely scheme in my head. I will work alongside of you, Ruth--you and I
at the same things. You can lend me the books when you don't want them."

"What a splendid idea!" said Ruth, clapping her hands.

"You look quite happy, my dear."

"And so I am. I am about the happiest girl on earth. And now, may I
begin to look through my lessons for to-morrow?"