themselves without any further design? So much for the theatre talk. What
is more serious is the fact that you could so misjudge my honorable friend,
Dr. Kemp. Such a thing, Jennie, my girl, would be as remote from Dr.
Kemp's possibilities as the antipodes. Remember, what I say is
indisputable. Whether Ruth knew the story of this girl or not, I cannot
say, but either way I feel assured that what she did was well done--if
innocently; if with knowledge, so much the better. And I venture to assert
that she is not a whit harmed by the action. In all probability she will
tell us all the particulars if we ask her. Otherwise, Jennie, don't you
think you have been unnecessarily alarmed?" The benign gentleness of his
question calmed Mrs. Lewis.

"Uncle," she replied earnestly, "in my life such things are not trivial;
perhaps because my life is narrower. I know you and Ruth take a different
view of everything."

"Don't disparage yourself; people generally do that to be contradicted or
to show that they know their weaknesses and have never cared to change
them. A woman of your intelligence need never sink to the level of a
spiteful chatterbox; every one should keep his tongue sheathed, for it is
more deadly than a sword. Your higher interests should make you overlook
every little action of your neighbors. You only see or hear what takes
place when the window is open; you can never judge from this what takes
place when the window is shut. How are the children?"

By dint of great tenderness he strove to make her more at ease.

Ruth, confronted with their knowledge, confessed, with flushed cheeks and
glowing eyes, her contretemps.