"And," she said in conclusion, "Father, Mamma, nothing you can say will
make me retract anything I have done or purpose doing."

"Nothing?" repeated her father.

"I hope you won't ask me to, but that is my decision."

"My darling, I dislike to hear you call yourself a mule," said her father,
looking at her with something softer than disapproval; "but in this case I
shall not use the whip to turn you from your purpose. Eh, Esther?"

"It is Quixotic," affirmed Mrs. Levice; "but since you have gone so far,
there is no reasonable way of getting out of it. When next I see the
doctor, I shall speak to him of it."

"There will be no occasion, dear," remonstrated the indulgent father, at
sight of the annoyed flash in Ruth's eyes; "I shall."

By which it will be seen that the course of an only child is not so smooth
as one of many children may think; every action of the former assumes such
prominence that it is examined and cross-examined, and very often sent to
Coventry; whereas, in a large family, the happy-go-lucky offspring has his
little light dimmed, and therefore less remarked, through the propinquity
of others.


Chapter XII

If Ruth, in the privacy of her heart, realized that she was sailing toward
dangerous rapids, the premonition gave her no unpleasant fears. Possibly