impassive woman beside her.

"Well, then," said he, courteously, "I know Mrs. O'Brien is wanted at home
by her little ones. Mrs. Baker, you will not object, I am sure."

It was now the elegant woman's turn to flush as Kemp took up the child.

Ruth felt a leap of delight at the action. It was a quiet lesson to be
laid to heart; and she knew she could never see him in a better light than
when he left the room holding the little charity patient in his arms.

She also noticed with a tinge of amusement the look of added hauteur on the
face of Mrs. Baker, as she returned to her seat at the window.

"Haughtiness," mused Ruth, "is merely a cloak to selfishness, or the want
of a proper spirit of humanity."

The magazine article remained unread; she drifted into a sort of day-dream,
and scarcely noticed when Mrs. Baker left the room.

"Well, Miss Levice."

She started up, slightly embarrassed, as the doctor's voice thus aroused
her.

"I beg your pardon," she said, coming forward and flushing slightly under
his amused smile. "It was so quiet here that I forgot where I was."

He stood aside as she passed into the room, bringing with her an exquisite
fragrance of roses.