Ruth, still sore with disappointment, acknowledged this philosophic remark
with a curled lip.

"There, save your tears for something more worthy," cut in Levice, briskly;
"if you care so much about it, we or chance must arrange it as you wish."

But chance in this instance was not propitious. Wednesday came, and Arnold
saw no way of accommodating her. He left town after taking her to see the
"Fool's Revenge" as a sort of substitution.

"You seemed to be enjoying the poor Fool's troubles last night," observed
Dr. Kemp, in the morning; they were still standing in Mrs. Levice's room.

"I? Not enjoying his troubles; I enjoyed Booth, though, --if you can call
it enjoyment when your heart is ready to break for him. Were you there? I
did not see you."

"No, I don't suppose you did, or you would have been in the pitiable
condition of the princess who had her head turned. I sat directly back of
your box, in the dress-circle. Then you like Booth?"

"Take care! That is a dangerous subject with my family," broke in Mrs.
Levice. "Ruth has actually exhausted every adjective in her admiration
vocabulary. The last extravaganza I heard from her on that theme was after
she had seen him as Brutus; she wished herself Lucius, that in the tent
scene she might kiss Booth's hand."

"It sounds gushing enough for a school-girl now," laughed Ruth merrily,
looking up at the doctor; "but at the time I meant it."