"But not knowin' that you would see anybody, I didn't think to run after
you; so it's just this side your mouth, like if you hadn't wiped it good
after breakfast."

Ruth rubbed it off, wondering with vexation if the doctor had noticed it.
Truth to say, the doctor had noticed it, and naturally placed the same
passing construction on it that Mary had suggested. Not that the little
yellow splash occupied much of his attention. When he drove off, all he
thought of Ruth's appearance was that her braided hair hung gracefully and
heavily down her back; that she looked young, --decidedly young and
missish; and that he had probably spoken indiscreetly and impulsively to
the wrong person on a wrong subject the night before.

Dress has a subtile influence upon our actions: one gown can make a romp,
another a princess, another a boor, another a sparkling coquette, out of
the same woman. The female mood is susceptibly sympathetic to the fitness
or unfitness of dress. Now, Ruth was without doubt the same girl who had
so earnestly and sympathetically heard the doctor's unconventional story;
but the fashion of her gown had changed the impression she had made a few
hours back.

An hour later, and Dr. Kemp could not have failed to recognize Ruth, the
woman of his confidence. Something, perhaps a dormant spirit of
worldliness, kept her from disclosing to her mother the reason of her going
out. She herself felt no shame or doubt as to the advisability of her
action; but the certain knowledge of her mother's disapproval of such a
proceeding restrained the disclosure which, of a surety, would have cost
her the non-fulfilment of a kindly act. A bit of subterfuge which hurts no
one is often not only excusable, but commendable. Besides, it saved her