"Miss True?" repeated Helen, curiously.

"Short for Truthful. Her name is Rechelsea Truthful Tomlinson Pettis
and she is the dearest little old spinster lady-- much nicer than her
name."

"Well!" ejaculated the amazed Helen.

"Miss True isn't rich. Indeed, she is very poor. So are Patsy Hope's
folks-- Patsy is really Patricia, but that's too long for her. And all
the other folks that knew me about Darrowtown had a hard time to get
along, and most of them had plenty of children without taking another
that wasn't any kin to them," concluded Ruth, who was worldly wise in
some things, and had seen the harder side of life since she had opened
her eyes upon this world.

"But your uncle is said to be a regular miser," declared Helen,
earnestly. "And he is so gruff and grim! Didn't your friends know
him?"

"I guess they never saw him, or heard much about him," said Ruth,
slowly. "I'm sure I never did myself."

"But don't you be afraid," said the other, warmly. "If he isn't good
to you there are friends enough here to look out for you. I know
Doctor Davison thinks you are very brave, and Daddy will do anything
for you that Tom and I ask him to."

"I am quite sure I shall get on nicely with Uncle Jabez," she said.