transfixed with astonishment.

"I envy you your sister, Esther," said Miss Ruth, busying herself
with the silver kettle. "She is a dear girl--a very dear girl."

"Humph!" ejaculated Mrs. Thorne. She was past words, and soon after
she took her departure in a high state of indignation and dudgeon.

I did not go home the next day. Allan came to say good-by to me,
Uncle Geoffrey followed him, and he and Mr. Lucas both decided that I
could not be spared. Nurse was somewhat ailing, and Uncle Geoffrey
had to prescribe for her too; and as Miss Ruth recovered slowly from
these attacks, she would be very lonely, shut up in her room.

Miss Ruth was overjoyed when I promised to stay with her as long as
they wanted me. Allan had satisfied my scruples about Jack and Dot.

"They all think you ought to stay," he said. "Mother was the first
to decide that. Martha has promised to attend to Dot in your absence.
She grumbled a little, and so did he; but that will not matter. Jack
must look after herself," finished this very decided young man, who
was apt to settle feminine details in rather a summary fashion.

If mother said it was my duty to remain, I need not trouble my head
about minor worries; the duty in hand, they all thought, was with
Miss Ruth, and with Miss Ruth I would stay.

"It will be such a luxury to have you, Esther," she said, in her old
bright way. "My head is generally bad after these attacks, and I
cannot read much to myself, and with all my boasted resolution the