Tiny Luttrell

en Ruth and Christina, who w

respect than Christina had done, not from vanity at all, but rather owing to certain differences in their ideas of pleasure, into which it is needless to enter. The result was her complexion; and this was not her only beauty, for she had good brown eyes that suited her coloring as autumn leaves befit an autumn sunset. These eyes are never unk

two, as it was certainly the simpler one, in spite of a peculiar secretive strain in her from which Tiny was free. Tiny, on the other hand, was much more sensitive; but to perceive this was to understand her better than she understood herse

nd was glad to unharness the opprobrious epithets with which Ruth's sister had first driven herself into his mind. He discovered good points in Christina, and among them a humor which he had never detected out in Australia. Probably his own sense of it had lost it

e charming for all time than the person who is content to do the laughing. As a novelty, however, Christina had her own distinctive attraction for Erskine Holland. And they got on so well togeth

love," he said to Ruth-"a

o? She has told me noth

. It's her bitterness, however, that makes

y cynical,"

lf for getting over it so easily. She has hinted at nothing, but she has a trick of generalizing; and she affects to think that one person doesn't fret for another longer than a week in re

ver were very s

ve to see her wooed! That's where the sport would come in. There would be no knowing where the fellow had her. He might hook her by luck, b

ked," Ruth said, with a smile; "and a

lows. I'm past it. I merely meant that I should like to see the sport. No,

atified on her own account to care to discuss her sister any further. But in di

ened since I left home; but I can only tell you that

re was no harm in Ruth's not showing those letters to her husband. There was no harm in her keeping her sister's private affairs from her husband's knowledge. There was the reverse of harm in both reservations, as Erskine would have been the first to allow. Ruth had her reasons for making them; and if her reasons embodied a deep design, there was no harm in that either, for surely it is permissible to plot and scheme for the happiness of another. I can see no harm in her conduct from any point of view. But it was certainly disingenuous, and it entailed an insincere attitude toward two people, which in itself was not admirable. And those two

kine's study, where the sisters ha

s of the ball, "it was a coincidenc

tina. She glanced rather sharply

of him in the country. That's all," said Ruth, as she

, but she had not opened it; she was

in Melbourne," she said presently. "I suppose you know that w

d me in you

nife was st

y that we shall see

is quite close to

l! Whose pla

eplied Ruth, still

Manister once told me the name of their p

e lately they have lived mostly at the ot

was th

nd last autumn Lord Dromard bought Mundham; it

the leisurely swish of Ruth's paper knife. Then Chr

sked Ruth rat

singham. He never mentioned Mundham.

itself is miles from the gates-almost as far a

t," Tiny s

little exaggerat

ish the idea of living under the lee of such very fin

hat we said at the time that we would take the rectory again this August. We made the people promise us the refusal. A

wered Tiny; and for half

es of a new book, but still better at going to sleep over them when cut. She had read even less than Christina, and it troubled her less; but this afternoon she read more. Ruth could not sleep. No more could Tiny. But Tiny had not opened her book. It was one of the good books that Erskine had lent her. She was extremely interested in it; but just at present her own affairs interested her more. Lying back in the big chair, with the wet gray light behind her, and that of the fire playing fitfully over her face, Christina committed w

hought you were asleep;

don't mind, I should like to speak

osed he

, dear? I'm

ingham as one of the attractions. Now why couldn't yo

window. Tiny's tone was cold, but not so cold as Tiny's searching glan

imed rather well. "Had th

mas; it was after Christmas that you

er thought of them; that's all. They ar

with me," the young girl said; and h

a thing to say!

or these words

s I do, Ruth, that it isn't pleas

hat nobody would have thought so from seeing you together last night. And

laughed

know nothing about it-I am sure you mean it kindly; but I'm still surer that you have been told all there was to tell concerning Lord Manister

ried to pump him,-I think you can't wonder at that,-but he

forgiven him. But he has been less of a larrikin ever since. And, of course, that wasn't why he was so angry with me for dancing with Lord Ma

nce with him?" Ru

rettily-he always had pretty manners. You wouldn't hav

s kneeling on the hearthrug, with her brown eyes softly searching Christina'

ingers as she push

l only make me feel ungrateful, and I shall run away, because I'm not going to tell you another word about what's over and done with. I can'

her look and tone, and she added, "I should like to have

proposed to me and I accepted him, and then he bolted without even saying good-by. It

in the curling lips. She spoke bitterly, but not at all sadly, and her next wor

Erskin

a w

nes

oned it to him, and I don't think anybody el

Herbert's very close. But-don't you

d incredulous; the m

I'm sure he wouldn't care to tell me the ins and outs of their private affairs, even

nd," she added impulsively, "I should like to tell him every mortal thing, whether I wanted to or not! And I

some bossing,"

rom the fire. "But I can't tell you how glad I am you haven't told Erskine. Never tell him, Ruth, for you

er character stood out through the genuine words. "Nothing

good deal," Tiny

m a good deal. I can't get h

her eyes on the fire again, "if you t

after all, the Dromards won't take any notice of us in the country." She p

kindlier said. But now she turned and kissed Ruth, saying, "Thank you, dear. I am afraid I don't like. But you have been awfully good and

pathetic and genuine enough. But she c

ng the scene upon her mind in just perspective. She still could value Ruth's sweetness at the end of their talk, but her own suspicions, aroused at the outset, to be immediately killed by a little kindness, had come to life again, and were calling for an equal appreciation. The extent of Tiny's suspicions was very full, and the suspicions themselves were uncommonly shrewd and convincing. They made it a little hard to return Ruth's smiles during the evening, and to kiss her when saying good-night, though Tiny did these things duly. She went ups

slyly, but keeping the photograph it

ustra

s taken o

ord Man

is-perhaps

with pathos, "yo

de of the mount; and here Ruth surely should

elieve he is so much to blame as you think him. I have heard it spoken about in society. But don't look frightened. Your name has never been mentioned. I don't th

at did

, not that Lord Manister has never mentioned your name, but that he can bear neither name no

!" remarked Christina grimly. "My f

ay he left his heart in Australia, but his mother sent for him because she heard something-but not your name, dear-and he came. They say he is devoted to his mother; but this has come between them, an

hristina said, not ungraciously-"

showing her repugnance, because she had still some regard for Ruth's good heart. But she had never experienced a more grateful riddance, a

closed door. "I suppose I ought to love

and stared thoughtfully at it for som