CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
THE EVE BEFORE THE BRIDAL—RUTH’S LITTLE ROOM—A RETROSPECTIVEREVERIE[15]
CHAPTER II.
THE WEDDING—A GLIMPSE OF THE CHARACTER OF RUTH’SBROTHER HYACINTH[23]
CHAPTER III.
THE NEW HOME—SOLILOQUY OF THE MOTHER-IN-LAW[25]
CHAPTER IV.
THE FIRST INTERVIEW WITH THE MOTHER-IN-LAW[28]
CHAPTER V.
RUTH’S REFLECTIONS ON THE INTERVIEW[32]
CHAPTER VI.
A BIT OF FAMILY HISTORY[34]
CHAPTER VII.
THE FIRST-BORN[39]
CHAPTER VIII.
THE NURSE[41]
CHAPTER IX.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS OF THE MOTHER-IN-LAW’S CHARACTER[44]
CHAPTER X.
RUTH’S COUNTRY HOME[47]
CHAPTER XI.
RUTH AND DAISY[50]
CHAPTER XII.
THE OLD FOLKS FOLLOW THE YOUNG COUPLE—AN ENTERTAININGDIALOGUE[52]
CHAPTER XIII.
THE OLD LADY’S SURREPTITIOUS VISIT TO RUTH’S, AND HER ENCOUNTERWITH DINAH[55]
CHAPTER XIV.
THE OLD LADY SEARCHES THE HOUSE—WHAT SHE FINDS[59]
CHAPTER XV.
THE OLD DOCTOR MEDDLES WITH HARRY’S FARMING ARRANGEMENTS[63]
CHAPTER XVI.
LITTLE DAISY’S REVERIE—HER STRANGE PLAYFELLOW[65]
CHAPTER XVII.
“PAT” MUTINIES[67]
CHAPTER XVIII.
A GROWL FROM THE OLD LADY[69]
CHAPTER XIX.
DAISY’S GLEE AT THE FIRST SLEIGH-RIDE[72]
CHAPTER XX.
DAISY’S ILLNESS—THE OLD DOCTOR REFUSES TO COME[74]
CHAPTER XXI.
DINAH’S WARNING—HARRY GOES AGAIN FOR THE DOCTOR[78]
CHAPTER XXII.
THE OLD DOCTOR ARRIVES TOO LATE[81]
CHAPTER XXIII.
“THE GLEN” DESERTED—THE OLD DOCTOR’S AND HIS WIFE’SVERSION OF THE CAUSE OF DAISY’S DEATH—MRS. JONESGIVES HER OPINION[85]
CHAPTER XXIV.
ANNIVERSARY OF DAISY’S DEATH—RUTH’S REVERIE—LITTLEKATY’S REQUEST[90]
CHAPTER XXV.
HOTEL LIFE—A NEW FRIEND[93]
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE FALL OF THE LEAF—HARRY’S ILLNESS—THE LONELYWATCHER[97]
CHAPTER XXVII.
ARRIVAL OF THE OLD DOCTOR AND HIS WIFE[102]
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE OLD DOCTOR’S ANNOUNCEMENT—HARRY’S DEATH[105]
CHAPTER XXIX.
HYACINTH’S SENSIBILITIES SHOCKED[110]
CHAPTER XXX.
MISS SKINLIN[114]
CHAPTER XXXI.
HARRY’S FUNERAL[120]
CHAPTER XXXII.
A SERVANT’S DEVOTION[123]
CHAPTER XXXIII.
BICKERINGS OF THE FATHER AND FATHER-IN-LAW—DISPUTEABOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE CHILDREN[125]
CHAPTER XXXIV.
RUTH RECEIVES A VISIT FROM HER FATHER—HE INSISTS ONHER GIVING UP HER CHILDREN TO THE OLD DOCTOR—RUTH’SREFUSAL[128]
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE OLD LADY, ENRAGED, PROPOSES A COMPROMISE—MR. ELLETIS FORCED TO ACCEDE[132]
CHAPTER XXXVI.
RUTH’S NEW LODGINGS—SPECULATIONS OF THE BOARDERS[139]
CHAPTER XXXVII.
MR. DEVELIN’S COUNTING-HOUSE—THE OLD DOCTOR’S LETTER[142]
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
LITTLE KATY MOURNS FOR HER PAPA[146]
CHAPTER XXXIX.
MR. DEVELIN DEMANDS HARRY’S CLOTHES OF RUTH—THE WEDDINGVEST[148]
CHAPTER XL.
RUTH’S APPLICATION FOR NEEDLE-WORK[151]
CHAPTER XLI.
DISGUST OF RUTH’S FASHIONABLE FRIENDS[155]
CHAPTER XLII.
CONVERSATION IN MRS. MILLET’S KITCHEN[158]
CHAPTER XLIII.
THE BOUQUET[161]
CHAPTER XLIV.
MRS. MILLET AND THE WOODEN MAN[164]
CHAPTER XLV.
LITTLE KATY VISITS HER GRANDPA AND MEETS WITH A CHARACTERISTICRECEPTION—THE STRANGE GENTLEMAN[166]
CHAPTER XLVI.
A PEEP FROM RUTH’S CHAMBER WINDOW—KATY’S RETURN[171]
CHAPTER XLVII.
BOARDING-HOUSE REVOLUTION—MRS. SKIDDY’S FLIGHT—MR.SKIDDY IN THE CAPACITY OF DRY NURSE[176]
CHAPTER XLVIII.
A NEW IDEA—THE MILLETS EXHIBIT THEIR FRIENDSHIP ANDDELICACY[184]
CHAPTER XLIX.
RUTH RESOLVES TO BECOME A TEACHER[189]
CHAPTER L.
RUTH APPLIES FOR A PRIMARY SCHOOL[191]
CHAPTER LI.
THE EXAMINATION BY THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE[192]
CHAPTER LII.
MRS. SKIDDY’S UNEXPECTED RETURN[198]
CHAPTER LIII.
SKIDDY’S INTERCEPTED HEGIRA—HIS INCARCERATION—HIS FINALESCAPE[203]
CHAPTER LIV.
THE LUNATIC ASYLUM[209]
CHAPTER LV.
RUTH’S NEW LANDLADY[215]
CHAPTER LVI.
THE STRANGE LODGER—RUTH RESOLVES TO RESORT TO HER PENTO OBTAIN A SUBSISTENCE—SHE APPLIES TO HER BROTHERHYACINTH FOR ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE—HIS CHARACTERISTICREPLY[219]
CHAPTER LVII.
THE OLD LADY RESORTS TO STRATAGEM, AND CARRIES HERPOINT[224]
CHAPTER LVIII.
MR. ELLET EXHIBITS HIS USUAL FATHERLY INTEREST IN RUTH’SAFFAIRS[228]
CHAPTER LIX.
RUTH APPLIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AT NEWSPAPER OFFICES[230]
CHAPTER LX.
THE BREAD OF LIFE[235]
CHAPTER LXI.
A CHAPTER WHICH MAY BE INSTRUCTIVE[237]
CHAPTER LXII.
RUTH OBTAINS EMPLOYMENT—ILLNESS OF NETTIE—THE STRANGELODGER PROVES USEFUL[240]
CHAPTER LXIII.
A PEEP INTO THE OLD DOCTOR’S COTTAGE[245]
CHAPTER LXIV.
A GLIMPSE OF COMING SUCCESS[251]
CHAPTER LXV.
LITTLE NETTIE’S SORROWS—CHEERING LETTERS[257]
CHAPTER LXVI.
KATY’S FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL—THE TOWN-PUMP CONTROVERSY—CRUELTYOF KATY’S GRANDPARENTS[262]
CHAPTER LXVII.
MR. JOHN WALTER[267]
CHAPTER LXVIII.
A LETTER FROM MR. WALTER, AND ITS EFFECT[271]
CHAPTER LXIX.
RUTH ENGAGES TO WRITE SOLELY FOR THE HOUSEHOLD MESSENGER[278]
CHAPTER LXX.
WHAT MR. LESCOM SAID[282]
CHAPTER LXXI.
A SHARP CORRESPONDENCE[287]
CHAPTER LXXII.
OFFERS OF MARRIAGE AND OFFERS TO PUBLISH[292]
CHAPTER LXXIII.
WHAT MR. TIBBETTS SAID ABOUT RUTH’S WRITING FOR THEHOUSEHOLD MESSENGER[298]
CHAPTER LXXIV.
SOLILOQUY OF A SUB-EDITOR[302]
CHAPTER LXXV.
MR. WALTER’S VISIT[309]
CHAPTER LXXVI.
THE PHRENOLOGICAL EXAMINATION[318]
CHAPTER LXXVII.
PUBLICATION DAY COMES AT LAST[330]
CHAPTER LXXVIII.
HYACINTH CORNERED[334]
CHAPTER LXXIX.
MR. LEWIS ENLIGHTENED[338]
CHAPTER LXXX.
MORE LETTERS[342]
CHAPTER LXXXI.
FRESHET IN THE DOCTOR’S CELLAR—“HAMS” IN DANGER OF ATOTAL WRECK—SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF RUTH—RESCUEOF LITTLE KATY[348]
CHAPTER LXXXII.
ARRIVAL OF KATY WITH HER MOTHER, MR. WALTER, AND MR.GREY, AT NEW LODGINGS; DINNER AND LETTERS—CONVERSATIONSBETWEEN THE CHILDREN[354]
CHAPTER LXXXIII.
THE LITTLE FAMILY ALONE AT THEIR NEW QUARTERS—NETTIEIN THE CONFESSION BOX—KATY’S MIRTH[367]
CHAPTER LXXXIV.
KATY AND NETTIE COMPARE NOTES—RUTH DREAMS—MIDNIGHTCONFLAGRATION—RESCUE OF THE LITTLE FAMILY BY JOHNNYGALT[372]
CHAPTER LXXXV.
TEA-TABLE TALK BETWEEN “THE WOODEN MAN” AND HISSPOUSE—LETTER FROM “OUR JOHN”[378]
CHAPTER LXXXVI.
THE OLD LADY EXTINGUISHED IN A CONVERSATION WITH HERNEIGHBORS, WHO ANNOUNCE THE ASTONISHING FACT THAT‘FLOY’ IS RUTH[383]
CHAPTER LXXXVII.
CONVERSATION BETWEEN RUTH’S FATHER AND MR. JONES REGARDINGRUTH’S LITERARY DEBUT[388]
CHAPTER LXXXVIII.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE LITERARY BOOKSELLER AND MR.WALTER[391]
CHAPTER LXXXIX.
ARRIVAL OF MR. WALTER—BANK STOCK AND BANK CERTIFICATE[394]
CHAPTER XC.
THE LAST VISIT TO HARRY’S GRAVE[398]