"Don't tell her it's because you know she can't afford to keep you," charged Billy, bluntly.
"Of course not," returned Ruth. She jumped down from her seat and went slowly back to the house. Miss Hester was sitting at the window of her room which looked out upon the street. She had her lap full of little garments upon which she was sewing a missing button here, a tape there.
"This isn't Saturday," said Ruth. "What are all these?"
She came nearer and put an arm around Miss Hester's neck.
"They are some of Henrietta's things. I didn't know but that you would need them," answered Miss Hester, soberly.
"Won't my uncle buy me any clothes?"
"He will probably buy all you need, but I don't want to have you go away unprovided for. I suppose you must go, Ruth. I should be doing you a wrong to encourage you to do otherwise."
"I'm not going for good," returned Ruth confidently. "I am going only for a little while till something happens. If you get the claim, you know, or if I find a whole lot of money, I will come back. Even if those things don't happen, Billy will come for me as soon as he is big enough to keep store."
Miss Hester smiled faintly. "I am afraid it will be many a day before that."
Ruth shook her head. "I'm not going to think I'll be gone long. I will tell my uncle that I am going to stay only a little while, that I am coming back to you and that I love you better than him or anybody."