"Please, Miss Blake!"
"No, Ruth. I can't consent to Nan's joining you. If she goes, it will be in direct defiance of my authority and against my wish and approval. But when she hears what I have to say I do not think she will go."
"Don't think who will go?" demanded an eager voice, as Nan came pelting in at the door, having flung down stairs in such a whirl that they had scarcely realized she had started before she was here.
"Heyo, Ruth! When did you come? You're a dear girl to venture out a day like this! Who'll go where, 'you don't think,' Miss Blake?"
Ruth rose and began dragging on her gloves. "Hello," she said, blankly, in return for the other's greeting.
"Who'll go? Who'll go?" insisted Nan, tapping the floor with her foot to emphasize her impatience.
Ruth looked at Miss Blake a little sullenly, and said nothing. Miss Blake looked at Nan.
"You," she returned simply. "I was just saying to Ruth that I am sure you would not go anywhere against my plainly expressed wish."
The girl threw back her head with an unrestrained laugh.
"Oh, now, you're bragging!" she cried breezily. "Don't count too much on me. I'm a queer creature. I don't know what I'd do if I were hard put!"