"I forgot," said Florence, "that she did belong to that silly society. What a little goose she was!"
"She was led into it by Kathleen. They all were for that matter. Kathleen seems to have a singular power over them."
"But Ruth doesn't belong to it now."
"No. I can't in justice to her explain any further, Florence. I will tell you all I can, of course; but may I say good-bye now, for I have a good deal to do before dinner?"
"You are not half as friendly as you used to be," said Florence, pouting. "You hardly ever ask me to your house, and when I ask you to mine you always have an excuse ready. It is somewhat hard on me that Ruth Craven should have come between us."
"But she hasn't. I wish that you would believe that she hasn't. I have to give her a sort of protecting love; but you and I, Flo, are equal in our love. Surely we can afford to be kind to a little girl who has not our advantages."
"Oh, if you put it in that way, I don't mind a bit,"
said Florence cheerfully. "Well, good-bye for the present. We'll meet to-morrow morning."
The girls parted, and Florence went on her way home.
Meanwhile Ruth had also gone on her way. She walked slowly. Once or twice she stopped. Once when in a somewhat narrow and lonely path she paused and looked up at the sky, and then down at the ground beneath her feet. Once she uttered a short, expressive sort of sigh; and once she said half-aloud: