It was Ruth's father who said these words. He was standing in the doorway, and ready to start.
"I shall not forget you, Carl," said the little girl. "I shall often think of this little cottage up on the mountain, with the pretty flowers growing around it and the cows feeding near by."
After they had gone, Carl hastily picked a bunch of Alpine roses.
"She thought they were beautiful," he said to himself. "Perhaps she will press one of them, and keep it to remember me by."
Then with strong bounds and leaps the little boy overtook the party before they had gone very far. When he reached them, however, he was suddenly overcome with shyness. He hastily put the flowers into the hands of Ruth's mother, and was far away again before she could thank him.
"He is a dear little fellow," said the lady. "He will make a strong man, and a good one, too, I believe. We will always keep these beautiful flowers. Perhaps we may come here again in a year or two, Ruth. Then we can tell Carl how much we thought of his little gift."
CHAPTER III.
THE SCHOOLMASTER'S VISIT