“For God above
Is great to grant, as mighty to make,
And creates the love to reward the love:
I claim you still for my own love’s sake!”
Browning.
RUBY comes into the drawing-room one afternoon to find the facsimile of the photograph in Jack’s pocket-book sitting with Mrs. Kirke there.
“This is our little Australian, May,” the elder lady says, stretching out her hand to Ruby. “Ruby, darling, this is Miss Leslie. Perhaps Jack may have told you about her.”
“How do you do, dear?” Miss May Leslie asks. She has a sweet, clear voice, and just now does not look half so dreamy as in her photograph, Ruby thinks. Her dark green frock and black velvet hat with ostrich tips set off her fair hair and delicately tinted face to perfection, and her blue eyes are shining as she holds out her hand to the little girl.
“I’ve seen your photograph,” Ruby announces, looking up into the sweet face above her. “It fell out of Jack’s pocket-book one day. He has it there with Wat’s. I’m going to give him mine to carry there too; for Jack says he only keeps the people he likes best in it.”