"Dear me, is my daughter contemplating marriage?" cried a gay, sweet voice, and, looking up, they saw Mrs. Desmond in her traveling wraps, dusty and weary, but looking very glad and eager at seeing her child again.
Ruby sprang to her arms, and Golden looked on with sympathetic tears in her eyes at the happy reunion of the mother and child. Mrs. Desmond did not seem to see her until she had fairly smothered Ruby in kisses, when she looked up and said, approvingly:
"How do you do, Mary? That is a very nice new dress—quite suitable to you."
After a minute she said, suddenly, as if the thought had just occurred to her:
"By the way, you have never yet received any of your wages from me. Here are twenty dollars for two months. I am very glad you have taken such good care of Ruby."
Golden thanked her and took the money, but the gold seemed to burn the delicate palm. It was hard to be receiving a servant's wages from Bertram Chesleigh's sister.
"Where is papa and Uncle Bert?" asked Ruby.
"Papa will be here directly. Bert is very tired—he has gone to his room to rest. You must not go to him yet."
"And the young lady, mamma—she came?"