"What did he say?" she eagerly asked.
Mr. Leonard could not at once trust himself to speak, but after a moment he replied, in a husky voice, "The doctor says your mother will never walk again."
The quick tears sprang to the girl's eyes as she thought of the dear little Quaker mother upstairs, lying so patiently on her bed of suffering, who only a year ago, before that terrible fall which hurt her back, had been well and happy.
Lou began to sob outright, and great-hearted Hal again brushed his coat sleeve over his face, but this time to wipe away the tears.
"Does mother know it?" asked Ruth.
"Yes."
"How does she feel about it?"
"Cheerful as ever," replied Mr. Leonard. "She never thinks of complaining, but only of comforting us."
The children brightened up a little at these words, for their blithe spirits refused to be long downcast, especially when they felt sure of seeing the same bright, loving mother unchanged—all except Ruth; her sober face too well expressed her thoughts.