o it already, sir," said Ruth,
sharply. "What do you want?"

"Ah! the Mademoiselle is so practical," murmured the harpist again.

"Be quick," commanded Ruth, for although she had a strong repugnance
for the fellow there was no reason why she should fear him, with so
many people within call. "State your reason for stopping me, sir."

"The Mademoiselle is from the school--the institute where learning is
taught the lo-fe-ly Misses?"

He thus made three syllables of "lovely" and Ruth knew that he leered
like a Billiken in the dark.

"I am at Briarwood Hall--yes," she said.

"I have seen the kind Mademoiselle before," said the man. "On the boat
on that other so-beeg lake--Osago, is it?"

"On the _Lanawaxa_--yes," admitted Ruth.

"Ah! I am proud. The Mademoiselle remember me," he exclaimed, bowing
in the dark alley.

"Go on," urged Ruth, impatiently.

"It is of the leetle lady--Mademoiselle Picolet--I would speak," he
said, more quickly.

"Our French teacher--yes."

"Then, knowing her, will the Mademoiselle take a small note from the
poor musician to the good Picolet? 'Tis a small matter--no?"

"You want me to do this without telling anybody about it?" questioned
Ruth, bluntly.

"_Oui, oui_, Mademoiselle! You have the discernment beyond your years.
Indeed!"

"I knew it must be something underhanded you wanted," declared Ruth,
boldly.

He laughed and Ruth saw a small envelope thrust toward her in the dusk
of the passage. "You will take it?" he said.

"I will take it--providing you do not come there again," exclaimed Ruth.

"Come where?" he demanded.

"To the school. To the campus where the fountain is."

"Ha! you know _that_, my pretty bird?" he returned. "Well! this will
perhaps relieve the good Picolet of my presence--who knows?"

"Then I will take it," Ruth said, hastily, her hand closing on the
billet.

"_Comme il faut_," he said, and went away down the passage, humming in
his bassoon voice.

And so, as she sped shoreward between her two friends, Ruth had the
little letter tucked away in the bosom of her frock. The secret
troubled her. She was really glad to say good bye to Tom at the
landing, and all the way back in the wagonette, although Helen sat
close to her and tried to show her how sorry she was for her past
neglect, Ruth was very silent.

For she was much disturbed by this secret. She feared she was doing
wrong in carrying the note to Miss Picolet. Yet, under different