et, upturned face with
such coarse approbation, that the girl's eyes fell under his scrutiny.

"Guess I may claim a brother's right a little beforehand," continued
Dick, trying to draw Ruth to him.

Ruth's eyes flashed, and she started back indignantly, saying: "Indeed,
you shall do no such thing, Mr. Richard."

"Come, come, Dick, Ruth isn't the girl to allow any liberty," interposed
John, putting Ruth into a chair.

"Prudish, eh? Ah, well, colonial life will soon knock that rubbish out
of her," returned Dick, in an unpleasant tone.

"So you're really bent on going as well, John?" asked his mother,
anxiously.

"Well, yes, mother; Ruth says she'll come after me, and I quite agree
with Dick in thinking I ought to be doing better for myself."

"It's hard to bring up children, and then see them go off to foreign
parts so easily," murmured the poor mother.

"Why, mother, you've got Susan, and Tom, and Bess all settled near, and
I'll come over and pay you a visit when I've made my fortune; and you
may be sure I'll never forget the dear old folks at home;" and John laid
his hand affectionately upon his mother's shoulder.

"I say, can't you stop your sentimental rubbish, and get to business?"
cried Dick.

The mother sighed, and knowing well what Dick would consider a necessary
prelude and accompaniment to business arrangements, brought out a bottle
of spirits, some hot water, and glasses.

"Come, my dear, I'll just mix you a glass, and we'll make up our quarrel
and be friends," said Dick graciously to Ruth.

"Pray don't trouble, for I never take anything of the kind," replied
Ruth, very stiffly.

"Mean to say that you belong to the teetotal set!"

"I do."

"Well, I'm glad Jack's got better sense than to follow your example,"
answered Dick; and from that time he treated Ruth with open disdain.

For John's sake she controlled herself, and sat beside him listening,
with an aching heart, to the account of colonial life as Dick had known
it; watching also, with a vague uneasiness and dread, John's frequent
applications to the spirit with which his brother supplied him. If, in
her presence, he so readily yielded to Dick's persuasion to take "just a
drop more," what might be the consequence when he was far away from her,
and completely under his brother's influence?

In one hour all Ruth's bright hopes for the future, and John's
well-doing in a distant land, faded; and when she passed out of the
reeking atmospher