s rich.

"It is not in my province to say who shall, or who shall not give,"
declared Ruth, hastily. "I only want to point out to you girls that if the
rich give a great deal the poorer will almost be ashamed to give what they
can."

"That's right," said Mary Cox, suddenly. "We haven't much; so we couldn't
give much."

The girls looked rather troubled; but Ruth had not finished. "There is
another thing," she said. "If all your fathers give to the dormitory fund,
what will you girls personally give?"

"Oh! how's that, Ruth?" cried Helen.

"Say," drawled Jennie Stone, the plump girl, "we're not all fixed like
you, Ruth--with a bank account to draw on."

Ruth blushed; but she did not lose her temper. "You don't understand what
I mean yet," she said. "Either I am particularly muddy in my suggestions,
or you girls are awfully dense to-day."

"How polite! how polite!" murmured Jennie.

"What I am trying to get at," Ruth continued earnestly, "is the fact that
the rebuilding of the West Dormitory should interest us girls more than
anybody else in the world, save Mrs. Tellingham."

"Well--doesn't it?" demanded Mary Cox, rather sharply.

"Does it interest us all enough for each girl to be willing to do
something personally, or sacrifice something, toward the new building?"
asked Ruth.

"I getcha, Steve!" exclaimed the slangy Jennie.

"Oh, dear me, Ruthie! we _are_ dense," said Nettie. "Of course! every girl
should be able to do as much as the next one. Otherwise there may be hard
feelings."

"Secret heartburnings," added Helen.

"Of course," Mercy said, "Ruth would see _that_ side of it. I don't expect
my folks could give ten dollars toward the fund; but I should want to do
as much as any girl here. Nobody loves Briarwood Hall more than I do,"
added the lame girl, fiercely.

"I believe you, dear," Ruth said. "And what we want to do is to invent
some way of earning money in which every girl will have her part, and do
her part, and feel that she has done her full share in rebuilding the West
Dormitory."

"Hurrah!" cried Jennie. "That's the talk! I tell you, Ruth, you are the
only bright girl in this school!"

"Thank you," said Ruth. "You cannot flatter me into believing that."

"But what's the idea, dear?" demanded Helen, eagerly. "You have some nice
invention, I am sure. You always do have."

"Another base flatterer!" cried Ruth, laughing gaily. "I believe you girls
say such things just to jolly me along,