Corporation. He is immensely wealthy and a
really _good_ man. Of course," went on Miss Gray, "he is in the business
of making films for money; just the same, he makes a great many pictures
purely for art's sake, or for educational reasons. You would like Mr.
Hammond, I am sure," and the girl in bed sighed again.

Ruth saw that talking troubled Miss Gray and kept her mind upon her
quarrel with the moving picture director; so it did not need Aunt
Alvirah's warning to make the girl of the Red Mill steal away and leave
the patient to such repose as she might get.

CHAPTER IV

A TIME OF CHANGE

Tom Cameron looked funny enough in some of the miller's garments; but he
was none the worse for his bath in the river. He, too, had been dosed with
hot tea by Aunt Alvirah, though he made a wry face over it.

"Never you mind, boy," Ruth told him, laughing. "It is better to have a
bad taste in your mouth for a little while than a sore throat for a week."

"Hear! hear the philosopher!" cried Tom. "You'd think I was a tender
little blossom."

"You know, you _might_ have the croup," suggested Ruth, wickedly.

"Croup! What am I--a kid?" demanded Tom, half angry at this suggestion. He
had begun to notice that his sister and Ruth were inclined to set him down
as a "small boy" nowadays.

"How is it," Tom asked his father one day, "that Helen is all grown up of
a sudden? _I'm_ not! Everybody treats me just as they always have; but
even Colonel Post takes off his hat to our Helen on the street with
overpowering politeness, and the other men speak to her as though she were
as old as Mrs. Murchiston. It gets _me_!"

Mr. Cameron laughed; but he sighed thereafter, too. "Our little Helen _is_
growing up, I expect. She's taken a long stride ahead of you, Tommy, while
you've been asleep."

"Huh! I'm just as old as she is," growled Tom. "But _I_ don't feel grown
up."

And here was Ruth Fielding holding the same attitude toward him that his
twin did! Tom did not like it a bit. He was a manly fellow and had always
observed a protective air with Ruth and his sister. And, all of a sudden,
they had become young ladies while he was still a boy.

"I wish Nell would come back with my duds," he grumbled. "I have a good
mind to walk home in these things of the miller's."

"And be taken for an animated scarecrow on the way?" laughed Ruth. "Better
'bide a wee,' Tommy. Sister will get here with your rompers pretty soon.
Have patience."

"