t housekeeper
was required at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York. Her high-born
relatives learned with horror that one of their kin, the daughter of a
gentleman who had held an honorable position in their community,
contemplated filling this menial position. But, in spite of their
disapproval, Ruth presented herself as an applicant for the post, and
though her youth (for she was hardly twenty) was an objection, her
services were accepted; and she entered forthwith upon her lowly duties.

We need not dwell upon the manifold and humiliating trials to which she
was subjected,--trials to which the loveliness of her person largely
contributed. Like a true American maiden, well-disciplined,
self-reliant, and of strong principles, she found protection within
herself, and bade defiance to dangers which might have proved fatal to
one whose early training had been less productive of strength.

It was while Ruth was meekly discharging these humble duties that she
became acquainted with Mademoiselle Melanie.

On arriving in New York, Madame de Fleury had taken up her residence for
a few days at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and, as though she feared to lose
sight of Mademoiselle Melanie, requested her to do the same. A severe
indisposition, which caused the latter to seek feminine aid, threw her
in communication with the housekeeper of the hotel and her young
assistant. Mademoiselle Melanie quickly became interested in the sweet,
pale, patient face hovering about her bed, and did not fail to note the
air of refinement which seemed at variance with her position. In less
than four and twenty hours the young French _couturiere_ had learned the
history of the young American housekeeper, and resolved, if she
prospered in America, to remove this lovely girl from her present
perilous position to one less exposed.

Six months later Ruth received a letter from Washington making her an
offer to become one of the assistants of Mademoiselle Melanie, and
gratefully accepted the proposal. Mademoiselle Melanie found her young
_employee's_ health too delicate for an exhausting apprenticeship to the
needle, and employed Ruth in copying and coloring sketches of costumes
which the accomplished _couturiere_ herself designed. As she became more
and more conversant with the noble character of her _protegee_ the
spontaneous attachment she had conceived for her grew stronger, and Ruth
Thornton became her constant companion.

CHAPTER XVIII.

MAURICE