rother David has come," she then said; "even if I
had not heard so. You look so bright. How glad I am!"

"Is he not here?" David asked.

"No; but there he is now, surely!" She turned towards the lane, where
Jonathan was dismounting. "Why, it is yourself over again, Jonathan!"

As they approached, a glance passed between the twins, and a secret
transfer of the riding-whip to David set their identity right with
Ruth, whose manner toward the latter innocently became shy with all its
friendliness, while her frank, familiar speech was given to Jonathan,
as was fitting. But David also took the latter to himself, and when they
left, Ruth had apparently forgotten that there was any difference in the
length of their acquaintance.

On their way homewards David said: "Father was right. We must marry,
like others, and Ruth is the wife for us,--I mean for you, Jonathan.
Yes, we must learn to say MINE and YOURS, after all, when we speak of
her."

"Even she cannot separate us, it seems," Jonathan answered. "We must
give her some sign, and that will also be a sign for others. It will
seem strange to divide ourselves; we can never learn it properly; rather
let us not think of marriage."

"We cannot help thinking of it; she stands in mother's place now, as we
in father's."

Then both became silent and thoughtful. They felt that something
threatened to disturb what seemed to be the only possible life for them,
yet were unable to distinguish its features, and therefore powerless
to resist it. The same instinct which had been born of their wonderful
spiritual likeness told them that Ruth Bradley already loved Jonathan:
the duty was established, and they must conform their lives to it. There
was, however, this slight difference between their natures--that David
was generally the first to utter the thought which came to the minds of
both. So when he said, "We shall learn what to do when the need comes,"
it was a postponement of all foreboding. They drifted contentedly
towards the coming change.

The days went by, and their visits to Ruth Bradley were continued.
Sometimes Jonathan went alone, but they were usually together, and the
tie which united the three became dearer and sweeter as it was more
closely drawn. Ruth learned to distinguish between the two when they
were before her: at least she said so, and they were willing to believe
it. But she was hardly aware how nearly alike was the happy warmth
in her bosom produced by either