Ruth had become pale. "Why, there isn't much to explain, except I found
out I wouldn't be happy with Bob. That's all."

"Oh," said Tom, "you found out you wouldn't be happy with Bob! Will you
kindly tell us whom you mean to try your happiness on next?"

Ruth's gray eyes darkened. A little pink stole into her cheeks. "There's
no good of your using that tone with me, Tom," she said.

"Did you know this?" asked Will of me from across the table.

I nodded.

"Do you mean to say it's _true_?" demanded Edith.

I nodded again.

"You're crazy, Ruth," she burst out, "you're simply stark mad. It would
be a public disgrace. You've got to marry him now. You've simply got to.
It's worse than a divorce. Why--the invitations are all ordered, even
the refreshments. The whole world knows about it. You've _got_ to marry
him."

"My own disgrace is my own affair, I guess," said Ruth, dangerously low.

"It's _not_ your own affair. It's ours; it's the whole family's; it's
mine. And I won't stand it--not a second time. Here I have told
_everybody_, got my Boston list all made up, too, and all my plans made.
Didn't I have new lights put into the ball-room especially, and a lot of
repairs made on the house--a new bath-room, and everything? And all my
house-party guests invited? Why--we'll be the laughing-stock of this
entire town, if you play this game a second time. Good heavens, you'll
be getting the habit. No, sir! You _can't_ go back on your word in this
fashion. You've _got_ to marry Robert Jennings _now_."

"I wouldn't marry Breck Sewall to please you, Edith, and I won't marry
Robert Jennings to please you either," said Ruth. "She wanted me to
elope with Breck!" she announced calmly.

"That isn't true," replied Edith sharply.

"Why don't you call me a liar and have done with it?" demanded Ruth.

"I wanted to save you from disgrace, and you know it. I wanted----" A
maid came in.

"Let us wait and continue this conversation later," remarked Tom.

"We don't want _you_," flared Edith at the maid. "I didn't ring. Go out
till you're summoned. You're the most ungrateful girl I ever knew, Ruth.
You're----"

"Come," interrupted Alec. "This isn't getting anywhere. Let us finish
dinner first."

"I'm sure I don't want any more dinner," said Edith.

"Nor I," commented Ruth, with a shrug.

There were a salad fork and a dessert spoon still untouched beside our
plates. It would have been thoughtful if Ruth had waited and lit her
fu