in her box,
untouched."

We found Ruth just finishing with the dishes. The maid-of-all-work was
out, and Ruth was alone. She called to me to come back and help her, and
sang out brightly for Will to amuse himself with the paper. He'd
probably find it downstairs in the box.

Five minutes later Ruth slipped off her blue-checked apron, and we
joined Will by the low lamp in the living-room. My sister looked very
pretty in a loose black velvet smock. Her hair was coiled into a simple
little knot in the nape of her neck. There were a few slightly waving
strands astray about her face. Her hands, still damp from recent
dish-washing, were the color of pink coral.

"I'm tired tonight," she said, sighing audibly, and pulling herself up
on the top of the high carved chest. She tucked a dull red pillow behind
her head, and leaned back in the corner. "There! This is comfort," she
went on. "Read the news out loud to me, Will, while I sit here and
luxuriate." She closed her eyes.

"All right," Will agreed. "By the way," he broke off, as unconsciously
as possible, a minute or so later, "Have you heard anything from Mrs.
Sewall lately?"

There was a slight pause. The lady's name invariably clouded my sister's
bright spirit. She opened her eyes. They were wistful.

"No," she replied quietly, "I haven't. She's in England. Why do you
ask?"

"Oh, I was just wondering," my husband replied, losing his splendid
courage. "I suppose you two got to be pretty good friends."

"Yes, we did," Ruth replied shortly. There was another pause. Then in a
low, troubled voice Ruth added, "But not now. We're not friends now.
Something happened. All her affection for me has died. I have never been
forgiven for something."

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure," belittled Will, making violent signs to me
to announce the news we bore.

I had a clipping in my shopping-bag cut from the morning paper. I took
it out of the envelope that contained it.

"Ruth," I began, "here's something I ran across today."

The telephone interrupted sharply.

"Just a minute," she said, and slid down off the chest and went out into
the hall. "Hello," I heard her say. "Hello," and then in a changed
voice, "Oh, you?" A pause and then, "Really? Tonight?" Another pause,
and more gently. "Of course you must. Of course I do," and at last very
tenderly, "Yes, I'll be right here. I'll be waiting. Good-by."

I looked at Will, and he lifted his eyebrows. Ruth came back and stood
in th