ier, and forbid her making any attempt to reach the young Frenchman
only to repeat the careless talk of English soldiers.

"I must do it myself, in some way. I must!" thought Ruth as she prepared
for bed. She wondered if Aunt Clara would not help her in her plan to go
to Barren Hill.

Ruth was late to breakfast the next morning, and Aunt Clara wondered a
little at her sober face, while Mrs. Pennell was troubled, thinking that
Ruth was brooding over her disappointment in not going to Barren Hill.

The little girl performed her usual household duties; but when her
mother suggested that she should go and play with Winifred, she shook
her head.

In the afternoon she went into the yard with Hero and "Cecilia" to the
seat under the maple tree. Aunt Clara noticed that the little girl sat
looking across the garden as if her thoughts were far away, neglecting
Cecilia, and paying no attention to the faithful Hero.

"I am afraid Ruthie is going to be ill," she said to Mrs. Pennell. "She
has not seemed like herself since she got home from her visit
yesterday."

Mrs. Pennell was quite sure that Ruth was not ill, but she was troubled
that her little daughter should be so disappointed and unwilling to
postpone the visit to Aunt Deborah.

"Her heart is set on going to Barren Hill, and I have told her she must
wait a while," she explained.

"But why not let her go now?" suggested Aunt Clara. "She is a good and
helpful child, and deserves the pleasure. I can make her things ready."

It did not take much persuasion for Mrs. Pennell to give her consent,
and when Ruth came slowly into the sitting-room, in response to Aunt
Clara's call, her mother said:

"Well, my dear, your Aunt Clara says that you well deserve to start for
Barren Hill as soon as she can make you ready. So be on the outlook for
Farmer Withely to-morrow morning, and ask him to call for you on
Thursday, and to tell Aunt Deborah to expect you."

Ruth's face had brightened as her mother began to speak, but as Mrs.
Pennell finished she was again almost ready to cry.

"'Thursday'!" she repeated. "That's two whole days to wait! Why can't I
go to-morrow?" she said anxiously.

Mrs. Pennell looked at Ruth in surprise. Never before had she known her
little daughter to whine, or seem to want her own way more than anything
else.

"What is the matter, Ruth? I thought you would be so glad that your Aunt
Clara had persuaded me to let you go so soon. If you say anything abo