s Hastings is waiting for thy fine velvet coat," and
Ruth looked up to see Aunt Deborah smiling down upon her; and in a
moment the little girl was clinging to Aunt Deborah's arm, and asking
anxiously:

"Did Mother find the mended place in her dress? Oh, Aunt Deborah! I do
wish I had told her all about it!"

"Slip off the coat, dear child, and run and tell her now," said Aunt
Deborah, and in a moment Ruth was running across the garden to where her
mother was standing with Mrs. Merrill. Mrs. Pernell smiled down at her
little daughter, and clasping the warm little hand in her own turned
toward the gate.

In a moment Ruth was in the midst of her story, and Mrs. Pernell
listened without a word until Ruth, breathless and almost in tears,
finished by saying:

"I didn't think it would hurt the dress, Mother! I'm so sorry. And I am
sorry I didn't tell you the moment you got home."

Ruth felt her hand clasped a little more closely at this; but her mother
made no response until they were in Ruth's pleasant chamber. Then Mrs.
Pernell drew her little girl down beside her on the broad window-seat;
and leaning her head against her mother's shoulder Ruth told of the day
she had stayed up-stairs as a punishment for her thoughtlessness.

"Mother, you haven't said a word!" Ruth finally exclaimed, looking up
anxiously. "Are you ashamed of me?"

"Why, I think I am rather proud of my little daughter," was the smiling
response. "You set your own punishment, and I know you will stop and
think when next you plan such a masquerade party. My dress, it seems, is
but little the worse, after all; and Hero is well worth some sacrifice.
Perhaps if you had not been 'dressed up' you would not have been
admitted to General Howe's house, and might not have succeeded in
rescuing Hero," said Mrs. Pernell, stooping down to kiss her little
girl's flushed cheek.

"Oh, Mother! I do love you," exclaimed the happy child. "I'll never be
afraid to tell you everything."

"Of course you will tell me everything. That is what mothers are for,"
rejoined Mrs. Pernell. "And now I will take off my silk gown, and you
had best smooth your hair and make yourself tidy for supper."

"That sounds like Aunt Deborah," said Ruth laughingly. But as she obeyed
her mother's suggestion she thought happily that now Mother was at home
everything was sure to go smoothly.

When Gilbert's play was over Mrs. Hastings, although sadly troubled over
Betty's "borrowings," and the r