Agnes to
be allowed to remain quiet "just one morning," and to see how vigorously
and perseveringly Agnes resisted her appeals, rousing her up and leading
her off, poor Ruth looking much like a martyr about to be dragged to the
stake.

Before Agnes and her cousins left Mrs. Arlington's school, Ruth Glenn
was so changed for the better, that she would not have been recognized
as the same pale, strange girl, who came there three years before. Her
spirits and appetite were good, and there was no longer any complaint of
disturbance at night by her room-mates.

It was a sad day in the school when Agnes and her cousins took their
final leave, but no one seemed so broken-hearted as poor Ruth Glenn.

"Oh, Agnes," said she, "who will be the friend to me that you have been?
Who will drag me out with such relentless cruelty?" and here she smiled
sadly through her tears, "through rain and sunshine, heat and cold; I am
afraid I shall be as bad as ever, for my walks will be so dull without
you."

But Agnes told her she hoped she had now received sufficient benefit
from her regular exercise, to be willing to make a little sacrifice, and
obtained from her a solemn promise that she would continue the course
they had so long pursued together.

Agnes had employed herself most perseveringly while at Mrs. Arlington's
school, in becoming thoroughly acquainted with various branches of
education and accomplishments, being fully determined in her own mind no
longer to be a burden to her uncle, but to use the means he was so
kindly putting into her hands, in enabling her to gain her own support
hereafter. But she had no sooner left the school than other duties
claimed her attention, as will presently be seen.

XII.

LEWIE AT SCHOOL.

"The child is father of the man."--WORDSWORTH.

Had our friend Lewie heard Mr. Malcolm's prediction relative to his
school experiences, he would have had reason to think him a true
prophet. He came into the school and the play-ground with the same ideas
which had been predominant with him ever since his baby-hood; and though
he did not, as then, continually say the _words,_ his actions proclaimed
as loudly, "Lewie must have his own way!--Lewie must not be crossed!" He
found his school companions not quite so complying as his indulgent
mother, and those over whom she had control; and before he had been long
in the school, he was known by the various names of "Dictator-General,"
"First Consul," "Gr