of nervous agitation, for she felt
that the interview was of momentous importance to her, and in a low
voice asked the servant who answered the bell if she could see Mr.
Ferguson.

"I will ask, miss," said the servant, surveying her plain dress with
some disdain.

"A young lady to see me?" said Robert Ferguson in surprise. "Are you
sure it is not my daughter she wishes to see?"

"No, sir; she expressly asked to see you."

Mr. Ferguson was a widower, and rather vain of his personal
attractions. Perhaps the young lady might have been struck by his
appearance.

"You can show her up," he said amiably, and turned to catch a further
glance in a mirror just opposite. He straightened his necktie, and
passed his hand softly over his hair to make sure that it was smooth,
and then turned to the door to catch the first glimpse of his visitor.

Nothing thus far has been said of the outward appearance of Ruth
Patton. Notwithstanding her anxious face she was unusually pretty, and
her manners were refined and ladylike.

"Mr. Ferguson?" she said inquiringly, pausing at the door.

"Come in, my dear young lady!" said Robert Ferguson graciously. "I am
pleased to see you."

"Thank you, sir."

"Pray sit down."

"He is much kinder than I supposed," thought Ruth. "I must have
misjudged him."

"I wrote to you a few days since," she began.

"Indeed! I don't think I can have received your letter."

"But you answered it, sir."

"I answered a letter from you? What then is your name?"

"Ruth Patton."

"Oh!" returned Ferguson, his face darkening. He no longer felt inclined
to be gracious, for he had a premonition that the interview would not
be agreeable to him.

"My mother and I were quite overwhelmed by the news you sent us. We had
no idea that my father left so little, and she wished me to come on and
ask for some particulars."

"I have very little to tell you beyond what I wrote," said Mr. Ferguson
coldly.

"My father led us to think that we should be comfortably provided for."

"Many men have very vague ideas of how they stand. Your father did
wrong in not insuring his life."

"He did not think it would be necessary. He thought we should be
sufficiently provided for without that."

"He had no right to think so," said Ferguson irritably. "You see how
things have turned out."

"But what can have become of all the money?"

"I hope, Miss Patton, you don't think I have spirited it away?"

"No, sir. Don't be offen