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 at the same time watching his countenance closely as he listened and replied.

"I have scarcely given it a thought, Neighbor Watson."

"Well!" exclaimed Ruth; "that is not very flattering, I must say; but then we are not supposed to make pretty speeches about each other."

John looked a little confused, but quickly caught himself and said, "Surely I am very sorry. Perhaps she will return to thee one of these days. I do not believe our old homes will be as attractive to her as these newer ones that we have here. Ruth cannot remember England, surely."

"Oh, no, and I don't care to go back, either, even on a visit. It's a case of necessity, it seems, that I wish had not arisen."

The idea of the new chest was abandoned with a promptness that made Ruth's mother wonder if it had been but an excuse on her daughter's part to have John call. This was not a generous view to take nor a correct one, and the girl would have been furious had she thought her mother entertained it