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 "I do trust thee will be present, and not wander away, forgetting thy privilege until too late," her mother said, in such a sober way that it plainly showed she had some misgivings.

"Never fear, mother dear, I'll be here." And Ruth put her arms about her mother's neck and held her in a tight embrace.

When she could get her breath, the troubled woman said, "Do, Ruth, give up thy strange habit. Thee is almost a woman now, and what will thy cousins think of thee?"

"My cousins? Who, the Pearsons?"

"No, dear, those in England;" but the words and the thought were too painful for Ruth's mother, and she leaned her head on her daughter's shoulder and said no more.

"Please, mother, do not worry; thee promised to be cheerful until I started, and this is not keeping thy word." And Ruth kissed her parent again and again.

"But thee'll be at meeting; father feared—"

"Then father is a—"