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 cheeks, and no Friend had yet dared to preach against them. There was the look of love in her eyes, meant only for her mother and John, it may be, but shedding a light over all, and so appropriated by every one. The few young Friends present could not wholly keep their eyes from her, for, being at home, she wore no bonnet. These young Friends were not envious,—it would be unfair to say that,—but during the silence they timidly wondered why Ruth was so different from all others.

Ruth sat at the west end of the room, as she had told her mother she would, and when all was still again, for every one moved slightly when she appeared, she picked up a little silk shawl that was lying on the window sill, threw it over her shoulder as if to ward off a draught, and then put it back. The whole movement was so natural and so rapid as to be scarcely noticed even by those nearest her.

A long silence followed, and then, as Ruth supposed, Friend Bunting arose, and removing her bonnet, said, in that "preaching"