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to church； and get Dr。 Simpson and Mrs。 Simpson to introduce her。 Her
money and adaptability would do the rest。 There； I have had a good
breakfast； though I was late。 It is not always the early bird that gets
chicken and mushrooms。 Now I will go and see what Dora wants〃and
lifting her furs with a smile； and a 〃Good morning！〃 equally charming； she
disappeared。
〃Did you notice her voice； Ruth？〃 asked Judge Rawdon。 What a tone
there is in her ‘good morning！'〃
〃There is a tone in every one's good morning； Edward。 I think people's
salutations set to music would reveal their inmost character。 Ethel's good
morning says in D major ‘How good is the day！' and her good night drops
into the minor third； and says pensively ‘How sweet is the night！'〃
〃Nay； Ruth； I don't understand all that； but I do understand the voice。 It
goes straight to my heart。〃
〃And to my heart also； Edward。 I think too there is a measured music；
a central time and tune； in every life。 Quick； melodious natures like Ethel's
never wander far from their keynote； and are therefore joyously set； while
slow； irresolute people deviate far； and only come back after painful
dissonances and frequent changes。〃
〃You are generally right； Ruth； even where I cannot follow you。 I hope
Ethel will be home for dinner。 I like my Sunday dinner with both of you；
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and I may bring my mother back with me。〃
Then he said 〃Good morning〃 with an intentional cheerfulness； and
Ruth was left alone with her book。 She gave a moment's thought to the
value of good example； and then with a sigh of content let her eyes rest on
the words Ethel's presence had for awhile silenced：
〃I am filled with a sense of sweetness and wonder that such； little
things can make a mortal so exceedingly rich。 But I confess that the
chiefest of all my delights is still the religious。〃 （Theodore Parker。） She
read the words again； then closed her eyes and let the honey of some
sacred memory satisfy her soul。 And in those few minutes of reverie； Ruth
Bayard revealed the keynote of her being。 Wanderings from it； caused by
the exigencies and duties of life； frequently occurred； but she quickly
returned to its central and controlling harmony； and her serenity and poise
were therefore as natural as was her niece's joyousness and hope。 Nor was
her religious character the result of temperament； or of a secluded life。
Ruth Bayard was a woman of thought and culture； and wise in the ways of
the world； but not worldly。 Her personality was very attractive； she had a
good form； an agreeable face； speaking gray eyes； and brown hair； soft and
naturally wavy。 She was a distant cousin of Ethel's mother； but had been
brought up with her in the same household； and always regarded her as a
sister； and Ethel never remembered that she was only her aunt by adoption。
Ten years older than her niece； she had mothered her with a wise and
loving patience； and her thoughts never wandered long or far from the girl。
Consequently； she soon found herself wondering what reason there could
be for Dora Denning's urgency。
In the meantime Ethel had reached her friend's residence a new
building of unusual size and very ornate architecture。 Liveried footmen
and waiting women bowed her with mute attention to Miss Denning's suite；
an absolutely private arrangement of five rooms； marvelously furnished
for the young lady's comfort and delight。 The windows of her parlor
overlooked the park； and she was standing at one of them as Ethel entered
the room。 In a passion of welcoming gladness she turned to her；
exclaiming： 〃I have been watching for you hours and hours； Ethel。 I have
the most wonderful thing to tell you。 I am so happy！ So happy！ No one
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was ever as happy as I am。〃
Then Ethel took both her hands； and； as they stood together； she
looked intently at her friend。 Some new charm transfigured her face； for
her dark； gazelle eyes were not more lambent than her cheeks； though in a
different way； while her black hair in its picturesquely arranged disorder
seemed instinct with life； and hardly to be restrained。 She was constantly
pushing it back； caressing or arranging it； and her white； slender fingers；
sparkling with jewels； moved among the crimped and wavy locks； as if
there was an intelligent sympathy between them。
〃How beautiful you are to…day； Dora！ Who has worked wonders on
you？〃
〃Basil Stanhope。 He loves me！ He loves me！ He told me so last night
in the sweetest words that were ever uttered。 I shall never forget one of
themnever； as long as I live！ Let us sit down。 I want to tell you
everything。〃
〃I am astonished； Dora！〃
〃So was mother； and father； and Bryce。 No one suspected our affection。
Mother used to grumble about my going ‘at all hours' to St。 Jude's church；
but that was because St。 Jude's is so very High Church； and mother is a
Methodist Episcopal。 It was the morning and evening prayers she objected
to。 No one had any suspicion of the clergyman。 Oh； Ethel； he is so
handsome！ So good！ So clever！ I think every woman in the church is in
love with him。〃
〃Then if he is a good man； he must be very unhappy。〃
〃Of course he is quite ignorant of their admiration； and therefore quite
innocent。 I am the only woman he loves； and he never even remembers me
when he is in the sacred office。 If you could see him come out of the
vestry in his white surplice； with his rapt face and prophetic eyes。 So
mystical！ So beautiful！ You would not wonder that I worship him。〃
〃But I do not understandhow did you meet him socially？〃
〃I met him at Mrs。 Taylor's first。 Then he spoke to me one morning as I
came out of church； and the next morning he walked through the park with
me。 And after that all was easy enough。〃
〃I see。 What does your father and mother thinkor rather； what do they
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say？〃
〃Father always says what he thinks； and mother thinks and says what I