“I do not mind telling you that it was some remarks of Marion’s that first suggested the propriety of this thing to me.  You know she is an infidel and I am not; and she intimated what is true enough, that I lived exactly as though I thought just as she did; so in thinking it over I concluded it was true, and that my influence ought to be with the church in this matter.  Now you know, Harold, that with me to decide is to do; so this is as good as done.  I should like it very well if you choose to come to the same conclusion and unite at the same time that I do.  I am sure Dr. Dennis would be gratified.  I don’t know why we shouldn’t be willing to have it known where we stand; and I know you respect the church and trust her as well as I do myself.

“I told Marion to-day ’I did not see how a person with brains could be an infidel,’ or something to that effect—­and I don’t.  I think that is such a silly view to take of life.  Just as if everything could come by chance!  And if God did not make everything, who did?  I have no patience with that sort of thing, and I am glad to remember that you have no such tastes.

“By the way, are the Arnotts in Saratoga?  I hope not, for they are such fanatics there is no comfort in meeting them, and yet one has to be civil.

“Seems to me you do not enjoy the opera as well as usual, nor the hops either.  What is the matter?  Do you really miss me?  If there is any such foolish fancy in your heart as that, prepare to enjoy yourself next week, for I shall be with you at every one of them after Tuesday.  It will take me until then to get something decent to wear.

“I hear the girls coming up the hill, and I must leave you.

“Au revoir,

“RUTH.”

Folding and addressing this epistle with a satisfied air, and still full of the spirit which had prompted her to write a religious letter, Ruth, finding that Marion had come in alone, and that Flossy and Eurie were still loitering up the hill, gave herself the satisfaction of communicating her change of views.

“I have been thinking a good deal about what you said this afternoon, Marion, and there is truth in it.  I do not think as you do, and I ought to take some measures to let people know it.  I have the most perfect respect for and confidence in religion, and I mean to prove it by uniting with the church.  I have decided to attend to that matter as soon as I get home again after the season is over.  I am surprised at myself for not doing so before, for I certainly consider it eminently proper, in fact a duty.”

Now, it was very provoking to have so religious a sentence as this received in the manner that it was.  Marion tilted her stool back against the bed, and gave herself up to the luxury of a ringing laugh.

“Really,” Ruth said, “you have returned from church in a very hilarious mood; something very funny must have happened; it can not be that anything in my sentence had to do with your amusement.”