“Don’t you like him ever so much, Ruth?”

“Why, yes,” Ruth said again, turning her pillow wearily.  “I liked him of course; how could I help it?  But, after all, he made me very uncomfortable.  I seem to feel as though I must find something to do.  I have a great deal of time to make up.  I tell you what it is, Flossy, I wish you and I could do something for those two girls.  Isn’t it strange that they are not interested?”

“But they are not.”  Flossy said it as positively as if she could see right into their hearts.  “I think Marion is worse than ever; and as for Eurie, she won’t even go to the meetings, you know.”

“I know.  Perhaps we would only do harm to try.  But what can we do?  I am sure I don’t see anything.  And don’t you know how clearly Dr. Niles made it appear that there was a special work for each one?”

So they discussed the question, turning it over and over, and getting almost no light, coming to feel themselves very useless and worthless specks on the sea of life, until late in the night Flossy said: 

“I’ll tell you what it is, Ruth, we must just ask for work—­little bits of work, you know—­and then keep our eyes open until it comes.  I know of things I can do when I get home.”

“So do I,” said Ruth, “but I want to begin now.”

Silence for a few minutes, and then Flossy asked: 

“Ruthie, have you written to Mr. Wayne?”

“No,” said Ruth, her cheeks flushing even in the darkness.  “I wrote a long letter just before this came to me, but I burned it, and I am glad of it.”

Then they went to sleep.  But the desire for the work did not fade with the daylight.  Flossy had even been tempted to say a humble little word to Marion, but had been deterred by the sound of that sneer of which I told you; and Ruth, lying on her bed, had revolved the subject and sent up many an earnest prayer, and went out to afternoon service resolved upon keeping her eyes very wide open.

The special attraction for the afternoon was a conference of primary class teachers.  They were out in full force, and were ready for any questions that might fill the hearts and the mouths of eager learners.  Our girls had each their special favorites among these leaders.  Ruth found herself attracted and deeply interested in every word that Mrs. Clark uttered.  Marion was making a study of both Mrs. Knox and Miss Morris, and found it difficult to tell which attracted her most.  Even Eurie was ready for this meeting.  She had never been able to shake off the thought of Miss Rider, and her eager enthusiasm in this work, while Flossy had been fascinated and carried away captive by the magnetic voice and manner of Mrs. Partridge.

“She makes me glow,” Flossy said, in trying to explain the feeling to the calmer Ruth.  “Her life seems to quiver all through me, and make me long to reach after it; to have the same power which she has over the hearts of wild uncared-for children.”