It was after this Aunt Alvirah seemed so confident that a way would be provided for Ruth to get the frocks that she so sadly needed.  On the very next day, when Ruth came home from school, she found the little old lady in a flutter of excitement.

“Now, Ruthie,” she whispered, “you mustn’t ask too many questions, and I’ll surely tell ye a gre’t secret, child.”

“It must be something very nice, Aunt Alviry, or you’d never be like this.  What is it?”

“Now Ruthie, you mustn’t ask too many questions, I tell you.  But to make no secret of it, for secrets I do despise, somebody’s made you a present.”

“Made me a present?” gasped Ruth.

“Now, careful about questions,” warned Aunt Alvirah.  “I told you that a way would be pervided for you to have frocks.  And it is true.  You are a-goin’ to have ’em.”

“Auntie!  New frocks!”

“Just as good as new.  Ev’ry bit as good as new.  Somebody that’s—­ that’s seen ye, deary, and knows how badly you want to go to school, and that you need dresses, has given you three.”

“My goodness me!” cried Ruth, clasping her hands.  Not three?”

“Yes, my dear.  And they’re jest as good as new—­ about.  ’Cretia Lock won’t be two days fixin’ ’em over to fit you.  And you won’t mind, deary, if the little girl who wore them before you is—­ is—­ Well, deary, she won’t never want them any more.”

“Oh, my dear!” cried Ruth.  “Three frocks all at once!  And—­ and I’m not to ask who gave them to me?”

“That’s it.  You’re not to ask that.  I’ll git ’em and show you—­ Oh, my back and oh, my bones!  Oh, my back and oh, my bones!” the old lady added, starting from her chair and hobbling out of the room.

Ruth was so amazed that she hardly knew what her other feelings at the moment might be.  But there had sprung into her mind, full-fledged, the suspicion that Doctor Davison had been the donor of the frocks.  Perhaps he had had a little girl sometime, who had died.  For Ruth had quite decided, from what Aunt Alvirah said, that the girl who had formerly worn the frocks in question was no longer upon earth.

CHAPTER XVI

 Behind the green lamps

Aunt Alvirah returned in a short time with such a pile of pretty colors over her arm that Ruth gasped with delight, she couldn’t help it The dresses were all nice ginghams, each of a different color, nicely trimmed and delightfully made.  They were not too fancy for school wear, and they were good, practical frocks.

Ruth had worn her little black and white frocks at school while she was still in Darrowtown, and had she remained longer Miss True Pettis would have helped her to make other frocks in colors.  It is a sad thing to see a child in black, or black and white, and Ruth’s father had been dead now six months.

“Ye needn’t be scart at the colors, child,” said old Aunt Alviry.  “Here’s this pretty lavender.  We’ll make that over first.  ’Cretia Lock will be here to-morrow and we’ll make a big beginnin’.”