“Now, come on.  You needn’t look into the window and smile.  I’ll do that.”

“No,” said the little one, stubbornly.  “I’ll go by on the opposite side of the way.  And you must come, too, Anna.  She—­ she’d bite me if she could get the chance.”

“Oh, well!  Come on, little silly!” said her sister, and the two crossed over and Ruth, who watched them interestedly, saw them hurry by the cottage with scarcely a glance at the front windows.

But Ruth could see the outline of the lame girl’s figure at one of the windows and she saw a lean fist shaken in the air at the two children going by.  She could imagine the face Mercy Curtis “pulled,” as well, and did not wonder that the two little ones took to their heels and ran away as fast as ever they could.

But, thus prepared for an unpleasant greeting from, the unfortunate and much to be pitied Mercy, Ruth smiled happily herself and waved her hand at the lame girl’s window.  Mercy saw her and, for a moment, was stricken with surprise so that she could neither greet her with frown or smile.  She knew the girl from the Red Mill, although she had seen her so many weeks before; but Ruth ran into the yard and up the porch steps at the side of the house, and knocked at the door before the lame girl recovered from her amazement.

The motherly Mrs. Curtis came to the door and, the moment she saw who it was, received Ruth with open arms.

“You dear child!  I am so glad you have come again.  Did Doctor Davison tell you?” she whispered.

“He told me that Mercy would be glad to see me again; but I should have come before, as I promised, if I could have gotten in,” Ruth said.  “Will she see me?”

“She is not so well to-day,” sighed the harassed mother.  “This is one of her days of torment.  I do not know how she will treat you, Ruth Fielding; but don’t mind what she says to you, dear.  Your being here will take her mind off her pain and off her own self.”

Ruth laid aside her hat and coat and went into the sitting room.  The crippled girl was in her wheel chair by the window.  The instant Ruth entered she seized the wheels on either side and propelled the chair across the room in a sudden dash that threatened to run her visitor down.  And her face was screwed up into such a mean look, and her eyes flashed so angrily, that Ruth was startled for a moment.  But she stood her ground and instead of colliding with her, the nervous hands brought the chair to a sudden stop right before her.

“Thought you were going to be run down; didn’t you?” snapped Mercy.  “I’d ought to break your legs—­ you run on them so fine.  Showing off; wasn’t you?”

She was offended because Ruth had run so lightly into the cottage and the girl from the Red Mill made a decision there and then that she would never come in to see Mercy again saving at a sedate walk.  But she laughed lightly, and said: 

“Do you want me to come on crutches, Mercy?  That wouldn’t help you a bit.”