“Jasper Parloe told?” repeated Ruth.  “Not me.”

“Then—­”

“You muttered it when they carried you to the doctor’s house that night.  You said it was my uncle,” said Ruth, quietly.  “I have known it all along, and so has Parloe, I suppose.  He and I were the only persons who heard what you said when you were but half conscious.  You’ve kept still about it so as to shield Uncle, and I thank you.”

Tom looked abashed; but he was angry, too.  “Confound that Parloe!” he exclaimed again.  “He’s been bleeding me, too!  Threatened to go to my father and tell about it—­ and Dad would have been pretty hot with your uncle, I expect.”

“It was just fine of you, Tommy,” Ruth said, admiringly.  “But I’d let that Parloe tell anything he liked.  Uncle Jabez never meant to run you down, I’m sure.”

“I tell you what,” said Tom.  “I’ll go to him myself and talk with him.  Guess I can do a little bargaining on my own hook.  If I don’t make him any trouble about my accident, he ought to let you and Helen be spoons again.  She’s just about worrying herself sick over you.”

“It will come right, Tom, in the end,” returned Ruth, quietly, and repeating Aunt Alvirah’s favorite word of cheer.  “Uncle is changed, I believe.  Think of his taking so much interest in Mercy!”

“I’ll see Doctor Davison,” said Tom, eagerly; “and perhaps I’ll bring the sick girl out on Saturday.  She ought to be very comfortable in this machine.  Helen would be glad to do something for her, too.”

“But you don’t want to make any show of doing anything for Mercy,” returned Ruth, shaking her head as she got out before the station master’s cottage.  “There she is at the window.  She’ll be curious about you, I’ve no doubt.”

She only ran in for a few moments to see Mercy before going on to Miss Cramp’s.

“That’s that Cameron boy,” said the crippled girl, in her sharp way.  “I see him and that sister of his whizzing through this street before in their car.  Wish it’d blow up some day when they’re showing off.”

Ruth had got so now that she never showed surprise at Mercy’s harsh speeches.  She refused to admit that she took the lame girl seriously in her ugly moods.

“Now, you’d better not wish that, Mercy,” she laughed.  “Tom wants to take you out to the Red Mill on Saturday in that same automobile.  Uncle Jabez is going to take the wheel chair and your baggage.  You’ll like riding in the car well enough.”

For a moment the cripple was silent and her eyes fell before Ruth’s gaze.  Suddenly the guest saw that Mercy’s shoulders shook and that tears were actually dropping from Mercy’s eyes.

“My dear!” she cried.

“Go away!” murmured the crippled girl.  “I want to be alone.  I ain’t never believed,” she went on, with more vigor than grammar, “that I’d ever get out to your house.  Is—­ is it really so that I can?”

“Uncle Jabez is determined you shall come.  So is Doctor Davison.  So am I. Everybody is helping.  Why, Mercy, you’d have to come to the Red Mill on a visit now, even if you didn’t want to!” cried Ruth, laughing happily.