Ruth was actually pale as she tore open the envelope, but the color came back to her cheeks as she read the one word written there.  “It says ‘sound,’” she cried exultantly, “and papa said that one word could mean everything I wanted it to mean.  That he is well, and has had a pleasant voyage, and has arrived safely.  Oh, I am so happy.  It’s good news!  The best of news, Ellen,” she added, as the good soul’s beaming face appeared in the doorway.  “Oh, I can’t keep still,” and catching Ellen around her massive waist, Ruth almost whirled her off her feet in a wild dance of joy.

“Miss Ruth, Miss Ruth, darlin’, behave yourself,” protested Ellen, who like other unwieldy objects went on from sheer momentum when once started.  “How can you expect a fat old thing like me to dance?”

“Oh, Ellen, that did me heaps of good,” and Ruth sank panting into a chair, while Arthur laughed as he had never expected to laugh again, and Ellen tried to look cross, but failed in the attempt.

There was a quick rattle of a key in the lock, and the door opened suddenly to admit Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton.  Their surprise as they surveyed the jolly group was funny to see, and Ruth and Arthur went off into a fresh fit of mirth, while Ellen slipped shamefacedly into the kitchen.

“We gave up our dinner party, and came home,” said Mrs. Hamilton, “because we were afraid that Ruth would be worried about—­” She stopped suddenly, realizing too late that there was no need of telling Ruth why she should be worried, since evidently she didn’t know.

“Oh, I am dreadfully—­I mean I was,” cried Ruth incoherently, “and I don’t know what I should have done if Ellen hadn’t comforted me, and Arthur hadn’t come down to dinner.  But it’s all right now, for my cablegram says ‘sound,’ and that means everything good.”

“So it does, so it does, little girl,” said Mr. Hamilton, much relieved.  “It makes you as happy as it makes me feel to see this tall boy of mine down here.  Got back to us for keeps now, Arthur?” he asked, as he put his arm around his son’s shoulder with a smile that went straight to the boy’s heart.

“Yes, sir, I think so,” mumbled Arthur, who found it hard to live up to his standard of manliness, as he felt the quick clasp of his mother’s hand and saw the look in her eyes.

For a moment the three stood there, a little world in themselves.  Then Mrs. Hamilton stretched out a welcoming hand to Ruth.

“You belong too, little daughter,” she said lovingly.  “We’re going to have good times together, we four.  You shall see.”

CHAPTER VII

CAPS AND APRONS

“Now, young ladies, please come to order,” said Dorothy, rapping on the table with a wooden spoon, which seemed the most appropriate symbol of office for the president of a cooking club.

It was a day in late November, and the afternoon sun streaming in at the windows of the Ellsworth kitchen smiled broadly at the sight of six cooks in caps and aprons.  This was the first working meeting of the club, and as the girls had thought it better to make six the membership, Katharine French and Alice Stevens had been invited to join.