“Hullo,” said Charlotte with a suddeness that made Melina jump.  “What time is it, and how is every one?”

“Goodness, I thought you was asleep.  They’re all right.  I’ve just made your ma go to bed, though she declares she never felt better in her life.  Stanley’s sitting up on the sofa with the pillows ail around him, feeling like a little king, and Molly’s proud as Punch to be nurse.  Now what would you like for your supper?”

“My!  Is it supper-time?  Oh, bring me anything good.  You know what I like.”

“There’s a girl in the kitchen—­the one that’s staying with Mrs. Hamilton.  She wanted I should come up to see how you are, and she says she’ll come to see you just as soon as you want her.”

“Oh, ask her to come now, Melina, please.  I feel quite well enough to see her.”

Melina began to protest, but Charlotte’s eagerness conquered, and she went grumbling down-stairs to call Ruth.

“Oh, Charlotte, you’re a dear to let me come and tell you how mean I feel.  I don’t believe I should have slept to-night if I couldn’t ‘fess up’ to somebody.”

Charlotte looked at her in astonishment and Ruth went on, “You see I know all about what you did with the money, for Melina sat with me coming out on the train.”

“Melina told you!” said Charlotte, hardly able to believe her own ears.

“Yes, I remembered her face and said something to her.  She was so full of joy over having sent the bed off to her nephew that before she knew it she had told me all about him, and about the five dollars, too.”

“She probably won’t tell anything again in a hundred years,” murmured Charlotte, looking so embarrassed and uncomfortable that Ruth couldn’t help seeing it.

“You’re a funny girl to be so ashamed of your good deeds.  But, honestly, Charlotte, I’ll never tell if you don’t want me to.  I’m simply bowed down with shame myself to think I was so mean and hateful this morning.”

“Oh, that’s ail right, Ruth,” said Charlotte warmly, “and I’m not going to be horrid about Christmas any more.  I think this will be the happiest one I’ve ever had.”

CHAPTER X

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

The day before Christmas Ruth awoke with an ache in her heart, and an inexpressible longing for mother and father.  It was even worse, she thought, than the Christmas before when grief for her mother was so keenly new.  Then, she and her father had been so occupied making the hard day easier for each other that it had passed almost pleasantly.  But now, with her best chum so far away, the longing for her mother increased tenfold, and Ruth found herself wishing that she could go to sleep again, and not wake until the holidays were over.

It was hard to look cheerful at the breakfast-table, and every one missed the gay laugh and chatter which usually made the meal so pleasant.