“I should like to,” answered Ruth, who all the way home seemed to be in a brown study.

CHAPTER XVI

TELLING FORTUNES

“I’m very sorry to be late,” said Ruth penitently, as she walked into Miss Burton’s little sitting-room to find the three other girls there before her.

“We were just wondering whether that fiery steed had carried you off so far that you couldn’t get back,” laughed Miss Burton.

“He’s a beauty, and I’d have given anything to have my father see you ride off on him,” said Dorothy, who longed to ride, but hadn’t yet been able to persuade her father that it was a necessary part of her education.

“You see we didn’t wait for you,” continued Miss Burton, “so take off your hat and coat, and you shall have a cup of chocolate and some bread and butter as soon as you are ready.”

“Riding does give one such an appetite,” murmured Ruth apologetically, forgetting that they didn’t know that she had been feasting only about an hour before.  “But what were you talking about, girls, as I came up-stairs?  Your voices sounded so earnest that I felt quite curious.”

“We were talking about Mildred Walker,” answered Betty.  “I don’t believe you ever heard of her, Ruth, but she’s a girl who always lived here until about three years ago.  Her father had a good deal of money, and suddenly he made a great deal more and they went to New York to live.  They lived pretty extravagantly, I guess, and now he has lost all his money and is very sick, and Mildred will have to do something to help support the family.  She’s only nineteen, and she’s never done anything but have a good time all her life, so we were wondering how she would get along.”

“When my father heard about it,” said Dorothy, “he slapped his hand down on the table and said, ’There, that settles it; my girl shall learn to do something to support herself in case need comes.’  He looked so fierce and decided that I should have been quite worried if I hadn’t made up my mind some time ago what I wanted to do.”

“Oh, Dolly, what is it?” cried Ruth, almost upsetting her cup in her earnestness.

“Why, physical culture, of course,” answered Dorothy.  “I haven’t any talent for anything else, and I just love that.”

“It’s a very good choice, Dorothy, for, even if you’re never obliged to teach, it helps one in many ways,” said Miss Burton.  “I’ve always been very thankful that my wise father felt just as yours does, for when the time came I was able to take hold and do my part.  When father helped me plan my education there seemed no possible chance that I should be obliged to earn my own living, but it came suddenly, as as it so often does, and I’m glad to think that both father and mother lived to see me working happily and successfully.”

Miss Burton was smiling as she finished, but there was a soft mistiness in her brown eyes which touched the hearts of her adoring audience.