She'd simply get talked about. The poor child can't be
lively or smile but what people begin to wonder if she's going
the way of--of Lorella."
"That's so," agreed Ruth, and both felt better. "Was Aunt
Lorella _very_ pretty, mamma?"
"Lovely!" replied Fanny, and her eyes grew tender, for she had
adored Lorella. "You never saw such a complexion--like Susan's, only
snow-white." Nervously and hastily, "Most as fine as yours, Ruthie."
Ruth gazed complacently into the mirror. "I'm glad I'm fair, and
not big," said she.
"Yes, indeed! I like the womanly woman. And so do men."
"Don't you think we ought to send Susan away to visit
somewhere?" asked Ruth at the next opportunity for talk the
fitting gave. "It's getting more and more--pointed--the way
people act. And she's so sweet and good, I'd hate to have her
feelings hurt." In a burst of generosity, "She's the most
considerate human being I ever knew. She'd give up anything
rather than see someone else put out. She's too much that way."
"We can't be too much that way," said Mrs. Warham in mechanical
Christian reproof.
"Oh, I know," retorted Ruth, "that's all very well for church
and Sundays. But I guess if you want to get along you've got to
look out for Number One. . . . Yes, she ought to visit somewhere."
"I've been trying to think," said her mother. "She couldn't go
any place but your Uncle Zeke's.
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