'Stick to Mac,' the dear old fellow said." It was to Ruth, but he dared not express himself, except in parables.

"Then you HAD thought of going ?" she asked quickly, a shadow falling across her face.
"No--" he hesitated--"I had only thought of STAYING.

It was you who were going--I was all broken up about being left here alone, and Uncle Peter wanted to know why I did not beg you to stay, and I--" Ruth turned her face toward him.
"Well, I am going to stay," she answered simply.

She did not dare to trust herself further.
"Yes!--and now I don't care what happens!" he exclaimed with a thrill in his voice.

"If you will only trust me, Miss Ruth, and let me come in with you and your father.