The poor girl sat up slowly and turned a stained and swollen face to Ruth.

If there was much to be pitied there was something to be laughed at, also.

Ruth could not forbear smiling.

But Caroline was clutching at her hands.
"He's changed his mind ?" she asked eagerly.

"He's sent you to tell me that he's changed his mind, Ruth?
Oh, you've persuaded him to it--like an angel--I know you have!" Ruth Tolliver freed herself from the reaching hands, moistened the end of a towel in the bathroom and began to remove the traces of tears from the face of Caroline Smith.