"I saw you sitting in the window as I rode up.

I might have known that if you were lost sight of for half an hour you would be found improving yourself in some exasperating way." And he ran up the little stairs and came round the balcony towards her.
"My own special books, I see--Eve, as usual, surreptitiously craving for a knowledge of good and evil.

What have you got hold of ?" The remainder of the window-seat was full of books; so, to obtain a better view of what she was reading, he knelt down by her, and looked at the open book on her knee.
Ruth did not attempt to close it.

She felt guilty, she hardly knew of what.

After a moment's pause she said: "I plead guilty.