"
"Except Jessica in boy's clothes."
"Don't mention her, please; I detest her."
"And yet she spoke quite prettily on the night."
"I did not hear her."
"Why, where were you while all the world was making merry on the stage?"
"Not with them; I was with the weary, heart-broken old man who passed out
when joy began."
"Ah! I fancied you did not half appreciate Gratiano's jesting. Miss
Levice, I am afraid you allow the sorry things of life to take too strong a
hold on you. It is not right. I assure you for every tear there is a
laugh, and you must learn to forget the former in the latter."
"I am sorry," replied Ruth, quite sadly; "but I fear I cannot learn that,
--tears are always stronger than laughter. How could I listen to the
others' nonsense when my heart was sobbing with that lonely old man?
Forgive me, but I cannot forget him."
They walked along silently for some time. Instinctively, each felt the
perfect accord with which they kept step. Ruth's little ear was just about
on a level with the doctor's chin. He hardly felt the soft touch of her
hand upon his sleeve; but as he looked at the white profile of her cheek
against the dark fur of her collar, the knowledge that she was there was a
pleasing one.
"Did you consider the length of our walk when you fell in with my desire?"
he asked presently.
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