Miss Gwynne told me
that to do good was your birthright. She said that the funeral, with its
vast gathering of friends, rich, poor, old, young, strong, and crippled of
all grades of society, was a revelation of his life even to those who
thought they knew him best. You should feel very proud with such sweet
memories."
"Yes," assented Ruth, her eyes quickly suffused with tears.
They sat quietly thus for some time, till Rose, rising from her cricket,
kissed her friend silently and departed.
The waning light fell softly through the lace curtains, printing quaint
arabesques on the walls and furniture and bathing the room in a rich yellow
light. A carriage rolled up in front of the house. Dr. Kemp handed the
reins to his man and alighted. He walked slowly up to the door. It was
very still about the house in the evening twilight. He pushed his hat back
on his head and looked up at the clear blue sky, as if the keen breeze were
pleasant to his temples. Then with a quick motion, as though recalling his
thoughts, he turned and rang the bell. The latchkey of the householder was
not his.
Ruth, sitting in the shadows, had scarcely heard the ring. She was
absorbed in a new train of thought. Rose Delano was the first one who had
clearly brought home to her the thought that she was really married.
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