they felt as if they had known each other for years instead of hours,
and were really very sorry to part.

The rest of the journey seemed rather dull and tedious, and it was late
in the afternoon when the train drew up at the Stonegate station. There
were a good many people on the platform, and Ruth was wondering if any
one had come to meet her, when a lady looked in at the carriage door and
inquired in a pleasant manner, "Your name is Ruth Arnold, is it not?"

"Yes, it is," she replied rather shyly, as she bent forward to look at
her aunt. But that look told her a great deal.

She saw a fair placid face which she felt sure she should love, for the
dark blue eyes reminded her of her father's, though the fair hair and
small mouth were strangely unlike his. But there was something familiar
in the tone of her voice, and when she called a cab, gave instructions
about the luggage, and took her seat beside her niece, Ruth was quite at
ease and felt that she was going to be happy.

"You will see Julia very soon," said Mrs. Woburn, "but this is our first
day at the sea-side, and she was out when I started. I am afraid that
she will be angry with me, for I know that she intended to come herself
to meet you, and I think she will be disappointed."

"It was very kind of you to come," said Ruth; "I was getting quite
frightened, and thought that perhaps you might not know me, and that I
should be all alone in a strange place."

"There is not much fear that any one who has seen your mother would not
recognise her daughter," was Mrs. Woburn's smiling reply.