"Miss Sutton, Miss Jennings, Miss Booth, and Miss Hilton, you
will see that you are ready to accompany me to the shire-hall by
eight o'clock."

One or two of the girls looked astonished, but the majority,
having anticipated the selection, and knowing from experience the
unexpressed rule by which it was made, received it with the
sullen indifference which had become their feeling with regard to
most events--a deadened sense of life, consequent upon their
unnatural mode of existence, their sedentary days, and their
frequent nights of late watching.

But to Ruth it was inexplicable. She had yawned, and loitered,
and looked off at the beautiful panel, and lost herself in
thoughts of home, until she fully expected the reprimand which at
any other time she would have been sure to receive, and now, to
her surprise, she was singled out as one of the most diligent!

Much as she longed for the delight of seeing the noble
shire-hall--the boast of the county--and of catching glimpses of
the dancers, and hearing the band; much as she longed for some
variety to the dull, monotonous life she was leading, she could
not feel happy to accept a privilege, granted, as she believed,
in ignorance of the real state of the case; so she startled her
companions by rising abruptly and going up to Mrs. Mason, who was
finishing a dress which ought to have been sent home two hours
before--

"If you please, Mrs. Mason, I was not one of the most diligent; I
am afraid--I believe--I was not diligent at all. I was very