"Oh"--he did not fully understand this answer--"I should like to
know how you think the boy is going on, if it is not giving you
too much trouble; do you ever take walks?"

"Not for walking's sake, sir."

"Well," said he, "you go to church, I suppose? Mrs. Mason does
not keep you at work on Sundays; I trust?"

"Oh, no, sir. I go to church regularly."

"Then, perhaps, you will be so good as to tell me what church you
go to, and I will meet you there next Sunday afternoon?"

"I go to St. Nicholas', sir. I will take care and bring you word
how the boy is, and what doctor they get; and I will keep an
account of the money I spend."

"Very well, thank you. Remember, I trust to you."

He meant that he relied on her promise to meet him; but Ruth
thought that he was referring to the responsibility of doing the
best she could for the child. He was going away, when a fresh
thought struck him, and he turned back into the cottage once
more, and addressed Ruth, with a half smile on his
countenance----

"It seems rather strange, but we have no one to introduce us; my
name is Bellingham--yours is"--