whole being. He did not know why he was so fascinated by her. She
was very beautiful, but he had seen many more ~agaceries~
calculated to set off the effect of their charms.

There was, perhaps, something bewitching in the union of the
grace and loveliness of womanhood with the naivete, simplicity,
and innocence of an intelligent child. There was a spell in the
shyness, which made her avoid and shun all admiring approaches to
acquaintance. It would be an exquisite delight to attract and
tame her wildness, just as he had often allured and tamed the
timid fawns in his mother's park.

By no over-bold admiration, or rash, passionate word, would he
startle her; and, surely, in time she might be induced to look
upon him as a friend, if not something nearer and dearer still.

In accordance with this determination, he resisted the strong
temptation of walking by her side the whole distance home after
church. He only received the intelligence she brought
respecting the panel with thanks, spoke a few words about the
weather, bowed, and was gone. Ruth believed she should never see
him again; and, in spite of sundry self-upbraidings for her
folly, she could not help feeling as if a shadow were drawn over
her existence for several days to come.

Mrs. Mason was a widow, and had to struggle for the sake of the
six or seven children left dependent on her exertions; thus there
was some reason, and great excuse, for the pinching economy which
regulated her household affairs. On Sundays she chose to conclude
that all her apprentices had friends who would be glad to see