"
"No, grandfather; it is Saturday morning--quite a different thing."
"Well, my love, I am as pleased as Punch about that school. I can't tell
you how I think about it, and love to feel that my own little lass is
doing so well there. And if you get the scholarship, why, we will be
made; we won't have another care nor anxiety; we won't have another
wrinkle of trouble as long as we remain in the world."
Ruth went straight over to the old man, knelt down by his side, and
looked into his face.
"Stroke my hair, granddad," she said.
He raised his trembling hand and placed it on her head.
"That is nice," she said, and caught his hand as it went backwards and
forwards over her silky black hair, and kissed it.
"Granddad," she said after a pause, "is it the best thing--quite the
best thing--always to come out on the right side of the ledger?"
"Eh? Listen to the little woman," said the old man, much pleased and
interested by her words. "Why, of course, Ruth; it is the only thing."
"But does it mean sometimes, grandfather--dishonor?"
"No, it never means that," said Mr. Craven gravely and thoughtfully.
"But I will tell you what, Ruthie. It does mean sometimes all you have
got."
"Yes," said Ruth, "I understand." She rose to her feet. Do you think my
father would have come out on the right side of the ledger?"
"Ah, child! when he lay dead on the field of battle he came very much
out on the right side, to my thinking.
Pages:
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348