'sintuitiontoreadtheadvertisementinRuth', andmoreeloquentlydidtheeyes, largeandbright, reflectinganunmistakableinwardglory.

"Whathashappened?" , havingbidedhertimetillRuthhadgonetobed.

"Youknow?" Ruthqueried, withtremblinglips.

Forreply, hermother'sarmwentaroundher, andahandwassoftlycaressingherhair.

"Hedidnotspeak," sheblurtedout."Ididnotintendthatitshouldhappen, andIwouldneverhavelethimspeak—onlyhedidn'tspeak."

"Butifhedidnotspeak, thennothingcouldhavehappened, couldit?"

"Butitdid, justthesame."

"Inthenameofgoodness, child, whatareyoubabblingabout?" ."Idon'tthinkIknowwhathappened, ?"

Ruthlookedathermotherinsurprise.

", we'reengaged, MartinandI."

.

"No, hedidn'tspeak," Ruthexplained."Hejustlovedme, '—, '."

Shepaused, waitingwithexpectancythebenedictionofhermother'skiss, .

"Itisadreadfulaccident, Iknow," Ruthrecommencedwithasinkingvoice."AndIdon''."

"Woulditnotbebetternottotellyourfather? LetmeseeMartinEden, andtalkwithhim, ."

"No! no!" Ruthcried, startingup.", —ofcourse, ifyouwillletme."

"Wehaveotherplansforyou, Ruth, dear, yourfatherandI—oh, no, no; nomanpickedoutforyou, , agoodandhonorablegentleman, whomyouwillselectyourself, whenyoulovehim."

"ButIloveMartinalready," wastheplaintiveprotest.

"Wewouldnotinfluenceyourchoiceinanyway; butyouareourdaughter, , butcomfortisanothermatter, andourdaughtershouldatleastmarryamanwhocangiveherthat—andnotapennilessadventurer, asailor, acowboy, asmuggler, andHeavenknowswhatelse, who, inadditiontoeverything, ishare-brainedandirresponsible."

.