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'There's two of us that way, Ruby;--for I knohat I'o then' And Ruby walked off towards the door

'You won't get out that way, any way, for the door's locked;--and the area gate You'd better be said, Ruby, and just take your things off'

Poor Ruby for the iven her credit for eous perseverance than she possessed, and had feared that she would rattle at the front door, or atteate She was a little afraid of Ruby, not feeling herself justified in holding absolute doh she was now deter fully resolved to surrender neither of the keys which she held in her pocket,--still she feared that she ht so far collapse as to fall away into tears, should Ruby be violent But Ruby was crushed Her lover would be there to meet her, and the appointment would be broken by her! 'Aunt Pipkin,' she said, 'let o just this once'

'No, Ruby;--it ain't proper'

'You don't knohat you're a doing of, aunt; you don't You'll ruin ain, if you don't like'

Mrs Pipkin had not expected this, and was al to yield But Mr Carbury had spoken so very plainly! 'It ain't the thing, Ruby; and I won't do it'

'And I'm to be--a prisoner! What have I done to be--a prisoner? I don't believe as you've any right to lock ht to lock o away to-morrow'

'I can't help that, o out'

'Then why not open it to-night? Where's the difference?' But Mrs Pipkin was stern, and Ruby, in a flood of tears, took herself up to her garret

Mrs Pipkin knocked at Mrs Hurtle's door again 'She's gone to bed,' she said

'I'lad to hear it There wasn't any noise about it;--was there?'

'Not as I expected, Mrs Hurtle, certainly But she was put out a bit Poor girl! I've been a girl too, and used to like a bit of outing as well as any one,--and a dance too; only it was alhen ood as no father And she's got it into her head that she's that pretty that a great gentleman will marry her'