"Yes, that's right; arrange it with him," said Chase. "For I must go; I have letters to write which can be postponed no longer. You have had enough of me for to-day, I guess? May I come in to-morrow afternoon--early?" "Come to lunch," said Ruth, giving him her hand. He held it out for a moment, looking at her with kindly eyes. "You don't know how much I enjoyed my ride," said the girl, heartily. "It is such a joy to be on Kentucky Belle; she is so beautiful, and she moves so lightly! It was the nicest ride I have ever had in my life!" This seemed to please Chase. He took leave of the others and went away. "I will wait here, if you will allow it, Miss Ruth, until he is out of sight," said Malachi Hill. "For I may as well confess to you--I have already told Miss Dolly--that I seem fairly to lose my head when I find myself with Mr. Chase alone! I am so haunted by the idea of all he could do for the Church in these mountains that in spite of the generous gifts he has already made, I keep hankering after more--like a regular _gorilla_ of covetousness!" "I shall have to see that he is never left alone with you," said Ruth, laughing. "There! he has turned the corner. Now _I'll_ go the other way," continued the missionary, his seriousness unbroken. "Mr. Hill is such a _good_ man," remarked Genevieve as she closed the window. "Miss Billy thinks him full of the darkest evil," commented Ruth. "Why do you shut the window?" "You were in a draught. After your ride you must be warm." "I'm a precious object, am I?" "Yes, dear, you certainly are," replied Genevieve, with all the seriousness of Malachi Hill. "If that simpleton of a Billy could see the parson eat apples, she would change her opinion about him," remarked Etheridge. "A man who can devour with relish four, five, and even six, cold raw apples (and the Asheville apples are sixteen inches round) late in the evening, cores, seeds, and all, _must_ be virtuous--as virtuous as mutton!" He was looking at Ruth as he spoke. The girl was leaning back in an easy-chair; Petie Trone, Esq., had lost no time, he was already established in her lap, and the squirrel had flown to her shoulder. She had taken off her gauntlets, and as she lifted her hands to remove her hat, he saw a flash. "Trinkets?" he said. "Oh--you haven't seen it?" She drew off a ring and tossed it across to him. "Take care!" said Genevieve. But Etheridge had already caught it. It was a solitaire diamond ring, the stone of splendid beauty, large, pure, brilliant. "It came yesterday," Genevieve explained. Then she folded her hands--this with Genevieve was always a deliberate motion. "There will be diamonds--yes. But there will be other things also; surely our dear Ruth will remember the duties of wealth as well as its pleasures." Ruth paid no heed to this; put on her ring again, using the philopena circlet as a guard; then she said, "Petie Trone, Esq., there will be just time before dinner for your Saturday scrubbing."