"Will not show me to Mr. Chesleigh, nor tell him that you think I am pretty," said Golden, in alarm. "Very well, I won't," said the little one, disappointed, "but I am very sorry, for I am sure Uncle Bertie would be glad to know that I have a good and pretty nurse. He used to laugh at the ugly ones, and he said their faces were so horrid it was not strange they were bad tempered." "There is another thing I want you to promise me, please, darling," said Golden, who was on the best of terms with her little charge. "What is it, Mary?" inquired the child. "When your uncle comes to sit and talk with you, Ruby, you must let me run away and stay until he leaves you." "Why should you do that?" asked Ruby. "I have some sewing to do," replied Golden, evasively. "I know, but you always do your sewing with me," said Ruby. "You see it would be quite different with a man in the way." "Uncle Bert would not bother you one bit. I cannot see why you are afraid of him," rejoined the child. "But I do not like men, Ruby. I do not like to be where a man is. Now, dear, will you excuse me?" pleaded Golden. "Yes, I will, since you insist on it," answered Ruby. "But I can't see what makes you hate men! Now I like them. I like papa, I like Uncle Bert, and I shall like my husband when I grow big enough to have one. Do you ever intend to have a husband, Mary?" said the child, with a child's thoughtlessness. CHAPTER XXV. The beautiful color surged hotly into Golden's cheeks at Ruby's artless question. She turned her head away to hide the pain that made her sweet lips quiver. "Mary, do you ever intend to have a husband?" repeated the child. "Hush, Ruby. You are too young to talk about husbands," answered Golden. "Dear me, is my daughter contemplating marriage?" cried a gay, sweet voice, and, looking up, they saw Mrs. Desmond in her traveling wraps, dusty and weary, but looking very glad and eager at seeing her child again. Ruby sprang to her arms, and Golden looked on with sympathetic tears in her eyes at the happy reunion of the mother and child. Mrs. Desmond did not seem to see her until she had fairly smothered Ruby in kisses, when she looked up and said, approvingly: "How do you do, Mary? That is a very nice new dress--quite suitable to you." After a minute she said, suddenly, as if the thought had just occurred to her: "By the way, you have never yet received any of your wages from me. Here are twenty dollars for two months. I am very glad you have taken such good care of Ruby." Golden thanked her and took the money, but the gold seemed to burn the delicate palm. It was hard to be receiving a servant's wages from Bertram Chesleigh's sister. "Where is papa and Uncle Bert?" asked Ruby. "Papa will be here directly. Bert is very tired--he has gone to his room to rest. You must not go to him yet." "And the young lady, mamma--she came?" "Oh, yes." "Is she pretty, mamma? Has she blue eyes, or black?"