Hark! a knock at the door! a strange footstep! "Mother!" shrieked the child hysterically, "mother!" and flew into Ruth's sheltering arms. * * * * * "What _shall_ we do, doctor?" asked the old lady, the day after Ruth's visit. "I trusted to her not being able to get the money to come out here, and her father, I knew, wouldn't give it to her, and now here she has walked the whole distance, with Nettie in her arms, except a lift a wagoner or two gave her on the road; and I verily believe she would have done it, had it been twice the distance it is. I never shall be able to bring up that child according to my notions, while _she_ is round. I'd forbid her the house, (she deserves it,) only that it won't sound well if she tells of it. And to think of that ungrateful little thing's flying into her mother's arms as if she was in the last extremity, after all we have done for her. I don't suppose Ruth would have left her with us, as it is, if she had the bread to put in her mouth. She might as well give her up, though, first as last, for she never will be able to support her." "She's fit for nothing but a parlor ornament," said the doctor, "never was. No more business talent in Ruth Ellet, than there is in that chany image of yours on the mantle-tree, Mis. Hall. That tells the whole story." CHAPTER LXIV. "I have good news for you," said Mr. Lescom to Ruth, at her next weekly visit; "your very first articles are copied, I see, into many of my exchanges, even into the ----, which seldom contains anything but politics. A good sign for you, Mrs. Hall; a good test of your popularity." Ruth's eyes sparkled, and her whole face glowed. "Ladies _like_ to be praised," said Mr. Lescom, good-humoredly, with a mischievous smile. "Oh, it is not that--not that, sir," said Ruth, with a sudden moistening of the eye, "it is because it will be bread for my children." Mr. Lescom checked his mirthful mood, and said, "Well, here is something good for me, too; a letter from Missouri, in which the writer says, that if "Floy" (a pretty _nom-de-plume_ that of yours, Mrs. Hall) is to be a contributor for the coming year, I may put him down as a subscriber, as well as S. Jones, E. May, and J. Noyes, all of the same place. That's good news for _me_, you see," said Mr. Lescom, with one of his pleasant, beaming smiles. "Yes," replied Ruth, abstractedly. She was wondering if her articles were to be the means of swelling Mr. Lescom's subscription list, whether _she_ ought not to profit by it as well as himself, and whether she should not ask him to increase her pay. She pulled her gloves off and on, and finally mustered courage to clothe her thought in words.