But Ruth was very young; at her age troubles _do_ melt away, however terrible they seem at the time. She had felt inclined at first to write off a long letter to her mother, telling her how miserable she was, and how she didn't think she _could_ bear it. But a little reflection showed her that this would only make Mrs. Perry very dull and uneasy about her, and still more that if 'father or the boys' got hold of the letter--and it would, she knew, be rather hard for mother to keep it from them--they might insist on her being fetched home again, and there would be a nice ending to her first start in life! How everyone would laugh at her, and besides--would she not _deserve_ to be laughed at, if she showed so little courage and patience? On the whole she decided to wait a bit, and in this I think she was right. It is a very different thing when a girl away from home conceals from her parents anything really _wrong_: Ruth had not done wrong; and indeed no one was much to blame for the trouble, except Naylor for losing her temper. And--and--after all, Ruth asked herself, would it be _quite_ nice for her to write off a long description of the housemaid's infirmity, for a real infirmity it was? She did not want to lower Lady Melicent's household, and perhaps have Naylor gossiped about in the neighbourhood through her. For there was no saying how her indignant brothers might chatter. Anyway she would wait till she could have a talk with Cousin Ellen. This came on Sunday. As Ruth was starting for the children's service in the afternoon, which she had been told she might always attend, as it only came once a month, she heard some one calling her, and standing still to see who it was, in another moment Mrs. Mossop appeared. 'O Cousin Ellen,' said Ruth joyfully, 'are you coming to church? I am so glad.' 'I thought maybe you'd like a walk and a talk with me,' said the lady's-maid. 'I've not seen you to speak to since Wednesday, and I thought it best not to seem to be seeking you. But I _was_ sorry, child; sorry both for you and for the accident. You must be very careful, Ruth.' 'I was as sorry as sorry could be,' said the girl. 'Indeed I'd have done _anything_ if I could have got another bowl. But--did you know how Naylor spoke to me, Cousin Ellen?' and Ruth hesitated a little. 'It was just awful.' 'I know how she is,' said Mossop, 'but it's no use thinking about it. I was just glad of one thing, and that was that you told at once.' Ruth hardly seemed to feel this cheering. 'I could almost have wished I hadn't told,' she said. 'I don't know _what_ I'll do if ever I have to tell anything again.' 'Don't say that, my dear,' said Mossop, eagerly. 'After all, Naylor isn't my lady, and it's her temper. You'll find it much worse in the end if you hid anything, believe me. Have you written to your mother about it?' 'No,' said Ruth, 'I thought I'd wait,' and she went on to explain her reasons. Mossop approved of them.