"Yes! A thousand times, yes, Ralph." "One thing more, Ruth--one more sacrifice for the cause. Can you guess what it is?" "Tell me, Ralph! Tell me quickly." "We must be married before that frightful Independence Day monster comes. We must be married at once." "Go ask papa and mamma, Ralph. They are in the west room with Dr. Muelenberg. I know what they are talking about and I want you to promise me one thing." "A thousand if you like, Ruth." "No, Ralph, only this one. Promise _me_ that you will not promise _them_ to take me abroad for a wedding trip." "Remember," she added, as she turned laughingly away, "if you do I will break the engagement." CHAPTER VIII. DR. MUELENBERG'S PRESCRIPTION. As Ralph entered the west room, Mr. Cornwallis was saying: "You see how it stands, Doctor. We can't afford to go to Europe; and Canada, the poor man's abroad, is no longer effective." "Here's Norwood," said the Doctor, looking quizzically at the young man. "There was a time when he helped us out splendidly with Miss Ruth." "Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Cornwallis, "and she has always felt so grateful and wanted to do something to repay you, Ralph. She thinks now if she had been here instead of in Canada when your little brother was hurt, she might have entertained him and kept him out of Schwarmer's way." "Bless her heart; but I am the one that ought to have kept him out of the way of that superb idiot," said Ralph with a glow of feeling. He was thinking that Ruth's objection to going away might be grounded in a desire to be near himself, although he was aware that she had not been conscious of it, so quick had it been to expand and reach out into more generous motives.