"Ruth, I never told you, but your mother was a lady. You know what your father was. I saved and stinted and toiled and got him a commission in the army. He died, poor fellow, shortly after you were born. But he was a commissioned officer in the Punjab Infantry. Your mother was a governess, but she was a lady by birth; her father was a clergyman. Your parents met in India; they fell in love, and married. Your mother died at your birth, and you came home to us. Yes, child, by birth you are a lady, as good as any of them--as good as the best." "They are dead," said Ruth. "I don't remember them. I have a picture of my father upstairs; it is taken with his uniform on. He looks very handsome. And I have a little water-color sketch of my mother, and she looks fair and sweet and interesting. But I never knew them. Those I knew and know and love are you, grandfather, and granny." "Well, dear, when I had the power and the brains and the strength, I kept a shop--a grocer's shop, dear; and my wife, she was the daughter of a harness-maker. Your grandparents were both in trade; there's no way out of it." "But a gentleman and lady for all that," said the girl. She pressed close to the old man, took one of his weather-beaten hands between both of her own, and stroked it. "That is as people think, Ruthie; but we weren't in the position, and never expect to be, of those who are high up in the world." "I am glad you told me about my father and mother," said the girl. "I love both their memories. I am glad to think that my father served the Queen, and that my mother was the daughter of a clergyman. But I am more glad to think that there never was such an honorable man as you, granddad, and that you made the grocery trade one of the best in the world." "It was a bad trade, my darling. I had several severe losses. It was very unfortunate my lending that money." "What money?" "Oh, I will tell you another time; it doesn't really matter. There was a little bit of ingratitude there, but it doesn't matter. Only I made no fortune by grocery--barely enough to put my boy into the army and to educate him for it, and enough to keep us with a pittance now that we are old. But I have nothing to leave you, sweetest. You just have your pension from the Government, which don't count for nothing at all." Ruth rose to her feet. "I am glad I got into the school," she said. "I hope to do wonders there. I mean to take every scrap of good the place opens out to me. I mean to work as hard as ever I can. You shall be desperately proud of me; and so shall granny, although she doesn't hold with much learning." "But I do, little girl; I love it more than anything. I have got such a lovely scheme in my head. I will work alongside of you, Ruth--you and I at the same things. You can lend me the books when you don't want them." "What a splendid idea!" said Ruth, clapping her hands. "You look quite happy, my dear."