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commodity。 If you respected them〃
〃I do。 I grant them a steady pneumatic pressure in the region of morals；
and even faith。 Picture to yourself； Ruth； New York without sermons。 The
dear old city would be like a ship without ballast； heeling over with every
wind； and letting in the waters of immorality and scepticism。 Remove this
pulpit balance just for one week from New York City； and where should
we be？〃
〃Well then；〃 said Ethel； 〃the clergy ought to give New York a first…rate
article in sermons； either of home or foreign manufacture。 New York
expects the very best of everything； and when she gets it； she opens her
heart and her pocketbook enjoys it； and pays for it。〃
〃That is the truth； Ethel。 I was thinking of your grandmother Rawdon。
You have your hat onare you going to see her？〃
〃I am going to see Dora Denning。 I had an urgent note from her last
night。 She says she has ‘extraordinary news' and begs me to ‘come to her
immediately。' I cannot imagine what her news is。 I saw her Friday
afternoon。〃
〃She has a new poodle； or a new lover； or a new way of crimping her
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hair；〃 suggested Ruth Bayard scornfully。〃 She imposes on you； Ethel； why
do you submit to her selfishness？〃
〃I suppose because I have become used to it。 Four years ago I began to
take her part； when the girls teased and tormented her in the schoolroom；
and I have big…sistered her ever since。 I suppose we get to love those who
make us kind and give us trouble。 Dora is not perfect； but I like her better
than any friend I have。 And she must like me； for she asks my advice
about everything in her life。〃
〃Does she take it？〃
〃Yesgenerally。 Sometimes I have to make her take it。〃
〃She has a mother。 Why does she not go to her？〃
〃Mrs。 Denning knows nothing about certain subjects。 I am Dora's
social godmother； and she must dress and behave as I tell her to do。 Poor
Mrs。 Denning！ I am so sorry for heranother cup of coffee； Ruthit is not
very strong。〃
〃Why should you be sorry for Mrs。 Denning； Her husband is
enormously richshe lives in a palace； and has a crowd of men and
women servants to wait upon hercarriages； horses； motor cars； what not；
at her command。〃
〃Yet really； Ruth； she is a most unhappy woman。 In that little Western
town from which they came； she was everybody。 She ran the churches；
and was chairwoman in all the clubs； and President of the Temperance
Union； and manager of every religious； social； and political festival； and
her days were full to the brim of just the things she liked to do。 Her dress
there was considered magnificent； people begged her for patterns； and
regarded her as the very glass of fashion。 Servants thought it a great
privilege to be employed on the Denning place； and she ordered her house
and managed her half…score of men and maids with pleasant autocracy。
NOW！ Well； I will tell you how it is； NOW。 She sits all day in her splendid
rooms； or rides out in her car or carriage； and no one knows her； and of
course no one speaks to her。 Mr。 Denning has his Wall Street friends〃
〃And enemies；〃 interrupted Judge Rawdon。
〃And enemies！ You are right； father。 But he enjoys one as much as the
otherthat is； he would as willingly fight his enemies as feast his friends。
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He says a big day in Wall Street makes him alive from head to foot。 He
really looks happy。 Bryce Denning has got into two clubs； and his money
passes him； for he plays； and is willing to love prudently。 But no one cares
about Mrs。 Denning。 She is quite oldforty…five； I dare say； and she is
stout； and does not wear the colors and style she ought to wearnone of
her things have the right ‘look；' and of course I cannot advise a matron。
Then； her fine English servants take her house out of her hands。 She is
afraid of them。 The butler suavely tries to inform her； the housekeeper
removed the white crotcheted scarfs and things from the gilded chairs； and
I am sure Mrs。 Denning had a heartache about their loss； but she saw that
they had also vanished from Dora's parlor； so she took the hint； and
accepted the lesson。 Really； her humility and isolation are pitiful。 I am
going to ask grandmother to go and see her。 Grandmother might take her
to church； and get Dr。 Simpson and Mrs。 Simpson to introduce her。 Her
money and adaptability would do the rest。 There； I have had a good
breakfast； though I was late。 It is not always the early bird that gets
chicken and mushrooms。 Now I will go and see what Dora wants〃and
lifting her furs with a smile； and a 〃Good morning！〃 equally charming； she
disappeared。
〃Did you notice her voice； Ruth？〃 asked Judge Rawdon。 What a tone
there is in her ‘good morning！'〃
〃There is a tone in every one's good morning； Edward。 I think people's
salutations set to music would reveal their inmost character。 Ethel's good
morning says in D major ‘How good is the day！' and her good night drops
into the minor third； and says pensively ‘How sweet is the night！'〃
〃Nay； Ruth； I don't understand all that； but I do understand the voice。 It
goes straight to my heart。〃
〃And to my heart also； Edward。 I think too there is a measured music；
a central time and tune； in every life。 Quick； melodious natures like Ethel's
never wander far from their keynote； and are therefore joyously set； while
slow； irresolute people deviate far； and only come back after painful
dissonances and frequent changes。〃
〃You are generally right； Ruth； even where I cannot follow you。 I hope
Ethel will be home for dinner。 I like my Sunday dinner with both of you；
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and I may bring my mother back with me。〃
Then he said 〃Good morning〃 with an intentional cheerfulness； and
Ruth was left alone with her book。 She gave a moment's thought to the
value of good example； and then with a sigh of content let her eyes rest on
the words Ethel's presence had for awhile silenced：
〃I am filled with a sense of sweetness and wonder that such； little
things can make a mortal so exceedingly rich。 But I confess that the
chiefest of all my delights is still the religious。〃 （Theodore Parker。） She
read the words again； then closed her eyes and let the honey of some
sacred memory satisfy her soul。 And in those few minutes of reverie； Ruth
Bayard revealed the keynote of her being。 Wanderings from it； caused by
the exigencies and duties of life； frequently occurred； but she quickly
returned to its central and controlling harmony； and her serenity and poise
were therefore as natural as was her niece's joyousness and hope。 Nor was
her religious character the result of temperament； or of a secluded life。
Ruth Bayard was a woman of thought and culture； and wise in the ways of
the world； but not worldly。 Her personality was very attractive； she had a
good form； an agreeable face； speaking gray eyes； and brown hair； soft and
naturally wavy。 She was a distant cousin of Ethel's mother； but had been
brought up with her in the same household； and always regarded her as a
sister； and Ethel never remembered that she was only her aunt by adoption。
Ten years older than her niece； she had mothered her with a wise and
loving patience； and her thoughts never wandered long or far from the girl。
Consequently； she soon found herself wondering what reason there could
be for Dora Denning's urgency。
In the meantime Ethel had reached her friend's residence a new
building of unusual size and very ornate architecture。 Liveried footmen
and waiting women bowed her with mute attention to Miss Denning's suite；
an absolutely private arrangement of five rooms； marvelously furnished
for the young lady's comfort and delight。 The windows of her parlor
overlooked the park； and she was standing at o