"Come, dear. There's the basin. Bathe quickly, now."

Ruhannah frowned and cast a tragic glance upon the tin washtub on the

kitchen floor. Presently she stole over, tested the water with her

finger-tip, found it not unreasonably cold, dropped the night-dress

from her frail shoulders, and stepped into the tub with a perfunctory

shiver--a thin, overgrown child of fifteen, with pipestem limbs and

every rib anatomically apparent.

Her hair, which had been cropped to shoulder length, seemed to turn

from chestnut to bronze fire, gleaming and crackling under the comb

which she hastily passed through it before twisting it up.

"Quickly but thoroughly," said her mother. "Hasten, Rue."

Ruhannah seized soap and sponge, gasped, shut her grey eyes tightly,

and fell to scrubbing with the fury of despair.

"Don't splash, dear----"

"Did you warm my towel, mother?"--blindly stretching out one thin and

dripping arm.

Her mother wrapped her in a big crash towel from head to foot.

Later, pulling on stockings and shoes by the range, she managed to

achieve a buttered biscuit at the same time, and was already betraying

further designs upon another one when her mother sent her to set the

table in the sitting-room.

Thither sauntered Ruhannah, partly dressed, still dressing.

By the nickel-trimmed stove she completed her toilet, then hastily

laid the breakfast cloth and arranged the china and plated tableware,

and filled the water pitcher.

Her father came in on his crutches; she hurried from the table, syrup

jug in one hand, cruet in the other, and lifted her face to be kissed;

then she brought hot plates, coffeepot, and platters, and seated

herself at the table where her father and mother were waiting in

silence.

When she was seated her father folded his large, pallid, bony hands;

her mother clasped hers on the edge of the table, bowing her head; and

Ruhannah imitated them. Between her fingers she could see the cat

under the table, and she watched it arch its back and gently rub

against her chair.

"For what we are about to receive, make us grateful, Eternal Father.

This day we should go hungry except for Thy bounty. Without presuming

to importune Thee, may we ask Thee to remember all who awake hungry on

this winter day.... Amen."

Ruhannah instantly became very busy with her breakfast. The cat beside

her chair purred loudly and rose at intervals on its hind legs to

twitch her dress; and Ruhannah occasionally bestowed alms and

conversation upon it.

"Rue," said her mother, "you should try to do better with your algebra

this week."




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