He took up a camellia that some one had left on the table.
"Allow me, Miss Duncombe, to give this in your name to this young lady, as thanks for her dexterous help." "Oh--of course," said she.
Ruth received the flower silently, but with a grave, modest motion of her head.

They had gone, and she was once more alone.

Presently, her companions returned.
"What was the matter with Miss Duncombe?
Did she come here ?" asked they.
"Only her lace dress was torn, and I mended it," answered Ruth, quietly.
"Did Mr Bellingham come with her?
They say he's going to be married to her; did he come, Ruth ?" "Yes," said Ruth, and relapsed into silence.
Mr Bellingham danced on gaily and merrily through the night, and flirted with Miss Duncombe, as he thought good.

But he looked often to the side-door where the milliner's apprentices stood; and once he recognised the tall, slight figure, and the rich auburn hair of the girl in black; and then his eye sought for the camellia.

It was there, snowy white in her bosom.