He scorned at any rate to advance his own interest by any disparaging communications about Harry, both because he could not help liking the fellow himself, and because he may have known that he could not more surely create a sympathy for him in Ruth's mind.

That Ruth was in no danger of any serious impression he felt pretty sure, felt certain of it when he reflected upon her severe occupation with her profession.

Hang it, he would say to himself, she is nothing but pure intellect anyway.

And he only felt uncertain of it when she was in one of her moods of raillery, with mocking mischief in her eyes.

At such times she seemed to prefer Harry's society to his.