"I guess Ruth cares more for him than she lets on," thought she.

This love that had come to her so suddenly and miraculously made her alert for signs of love elsewhere.
She went to the bolted connecting door; she could not remember when it had ever been bolted before, and she felt forlorn and shut out.

"Ruth!" she called.
"Is that you ?" A brief silence, then a faint "Yes." "May I come in ?" "You'd better take your bath and get downstairs." This reminded her that she was hungry.

She gathered her underclothes together, and with the bundle in her arms darted across the hall into the bathroom.

The cold water acted as champagne promises to act but doesn't.