Mrs.Alwynn had several maxims as to the conduct of herself, and consequently of every one else, and one of those to which she most frequently gave utterance was that "young people should always be cheery and sociable, and should not be left too much to themselves." When in the winter Mr.Alwynn had brought home Ruth, quite overwhelmed for the time by the shock of the first real trouble she had known, Mrs.
Alwynn was kindness itself in the way of sweet-breads and warm rooms; but the only thing Ruth craved for, to be left alone, she would not allow for a moment.

No! Mrs.Alwynn was cheerful, brisk, and pious at intervals.

If she found her niece was sitting in her own room, she bustled up-stairs, poked the fire, gave her a kiss, and finally brought her down to the drawing-room, where she told her she would be as quiet as in her own room.

She need not be afraid her uncle would come in; and she must not allow herself to get moped.

What would she, Mrs.Alwynn, have done, she would like to know, if, when she was in trouble--and she knew what trouble meant, if any one did--she had allowed herself to get moped.