Ruby's Reward — page 174: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘No, dear—that has all gone with the rest.” * Poor Estelle!” Ruby murmured ; then she added: “But,Robert,do not grieve. I am sure she will not mind it so much when she comes to realise how heavy your trouble is,” But, in her heart, she knew that Estelle would mind very much. She had been a gay and fashionable belle when she married Mr Gordon, and possessed a handsome fortune. She was exccedingly proud- spirited, and thought more of position, a good bank account, and the luxuries of life than of any anything else in the world. Again an oppressive silence fell upon those two, while Robert Gordon sat the picture of helpless despair. Ruby felt as if she could not bear to see him thus, and longed to get away to think out the sad problem alone; but, somehow, the clinging touch of his encircling am toid her that it was a comfort to him to haye her there, and so she remained. At last, when she could enduro the still- ness no longer. she asked, in a clear, energetic voice : ‘ Roherb, can’b you bring yourself to mect these reverses couregcously? Ff you were alone in the world, you would not allow yourself to be so utterly disheart- ened.” ‘*No; that is true; IE should not; and if your money and Lstelle’s were only safe, T showld not feelit now somuch. Of course T mut meet my fate ; but how courageously T cannot say,”’ “What will be the first thing to be done?” Ruby questioned, with practical forethought. “ Pincover what my abilities are, and then ascertain how much I have to meet them with.” Gomnlicrisiales comm