Ruby's Reward — page 235: what you’re looking at

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

And then the young man bade her a fond good- night, and went away with a light heart, in spite of his repugnance to her remaining an inmate of Ed- mund Carpenter's home, and a recipient of his bounty, for it amounted to that. Ruby went thoughtfully up stairs, after his depart- ure, but just as she reached her own door, Mrs, Gor- don put her head out of hers, and asked : “Tg that you, Ruby?” “Yes, Estelle. Are you atill up?” “Yes, it has been so warm that I have not felt like going to bed. But where haye you been? I thought you retired long ago.” “May [I come in, Estelle, if you are not ready to go to bed just yet?’ Ruby asked, unheeding her ques- tion, and resolving to settle matters then and there. Something in the grave decision of the young voice arrested Mrs. Gordon’s attention, even startling her, and opening her door wider, she said: “Yeas, come in if you like, But you did not tell me where you have been.” “T have been down in Mr. Coxon’s sitting-room,” Ruby stated, as she entered the room and seated her- self in a rocker, where she could look her sister full in the face. ‘ “Pray, what have you been doing there ?” “Thad a caller.” “A caller! Andin Mrs, Coxon’s room at this time of night! Who?” Mrs. Gordon questioned, srowing a trifle pale, as she began to suspect the truth. “Walter.” “Walter!” echoed the woman, her ire rising as she realized that she had been outwitted, and was about to be called to account for her deception. “Walter who, pray ?”’ “Estelle, you know; Walter Richardson,” “Indeed! But TI did not know that you were upon such familiar terms with him that you addressed him by his Christain name.” “Why did you treat him so, Estelle?’ demanded Ruby, ignoring her sister’s sneering rem tae “You knew where [ was, and you should hav Ua ea eS