Icouldnotstayverylong，because，myhorsebeingquiteunfittotravelfromtheinjurieswhichhisviolenceandvicehadbroughtuponhim，therewasnothingformebuttogoonfoot，asnoneofUncleBen’shorsescouldtakemetoPlover’sBarrows，withoutdownrightcruelty：andthoughtherewouldbeaharvest-moon，RuthagreedwithmethatImustnotkeepmymotherwaiting，withnoideawhereImightbe，untilalatehourofthenight。ItoldRuthallaboutourAnnie，andhernoblefurniture；andthelittlemaidwasverylivelyalthoughherwoundswerepainingherso，thathalfherlaughtercame’onthewrongsideofhermouth，’aswerathercoarselyexpressit；especiallyshelaughedaboutAnnie’snew-fangledclosetforclothes，orstanding-press，asshecalledit。ThishadfrightenedmesothatIwouldnotcomewithoutmysticktolookatit；forthefrontwasinlaidwithtwofierydragons，andaglasswhichdistortedeverything，makingevenAnnielookhideous；andwhenitwasopened，awoman’sskeleton，allinwhite，revealeditself，inthemidstofthreestandingwomen。’Itisonlytokeepmybestfrocksinshape，’Anniehadexplainedtome；
’hangingthemupdoesruinthemso。ButIownthatI
wasafraidofit，John，untilIhadgotallmybestclothesthere，andthenIbecameveryfondofit。Butevennowitfrightensmesometimesinthemoonlight。’
HavingmadepoorRuthalittlecheerful，withafullaccountofallAnnie’sfrocks，material，pattern，andfashionofwhichIhadtakenalistformymother，andforLizzie，lesttheyshouldcryoutatman’sstupidityaboutanythingofrealinterest，Iproceededtotellheraboutmyowntroubles，andthesuddendepartureofLorna；concludingwithalltheshowofindifferencewhichmypridecouldmuster，thatnowInevershouldseeheragain，andmustdomybesttoforgether，asbeingsofaraboveme。Ihadnotintendedtospeakofthis，butRuth’sfacewassokindandearnest，thatI
couldnotstopmyself。