Ruth was already crying from anger, which made it hard for her to answer her uncle’s speech.  “You certainly don’t object to my telling Barbara of your accusations, Uncle William?” Ruth demanded.  “I think it is only fair to her.”

“Not while she is in my house.  You are to tell her nothing,” Mr. Hamlin ordered.  “When Miss Thurston leaves you may tell her whatever you wish.  But I will not have a scene with her while she is staying here.”

Mr. Hamlin was a cold, selfish and arrogant man.  He well deserved the blow to his pride that he was to receive later.

Ruth controlled herself in order to think deeply and quietly.  Her father was wise in his trust in her.  Ruth had excellent judgment and good sense.  She was not particularly impressed by her uncle’s command.  She felt that she had a perfect right to tell her friend of what she had been accused.  Yet would it be a good idea?  Barbara would be heart-broken, and nothing would induce her to remain in Mr. Hamlin’s house another hour after she learned his opinion of her.  Ruth knew it would not be well for Bab to rush off home in sudden anger, leaving a false impression behind her.  Barbara must stay in Mr. Hamlin’s house until he himself apologized to her.

Ruth did not dare to go back upstairs to the other girls immediately after her interview with her uncle.  She knew her friends would recognize at once, from her red eyes and her excitement, that something was the matter.  Yet Ruth longed for a confidant, and she meant to unburden herself to Grace as soon as she had the opportunity.  To go upstairs now would reveal everything to Mollie and Barbara as well.

Ruth seized her coat and hat from a closet in the hall and rushed out into the street.  She began walking as rapidly as she could, to let the fresh air cool the tumult of feeling that was surging within her.  Ruth must have walked a mile before she determined what to do.  Before she returned to Mr. Hamlin’s house, she found a telegraph office and went into it.  She sent a telegram to her father in Chicago, which read: 

“Come to Washington as soon as possible.  Bab wrongly suspected.  She is still in ignorance, but we need you.

“Ruth Stuart.”

Little did Ruth yet dream why these toils were being wound about unhappy Barbara.  Mollie’s one act of weakness had involved her sister in a number of actions that did look wrong to an outsider.  Yet the explanation of them was so simple, if Bab had only known it were best for her to tell the whole story!  But Barbara was trying to shield Mollie, and Mollie did not dream that Bab would suffer any consequences from her foolish deed.  So Bab’s peculiar proceedings since her arrival in Washington had indeed played well into the hands of her enemies.  Mr. Hamlin’s mind had been poisoned against her.  She had been seen to do several underhanded things, one following directly after the other.  If a big game were being attempted, the reputation of Barbara Thurston was of little account.  Besides Bab had already blocked several of the players in the game.  Revenge could very well enter into the present scheme of things, and a girl who had no one to defend her might prove a useful tool.  As a last resort she could be made a scapegoat.