In spite of herself , the kindness of Carol 's tone brought the tears to her eyes . `` My mother died a year ago , '' she said in a trembling voice , `` and since then I have had no real home . We were quite alone in the world , Mother and I , and now I have nobody . '' `` Oh , I 'm so sorry for you , '' cried Carol impulsively . She leaned forward and took Ruth 's hand in a gentle way . `` And do you mean to say that you 'll have to stay here all through the holidays ? Why , it will be horrid . '' `` Oh , I shall not mind it much , '' said Ruth quickly , `` with study and practice most of the time . Only now , when everyone is talking about it , it makes me wish that I had some place to go . '' Carol dropped Ruth 's hand suddenly in the shock of a sudden idea that darted into her mind . A stray girl passing through the hall called out , `` Ruth , Miss Siviter wishes to see you about something in Room C. '' Ruth got up quickly . She was glad to get away , for it seemed to her that in another minute she would break down altogether . Carol Golden hardly noticed her departure . She gathered up her letters and went abstractedly to her room , unheeding a gay call for `` Golden Carol '' from a group of girls in the corridor . Maud Russell was not in and Carol was glad . She wanted to be alone and fight down that sudden idea . `` It is ridiculous to think of it , '' she said aloud , with a petulance very unusual in Golden Carol , whose disposition was as sunny as her looks . `` Why , I simply can not . I have always been longing to ask Maud to visit me , and now that the chance has come I am not going to throw it away . I am very sorry for Ruth , of course .
It must be dreadful XXXXX be all alone like that .
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