Itcomeslightning-likedownfromheaven，intothemountainhouseandthetowngarret;intothepalaceandintothecottage。Thegardenlaycloseunderthehouse;abrightspotenoughbyday;forinthatsoil，whateverwasplantedgrewandblossomedinspiteofneglect。Thewhiterosesglimmeredoutintheduskallthenightthrough;theredwerelostinshadow。Betweenthelowboundaryofthegardenandthehillssweptoneortwogreenmeadows;

Ruthlookedintothegreydarknesstillshetracedeachseparatewaveofoutline。Thensheheardalittlerestlessbirdchirpoutitswakefulnessfromanestintheivyroundthewallsofthehouse。Butthemother-birdspreadhersoftfeathers，andhusheditintosilence。Presently，however，manylittlebirdsbegantoscentthecomingdawn，andrustledamongtheleaves，andchirrupedloudandclear。Justabovethehorizon，too，themistbecameasilverygreycloudhangingontheedgeoftheworld;presentlyitturnedshimmeringwhite;andthen，inaninstant，itflushedintorose，andthemountain-topssprangintoheaven，andbathedinthepresenceoftheshadowofGod。Withabound，thesunofamoltenfieryredcameabovethehorizon，andimmediatelythousandsoflittlebirdssangoutforjoy，andasoftchorusofmysterious，gladmurmurscameforthfromtheearth;

thelowwhisperingwindleftitshiding-placeamongthecleftsandhollowsofthehills，andwanderedamongtherustlingherbsandtrees，wakingtheflower-budstothelifeofanotherday。Ruthgaveasighofreliefthatthenightwasoverandgone;forsheknewthatsoonsuspensewouldbeended，andtheverdictknown，whetherforlifeorfordeath。Shegrewfaintandsickwithanxiety;italmostseemedasifshemustgointotheroomandlearnthetruth。Thensheheardmovements，buttheywerenotsharpnorrapid，asifpromptedbyanyemergency;then，again，itwasstill。Shesatcurledupuponthefloor，withherheadthrownbackagainstthewall，andherhandsclaspedroundherknees。Shehadyettowait。Meanwhile，theinvalidwasslowlyrousinghimselffromalong，deep，sound，health-givingsleep。Hismotherhadsatbyhimthenightthrough，andwasnowdaringtochangeherpositionforthefirsttime;shewasevenventuringtogivedirectionsinalowvoicetotheoldnurse，whohaddozedawayinanarm-chair，readytoobeyanysummonsofhermistress。Mrs。Bellinghamwentontiptoetowardsthedoor，andchidingherselfbecauseherstiff，wearylimbsmadesomeslightnoise。Shehadanirrepressiblelongingforafewminutes’

changeofsceneafterhernightofwatching。Shefeltthatthecrisiswasover;andtherelieftohermindmadeherconsciousofeverybodilyfeelingandirritation，whichhadpassedunheededaslongasshehadbeeninsuspense。Sheslowlyopenedthedoor。Ruthspranguprightatthefirstsoundofthecreakinghandle。Herverylipswerestiffandunpliablewiththeforceofthebloodwhichrushedtoherhead。Itseemedasifshecouldnotformwords。ShestoodrightbeforeMrs。Bellingham。“Howishe，madam？”Mrs。Bellinghamwasforamomentsurprisedatthewhiteapparitionwhichseemedtoriseoutoftheground。Butherquick，proudmindunderstooditallinaninstant。Thiswasthegirl，then，whoseprofligacyhadledhersonastray;hadraisedupbarriersinthewayofherfavouriteschemeofhismarriagewithMissDuncombe;nay，thiswastherealcauseofhisillness，hismortaldangeratthispresenttime，andofherbitter，keenanxiety。If，underanycircumstances，Mrs。Bellinghamcouldhavebeenguiltyoftheill-breedingofnotansweringaquestion，itwasnow;andforamomentshewastemptedtopassoninsilence。Ruthcouldnotwait;shespokeagain——，“FortheloveofGod，madam，speak！Howishe？Willhelive？”Ifshedidnotanswerher，shethoughtthecreaturewasdesperateenoughtoforceherwayintohisroom。Soshespoke——，“Hehassleptwell：heisbetter。”，“Oh！myGod，Ithankthee，“murmuredRuth，sinkingbackagainstthewall。ItwastoomuchtohearthiswretchedgirlthankingGodforherson’slife;

asif，infact，shehadanylotorpartinhim。AndtodaretospeaktotheAlmightyonherson’sbehalf！Mrs。Bellinghamlookedatherwithcold，contemptuouseyes，whoseglanceswerelikeice-bolts，andmadeRuthshiverupawayfromthem。”Youngwoman，ifyouhaveanyproprietyordecencyleft，Itrustthatyouwillnotdaretoforceyourselfintohisroom。”，Shestoodforamomentasifawaitingananswer，andhalfexpectingittobeadefiance。ButshedidnotunderstandRuth。Shedidnotimaginethefaithfultrustfulnessofherheart。Ruthbelievedthat，ifMr。Bellinghamwasaliveandlikelytolive，allwaswell。Whenhewantedher，hewouldsendforher，askforher，yearnforher，tilleveryonewouldyieldbeforehissteadfastwill。Atpresentsheimaginedthathewasprobablytooweaktocareorknowwhowasabouthim;andthoughitwouldhavebeenaninfinitedelighttohertohoverandbroodaroundhim，yetitwasofhimshethoughtandnotofherself。ShegentlydrewherselfononesidetomakewayforMrs。Bellinghamtopass。ByandbyMrs。Morgancameup。Ruthwasstillnearthedoor，fromwhichitseemedasifshecouldnottearherselfaway。”Indeed，miss，andyoumustnothangaboutthedoorinthisway;itisnotprettymanners。Mrs。Bellinghamhasbeenspeakingverysharpandcrossaboutit，andIshalllosethecharacterofmyinnifpeopletaketotalkingasshedoes。DidInotgiveyouaroomlastnighttokeepin，andneverbeseenorheardof;anddidInottellyouwhataparticularladyMrs。

Bellinghamwas，butyoumustcomeouthererightinherway？Indeed，itwasnotpretty，norgratefultome，JennyMorgan，andthatImustsay。”，Ruthturnedawaylikeachiddenchild。Mrs。Morganfollowedhertoherroom，scoldingasshewent;andthen，havingclearedherheartafterherwontbyutteringhastywords，herrealkindnessmadeheradd，inasoftenedtone——，“Youstopupherelikeagoodgirl。I’llsendyouyourbreakfastby-and-by，andletyouknowfromtimetotimehowheis;andyoucangooutforawalk，youknow：butifyoudo，I’lltakeitasafavourifyou’llgooutbytheside-door。Itwill，maybe，savescandal。”，Allthatdaylong，RuthkeptherselfcloseprisonerintheroomtowhichMrs。Morganaccordedher;allthatday，andmanysucceedingdays。Butatnights，whenthehousewasstill，andeventhelittlebrownmicehadgatheredupthecrumbs，anddartedagaintotheirholes，Ruthstoleout，andcrepttohisdoortocatch，ifshecould，thesoundofhisbelovedvoice。Shecouldtellbyitstoneshowhefelt，andhowhewasgettingon，aswellasanyofthewatchersintheroom。Sheyearnedandpinedtoseehimoncemore;butshehadreasonedherselfdownintosomethinglikepatience。Whenhewaswellenoughtoleavehisroom，whenhehadnotalwaysoneofthenurseswithhim，thenhewouldsendforher，andshewouldtellhimhowverypatientshehadbeenforhisdearsake。Butitwaslongtowait，evenwiththisthoughtofthemannerinwhichthewaitingwouldend。PoorRuth！

herfaithwasonlybuildingupvaincastlesintheair;theytoweredupintoheaven，itistrue;but，afterall，theywerebutvisions。

chapter08，CHAPTERVIII，MRS。BELLINGHAM“DOESTHETHINGHANDSOMELY“IfMr。Bellinghamdidnotgetrapidlywell，itwasmoreowingtothemorbidquerulousfancyattendantongreatweaknessthanfromanyunfavourablemedicalsymptom。Butheturnedawaywithpeevishloathingfromtheverysightoffood，preparedintheslovenlymannerwhichhadalmostdisgustedhimwhenhewaswell。ItwasofnousetellinghimthatSimpson，hismother’smaid，hadsuperintendedthepreparationateverypoint。Heoffendedherbydetectingsomethingoffensiveandtobeavoidedinherdaintiestmesses，andmadeMrs。Morganmuttermanyahastyspeech，which，however，Mrs。Bellinghamthoughtitbetternottohearuntilhersonshouldbestrongenoughtotravel。”Ithinkyouarebetterto-day，“saidshe，ashismanwheeledhissofatothebedroomwindow。“Weshallgetyoudownstairsto-morrow。”，“Ifyouweretogetawayfromthisabominableplace，Icouldgodownto-day;

butIbelieveI’mtobekeptprisonerhereforever。Ishallnevergetwellhere，I’msure。”，Hesankbackonhissofainimpatientdespair。Thesurgeonwasannounced，andeagerlyquestionedbyMrs。Bellinghamastothepossibilityofherson’sremoval;andhe，havingheardthesameanxietyforthesameendexpressedbyMrs。Morganintheregionsbelow，threwnogreatobstaclesintheway。

Afterthedoctorhadtakenhisdeparture，Mrs。Bellinghamclearedherthroatseveraltimes。Mr。Bellinghamknewthepreludeofold，andwincedwithnervousannoyance。”Henry，thereissomethingImustspeaktoyouabout;anunpleasantsubject，certainly，butonewhichhasbeenforceduponmebytheverygirlherself;

youmustbeawaretowhatIreferwithoutgivingmethepainofexplainingmyself。”，Mr。Bellinghamturnedhimselfsharplyroundtothewall，andpreparedhimselfforalecturebyconcealinghisfacefromhernotice;butsheherselfwasintoonervousastatetobecapableofobservation。”Ofcourse，“shecontinued，“itwasmywishtobeasblindtothewholeaffairaspossible，thoughyoucan’timaginehowMrs。Masonhasblazoneditabroad;allFordhamringswithitbutofcourseitcouldnotbepleasant，or，indeed，Imaysaycorrect，formetobeawarethatapersonofsuchimpropercharacterwasunderthesame——Ibegyourpardon，dearHenry，whatdoyousay？”“Ruthisnoimpropercharacter，mother;youdoherinjustice！”“Mydearboy，youdon’tmeantoupholdherasaparagonofvirtue！”“No，mother，butIledherwrong;I——““Wewillletalldiscussionsintothecauseordurationofherpresentcharacterdrop，ifyouplease，“saidMrs。Bellingham，withthesortofdignifiedauthoritywhichretainedacertainpoweroverherson——apowerwhichoriginatedinchildhood，andwhichheonlydefiedwhenhewasrousedintopassion。Hewastooweakinbodytoopposehimselftoher，andfightthegroundinchbyinch。“AsIhaveimplied，Idonotwishtoascertainyourshareofblame;fromwhatIsawofheronemorning，Iamconvincedofherforward，intrusivemanners，utterlywithoutshame，orevencommonmodesty。”，“Whatareyoureferringto？”askedMr。Bellinghamsharply。”Why，whenyouwereattheworst，andIhadbeenwatchingyouallnight，andhadjustgoneoutinthemorningforabreathoffreshair，thisgirlpushedherselfbeforeme，andinsisteduponspeakingtome。IreallyhadtosendMrs。MorgantoherbeforeIcouldreturntoyourroom。Amoreimpudent，hardenedmanner，Ineversaw。”，“Ruthwasneitherimpudentnorhardened;shewasignorantenough，andmightoffendfromknowingnobetter。”，Hewasgettingwearyofthediscussion，andwishedithadneverbeenbegun。

Fromthetimehehadbecomeconsciousofhismother’spresencehehadfeltthedilemmahewasin，inregardtoRuth，andvariousplanshaddirectlycrossedhisbrain;butithadbeensotroublesometoweighandconsiderthemallproperly，thattheyhadbeenputasidetobesettledwhenhegrewstronger。ButthisdifficultyinwhichhewasplacedbyhisconnectionwithRuth，associatedtheideaofherinhismindwithannoyanceandangryregretatthewholeaffair。Hewished，inthelanguidwayinwhichhewishedandfelteverythingnotimmediatelyrelatingtohisdailycomfort，thathehadneverseenher。Itwasamostawkward，amostunfortunateaffair。

NotwithstandingthisannoyanceconnectedwithandarisingoutofRuth，hewouldnotsubmittohearherabused;andsomethinginhismannerimpressedthisonhismother，forsheimmediatelychangedhermodeofattack。”Wemayaswelldropalldisputeastotheyoungwoman’smanners;butI

supposeyoudonotmeantodefendyourconnectionwithher;Isupposeyouarenotsolosttoallsenseofproprietyastoimagineitfitordesirablethatyourmotherandthisdegradedgirlshouldremainunderthesameroof，liabletomeetatanyhouroftheday？”Shewaitedforananswer，butnoanswercame。”Iaskyouasimplequestion;isit，orisitnot，desirable？”“Isupposeitisnot，“herepliedgloomily。”AndIsuppose，fromyourmanner，thatyouthinkthedifficultywouldbebestsolvedbymytakingmydeparture，andleavingyouwithyourviciouscompanion？”Againnoanswer，butinwardandincreasingannoyance，ofwhichMr。BellinghamconsideredRuththecause。Atlengthhespoke——，“Mother，youarenothelpingmeinmydifficulty。Ihavenodesiretobanishyou，nortohurtyou，afterallyourcareforme。Ruthhasnotbeensomuchtoblameasyouimagine，thatImustsay;butIdonotwishtoseeheragain，ifyoucantellmehowtoarrangeitotherwise，withoutbehavingunhandsomely。Onlysparemeallthisworryawhile，Iamsoweak。Iputmyselfinyourhands。Dismissher，asyouwishit;butletitbedonehandsomely，andletmehearnomoreaboutit;Icannotbearit;letmehaveaquietlife，withoutbeinglectured，whileIampentuphere，andunabletoshakeoffunpleasantthoughts。”，“MydearHenry，relyuponme。”，“Nomore，mother;it’sabadbusiness，andIcanhardlyavoidblamingmyselfinthematter。Idon’twanttodwelluponit。”，“Don’tbetoosevereinyourself-reproacheswhileyouaresofeeble，dearHenry;itisrighttorepent，butIhavenodoubtin。myownmindsheledyouwrongwithherartifices。But，asyousay，everythingshouldbedonehandsomely。IconfessIwasdeeplygrievedwhenIfirstheardoftheaffair，butsinceIhaveseenthegirl——Well！I’llsaynomoreabouther，sinceIseeitdispleasesyou;butIamthankfultoGodthatyouseetheerrorofyourways。Shesatsilent，thinkingforalittlewhile，andthensentforherwriting-caseandbegantowrite。Hersonbecamerestless，andnervouslyirritated。”Mother，“hesaid，“thisaffairworriesmetodeath。Icannotshakeoffthethoughtsofit。”，“Leaveittome，I’llarrangeitsatisfactorily。”，“Couldwenotleaveto-night？Ishouldnotbesohauntedbythisannoyanceinanotherplace。Idreadseeingheragain，becauseIfearascene;andyetIbelieveIoughttoseeherinordertoexplain。”，“Youmustnotthinkofsuchathing，Henry，“saidshe，alarmedattheveryidea。“Soonerthanthat，wewillleaveinhalf-an-hour，andtrytogettoPentreVoelasto-night。Itisnotyetthree，andtheeveningsareverylong。Simpsonshouldstayandfinishthepacking;shecouldgostraighttoLondonandmeetusthere。Macdonaldandnursecouldgowithus。Couldyoubeartwentymiles，doyouthink？”Anythingtogetridofhisuneasiness。HefeltthathewasnotbehavingasheshoulddotoRuth，thoughthereallyrightneverenteredhishead。

Butitwouldextricatehimfromhispresentdilemma，andsavehimmanylectures;heknewthathismother，alwaysliberalwheremoneywasconcerned，would“dothethinghandsomely“;anditwouldalwaysbeeasytowriteandgiveRuthwhatexplanationhefeltinclined，inadayortwo;soheconsented，andsoonlostsomeofhisuneasinessinwatchingthebustleofthepreparationfortheirdeparture。AllthistimeRuthwasquietlyspendinginherroom，beguilingthewaiting，wearyhours，withpicturesofthemeetingattheend。Herroomlookedtotheback，andwasinaside-wingawayfromtheprincipalstateapartments，consequentlyshewasnotrousedtosuspicionbyanyofthecommotion;but，indeed，ifshehadheardthebangingofdoors，thesharpdirections，thecarriage-wheels，shewouldstillnothavesuspectedthetruth;herownlovewastoofaithful。Itwasfouro’clockandpast，whensomeoneknockedatherdoor，and，onentering，gaveheranote，whichMrs。Bellinghamhadleft。Thatladyhadfoundsomedifficultyinwordingitsoastosatisfyherself，butitwasasfollows：——，“Myson，onrecoveringfromhisillness，is，IthankGod，happilyconsciousofthesinfulwayinwhichhehasbeenlivingwithyou。Byhisearnestdesire，andinordertoavoidseeingyouagain，weareonthepointofleavingthisplace;but，beforeIgo，Iwishtoexhortyoutorepentance，andtoremindyouthatyouwillnothaveyourownguiltaloneuponyourhead，butthatofanyyoungmanwhomyoumaysucceedinentrappingintovice。Ishallpraythatyoumayturntoanhonestlife，andIstronglyrecommendyou，ifindeedyouarenot’deadintrespassesandsins，’toentersomepenitentiary。Inaccordancewithmyson’swishes，Iforwardyouinthisenvelopeabank-noteoffiftypounds。“MARGARETBELLINGHAM。”，Wasthistheendofall？Hadhe，indeed，gone？Shestartedup，andaskedthislastquestionoftheservant，who，halfguessingatthepurportofthenote，hadlingeredabouttheroom，curioustoseetheeffectproduced。”Iss，indeed，miss;thecarriagedrovefromthedoorasIcameupstairs。

You’llseeitnowontheYspyttyroad，ifyou’llpleasetocometothewindowofNo。24。”，Ruthstartedupandfollowedthechambermaid。Ay，thereitwas，slowlywindingupthesteep，whiteroad，onwhichitseemedtomoveatasnail’space。Shemightovertakehim——shemight——shemightspeakonefarewellwordtohim，printhisfaceonherheartwithalastlook——nay，whenhesawherhemightretract，andnotutterly，forever，leaveher。Thusshethought;

andsheflewbacktoherroom，andsnatchingupherbonnet，ran，tyingthestringswithhertremblinghandsasshewentdownthestairs，outatthenearestdoor，littleheedingtheangrywordsofMrs。Morgan;forthehostess，moreirritatedatMrs。Bellingham’ssevereupbraidingatparting，thanmollifiedbyheramplepayment，wasoffendedbythecircumstanceofRuth，inherwildhaste，passingthroughtheprohibitedfrontdoor。ButRuthwasawaybeforeMrs。Morganhadfinishedherspeech，outandaway，scuddingalongtheroad，thought-lostinthebreathlessrapidityofhermotion。Thoughherheartandheadbeatalmosttobursting，whatdiditsignifyifshecouldbutovertakethecarriage？Itwasanightmare，constantlyevadingthemostpassionatewishesandendeavours，andconstantlygainingground。Everytimeitwasvisibleitwasinfactmoredistant，butRuthwouldnotbelieveit。Ifshecouldbutgainthesummitofthatwearyeverlastinghill，shebelievedthatshecouldrunagain，andwouldsoonbenighuponthecarriage。Assheransheprayedwithwildeagerness;sheprayedthatshemightseehisfaceoncemore，evenifshediedonthespotbeforehim。

ItwasoneofthoseprayerswhichGodistoomercifultogrant;but，despairingandwildasitwas，Ruthputhersoulintoit，andprayeditagain，andyetagain。Waveabovewaveoftheever-risinghillsweregained，werecrossed，andatlastRuthstruggleduptotheverytopandstoodonthebaretableofmoor，brownandpurple，stretchingfarawaytillitwaslostinthehazeofthesummerafternoon;thewhiteroadwasallflatbeforeher，butthecarriageshesought，andthefigureshesought，haddisappeared。Therewasnohumanbeingthere;afewwild，black-facedmountainsheep，quietlygrazingneartheroadasifitwerelongsincetheyhadbeendisturbed，bythepassingofanyvehicle，wasallthelifeshesawonthebleakmoorland。Shethrewherselfdownonthelingbythesideoftheroad，indespair。

Heronlyhopewastodie，andshebelievedshewasdying。Shecouldnotthink;shecouldbelieveanything。Surelylifewasahorribledream，andGodwouldmercifullyawakenherfromit？Shehadnopenitence，noconsciousnessoferrororoffencenoknowledgeofanyonecircumstancebutthathewasgone。Yetafterwards——longafterwards——sherememberedtheexactmotionofabrightgreenbeetlebusilymeanderingamongthewildthymenearher，andsherecalledthemusical，balanced，waveringdropofaskylarkintohernest，neartheheather-bedwhereshelay。Thesunwassinkinglow，thehotairhadceasedtoquivernearthehotterearth，whenshebethoughtheroncemoreofthenotewhichshehadimpatientlythrowndownbeforehalfmasteringitscontents。“Oh，perhaps，“shethought，“Ihavebeentoohasty。Theremaybesomewordsofexplanationfromhimontheothersideofthepage，towhich，inmyblindanguish，Ineverturned。Iwillgoandfindit。”，Sheliftedherselfheavilyandstifflyfromthecrushedheather。Shestooddizzyandconfusedwithherchangeofposture;andwassounabletomoveatfirst，thatherwalkwasbutslowandtottering;but，by-and-by，shewastaskedandgoadedbythoughtswhichforcedherintorapidmotion，asif，byit，shecouldescapefromheragony。Shecamedownonthelevelground，justasmanygayorpeacefulgroupsweresaunteringleisurelyhomewithheartsatease;withlowlaughsandquietsmiles，andmanyanexclamationatthebeautyofthesummerevening。Eversinceheradventurewiththelittleboyandhissister，Ruthhadhabituallyavoidedencounteringthesehappy——innocents，mayIcallthem？——thesehappyfellow-mortals！Andevennow，thehabitgroundedonsorrowfulhumiliationhadpoweroverher;shepaused，andthen，onlookingback，shesawmorepeoplewhohadcomeintothemainroadfromaside-path。Sheopenedagateintoapasture-field，andcreptuptothehedge-bankuntilallshouldhavepassedby，andshecouldstealintotheinnunseen。Shesatdownontheslopingturfbytherootsofanoldhawthorntreewhichgrewinthehedge;

shewasstilltearless，withhotburningeyes;sheheardthemerrywalkerspassby;sheheardthefootstepsofthevillagechildrenastheyranalongtotheireveningplay;shesawthesmallblackcowscomeintothefieldsafterbeingmilked;andlifeseemedyetabroad。Whenwouldtheworldbestillanddark，andfitforsuchadeserted，desolatecreatureasshewas？

Eveninherhiding-placeshewasnotlongatpeace。Thelittlechildren，withtheircuriouseyespeeringhereandthere，hadpeepedthroughthehedge，andthroughthegate，andnowtheygatheredfromallthefourcornersofthehamlet，andcrowdedroundthegate;andonemoreadventurousthantheresthadrunintothefieldtocry，“Gi’meahalfpenny，“whichsettheexampletoeverylittleone，emulousofhisboldness;andthere，whereshesat，lowontheground，andlongingforthesurehiding-placeearthgivestotheweary，thechildrenkeptrunningin，andpushingoneanotherforwardsandlaughing。Poorthings！theirtimehadnotcomeforunderstandingwhatsorrowis。Ruthwouldhavebeggedthemtoleaveheralone，andnotmaddenherutterly;buttheyknewnoEnglishsavetheoneeternal“Gi’

meahalfpenny。”Shefeltinherheartthattherewasnopityanywhere。

Suddenly，whileshethusdoubtedGod，ashadowfellacrosshergarments，onwhichhermiserableeyeswerebent。Shelookedup。Thedeformedgentlemanshehadtwicebeforeseenstoodthere。Hehadbeenattractedbythenoisylittlecrowd，andhadquestionedtheminWelsh;but，notunderstandingenoughofthelanguagetocomprehendtheiranswers，hehadobeyedtheirsigns，andenteredthegatetowhichtheypointed。Therehesawtheyounggirlwhomhehadnoticedatfirstforherinnocentbeauty，andthesecondtimefortheideahehadgainedrespectinghersituation;therehesawher，croucheduplikesomehuntedcreature，withawild，scaredlookofdespair，whichalmostmadeherlovelyfaceseemfierce;hesawherdresssoiledanddim，herbonnetcrushedandbatteredwithhertossingstoandfroonthemoorlandbed;hesawthepoor，lostwanderer，andwhenhesawherhehadcompassiononher。TherewassomelookofheavenlypityInhiseyes，asgravelyandsadlytheymetherupturnedgaze，whichtouchedherstonyheart。Stilllookingathim，asifdrawingsomegoodinfluencefromhim，shesaidlowandmournfully，“Hehasleftme，sir！——sir，hehasindeed！——hehasgoneandleftme！”Beforehecouldspeakawordtocomforther，shehadburstintothewildest，dreariestcryingevermortalcried。Thesettledformoftheevent，whenputintowords，wentsharptoherheart;hermoansandsobswrunghissoul;

but，asnospeechofhiscouldbeheard，ifhehadbeenabletodecidewhatbesttosay，hestoodbyherinapparentcalmness，whileshe，wretched，wailedandutteredherwoe。Butwhenshelaywornout，andstupefiedintosilence，sheheardhimsaytohimselfinalowvoice——，“Oh，myGod！forChrist’ssake，pityherI“Ruthlifteduphereyes，andlookedathimwithadimperceptionofthemeaningofhiswords。Sheregardedhimfixedlyinadreamyway，asiftheystrucksomechordinherheart，andshewerelisteningtoitsecho;andsoitwas。Hispitifullook，orhiswords，remindedherofthechildishdayswhenshekneltathermother’sknee;andshewasonlyconsciousofastraining，longingdesiretorecallitall。Helethertakehertime，partlybecausehewaspowerfullyaffectedhimselfbyallthecircumstances，andbythesadpalefaceupturnedtohis;andpartlybyaninstinctiveconsciousnessthatthesoftestpatiencewasrequired。

Butsuddenlyshestartledhim，assheherselfwasstartledintoakeensenseofthesufferingagonyofthepresent;shesprangupandpushedhimaside，andwentrapidlytowardsthegateofthefield。Hecouldnotmoveasquicklyasmostmen，butheputforthhisutmostspeed。Hefollowedacrosstheroad，ontotherockycommon;but，ashewentalong，withhisuncertaingait，intheduskgloaming，hestumbled，andfelloversomesharpprojectingstone。Theacutepainwhichshotuphisbackforcedashortcryfromhim;and，whenbirdandbeastarehushedintorestandthestillnessofnightisoverall，ahigh-pitchedsound，likethevoiceofpain，iscarriedfarinthequietair。Ruth，speedingoninherdespair，heardthesharputterance，andstoppedsuddenlyshort。Itdidwhatnoremonstrancecouldhavedone;itcalledheroutofherself。Thetendernaturewasinherstill，inthathourwhenallgoodangelsseemedtohaveabandonedher。

IntheolddaysshecouldneverbeartohearorseebodilysufferinginanyofGod’smeanestcreatures，withouttryingtosuccourthem;andnow，inherrushtotheawfuldeathofthesuicide，shestayedherwildsteps，andturnedtofindfromwhomthatsharpsoundofanguishhadissued。Helayamongthewhitestones，toofaintwithpaintomove，butwithanagonyinhismindfarkeenerthananybodilypain，ashethoughtthatbyhisunfortunatefallhehadlostallchanceofsavingher。Hewasalmostover-poweredbyhisintensethankfulnesswhenhesawherwhitefigurepause，andstandlistening，andturnagainwithslowfootsteps，asifsearchingforsomelostthing。Hecouldhardlyspeak，buthemadeasoundwhich，thoughhisheartwasinexpressiblyglad，waslikeagroan。Shecamequicklytowardshim。”Iamhurt，“saidhe;“donotleaveme;“hisdisabledandtenderframewasovercomebytheaccidentandthepreviousemotions，andhefaintedaway。Ruthflewtothelittlemountainstream，thedashingsoundofwhosewatershadbeentemptingher，butamomentbefore，toseekforgetfulnessinthedeeppoolintowhichtheyfell。Shemadeabasinofherjoinedhands，andcarriedenoughofthecoldfreshwaterbacktodashintohisfaceandrestorehimtoconsciousness。Whilehestillkeptsilence，uncertainwhattosaybestfittedtoinducehertolistentohim，shesaidsoftly——，“Areyoubetter，sir？——areyouverymuchhurt？”“Notverymuch;Iambetter。Anyquickmovementisapttocausemeasuddenlossofpowerinmyback，andIbelieveIstumbledoversomeoftheseprojectingstones。Itwillsoongooff;andyouwillhelpmetogohome，Iamsure。”，“Oh，yes！Canyougonow？Iamafraidofyourlyingtoolongonthisheather;

thereisaheavydew。”，Hewassoanxioustocomplywithherwish，andnotwearyoutherthoughtforhim，andsoturnherbackuponherself，thathetriedtorise。Thepainwasacute，andthisshesaw。”Don’thurryyourself，sir;Icanwait。”，Thencameacrosshermindtherecollectionofthebusinessthatwasthusdeferred;butthefewhomelywordswhichhadbeenexchangedbetweenthemseemedtohaveawakenedherfromhermadness。Shesatdownbyhim，andcoveringherfacewithherhands，criedmournfullyandunceasingly。Sheforgothispresence，andyetshehadaconsciousnessthatsomeonelookedforherkindoffices，thatshewaswantedintheworld，andmustnotrushhastilyoutofit。Theconsciousnessdidnot’takethisdefiniteform，itdidnotbecomeathought，butitkeptherstill，anditwasgraduallysoothingher。”Canyouhelpmetorisenow？”saidhe，afterawhile。Shedidnotspeak，butshehelpedhimup，andthenhetookherarm，andsheledhimtenderlythroughallthelittlevelvetpaths，wheretheturfgrewshortandsoftbetweentheruggedstones。Oncemoreonthehighway，theyslowlypassedalonginthemoonlight。Heguidedherbyaslightmotionofthearm，throughthemoreunfrequentedlanes，tohislodgingsattheshop;forhethoughtforher，andconceivedthepainshewouldhaveinseeingthelightedwindowsoftheinn。Heleantmoreheavilyonherarm，astheyawaitedtheopeningofthedoor。”Comein，“saidhe，notrelaxinghishold，andyetdreadingtotightenit，lestsheshoulddefyrestraint，andoncemorerushaway。Theywentslowlyintothelittleparlourbehindtheshop。Thebonny-lookinghostess，Mrs。Hughesbyname，madehastetolightthecandle，andthentheysaweachother，facetoface。Thedeformedgentlemanlookedverypale，butRuthlookedasiftheshadowofdeathwasuponher。

chapter09，CHAPTERIX，THESTORM-SPIRITSUBDUED，Mrs。Hughesbustledaboutwithmanyasympatheticexclamation，nowinprettybrokenEnglish，nowinmorefluentWelsh，whichsoundedassoftasRussianorItalian，inhermusicalvoice。Mr。Benson，forthatwasthenameofthehunchback，layonthesofathinking;whilethetenderMrs。Hughesmadeeveryarrangementforhisrelieffrompain。Hehadlodgedwithherforthreesuccessiveyears，andsheknewandlovedhim。Ruthstoodinthelittlebow-window，lookingout。Acrossthemoon，andoverthedeepblueheavens，large，torn，irregular-shapedcloudswenthurrying，asifsummonedbysomestorm-spirit。Theworktheywerecommandedtodowasnothere;themightygathering-placelayeastward，immeasurableleagues;

andontheywent，chasingeachotheroverthesilentearth，nowblack，nowsilver-whiteatonetransparentedge，nowwiththemoonshininglikeHopethroughtheirdarkestcentre，nowagainwithasilverlining;andnow，utterlyblack，theysailedlowerinthelift，anddisappearedbehindtheimmovablemountains;theywererushingintheverydirectioninwhichRuthhadstrivenandstruggledtogothatafternoon;they，intheirwildcareer，wouldsoonpassovertheveryspotwherehe(herworld’she)waslyingsleeping，orperhapsnotsleeping，perhapsthinkingofher。Thestormwasinhermind，andrentandtoreherpurposesintoformsaswildandirregularastheheavenlyshapesshewaslookingat。If，likethem，shecouldpassthebarrierhorizoninthenight，shemightovertakehim。Mr。Bensonsawherlook，andreaditpartially。Hesawherlonginggazeoutwardsuponthefree，broadworld，andthoughtthatthesirenwaters，whosedeadlymusicyetranginhisears，wereagaintemptingher。Hecalledhertohimprayingthathisfeeblevoicemighthavepower。”Mydearyounglady，Ihavemuchtosaytoyou;andGodhastakenmystrengthfrommenowwhenImostneed——Oh，Isintospeakso——but，forHissake，Iimploreyoutobepatienthere，ifonlytillto-morrowmorning。”Helookedather，butherfacewasimmovable，andshedidnotspeak。Shecouldnotgiveupherhope，herchance，herliberty，tillto-morrow。”Godhelpme，“saidhemournfully，“mywordsdonottouchher;“and，stillholdingherhand，hesankbackonthepillows。Indeed，itwastruethathiswordsdidnotvibrateinheratmosphere。Thestorm-spiritragedthere，andfilledherheartwiththethoughtthatshewasanoutcast;andtheholywords，“forHissake，“wereansweredbythedemon，whoheldpossession，withablasphemousdefianceofthemercifulGod——，“WhathaveItodowithThee？”Hethoughtofeverysofteninginfluenceofreligionwhichoverhisowndisciplinedhearthadpower，butputthemasideasuseless。Thenthestillsmallvoicewhispered，andhespake——，“Inyourmother’sname，whethershebedeadoralive，IcommandyoutostayhereuntilIamabletospeaktoyou。”，Shekneltdownatthefootofthesofa，andshookitwithhersobs。Herheartwastouched，andhehardlydaredtospeakagain。Atlengthhesaid——，“Iknowyouwillnotgo——youcouldnot——forhersake。Youwillnot，willyou？”“No，“whisperedRuth;andthentherewasagreatblankinherheart。Shehadgivenupherchance。Shewascalm，intheutterabsenceofallhope。”AndnowyouwilldowhatItellyou？”saidhegently，butunconsciouslytohimself，inthetoneofonewhohasfoundthehiddenspellbywhichtorulespirits。Sheslowlysaid，“Yes。”Butshewassubdued。HecalledMrs。Hughes。Shecamefromheradjoiningshop。”Youhaveabedroomwithinyours，whereyourdaughterusedtosleep，I

think？Iamsureyouwillobligeme，andIshallconsideritasagreatfavour，ifyouwillallowthisyoungladytosleepthereto-night。Willyoutakehertherenow？Go，mydear。IhavefulltrustinyourpromisenottoleaveuntilIcanspeaktoyou。”Hisvoicediedawaytosilence;

butasRuthrosefromherkneesathisbidding，shelookedathisfacethroughhertears。Hislipsweremovinginearnest，unspokenprayer，andsheknewitwasforher。Thatnight，althoughhispainwasrelievedbyrest，hecouldnotsleep;

and，asinfever，thecomingeventskeptunrollingthemselvesbeforehimineverychangingandfantasticform。HemetRuthinallpossibleplacesandways，andaddressedherineverymannerhecouldimaginemostcalculatedtomoveandaffecthertopenitenceandvirtue。Towardsmorninghefellasleep，butthesamethoughtshauntedhisdreams;hespoke，buthisvoicerefusedtoutteraloud;andshefled，relentless，tothedeep，blackpool。ButGodworksinHisownway。Thevisionsmeltedintodeep，unconscioussleep。Hewasawakenedbyaknockatthedoor，whichseemedarepetitionofwhathehadheardinhislastsleepingmoments。ItwasMrs。Hughes。Shestoodatthefirstwordofpermissionwithintheroom。”Please，sir，Ithinktheyoungladyisveryillindeed，sir;perhapsyouwouldpleasetocometoher。”，“Howissheill？”saidhe，muchalarmed。”Quitequiet-like，sir;butIthinksheisdying，that’sall，indeed，sir。”，“Goaway，Iwillbewithyoudirectly，“hereplied，hisheartsinkingwithinhim。InaveryshorttimehewasstandingwithMrs。HughesbyRuth’sbedside。

Shelayasstillasifsheweredead，hereyesshut，herwanfacenumbedintoafixedanguishofexpression。Shedidnotspeakwhentheyspoke，thoughafterawhiletheythoughtshestrovetodoso。Butallpowerofmotionandutterancehadlefther。Shewasdressedineverything，exceptherbonnet，asshehadbeenthedaybefore;althoughsweet，thoughtfulMrs。Hugheshadprovidedherwithnightgear，whichlayonthelittlechestofdrawersthatservedasadressing-table。Mr。Bensonliftedupherarmtofeelherfeeble，flutteringpulse;andwhenheletgoherhand，itfelluponthebedinadull，heavyway，asifshewerealreadydead。”Yougavehersomefood？”saidheanxiously，toMrs。Hughes。”Indeed，andIofferedherthebestinthehouse，butsheshookherpoorprettyhead，andonlyaskedifIwouldpleasetogetheracupofwater。

Ibroughthersomemilkthough;and，’deed，Ithinkshe’dratherhavehadthewater;but，nottoseemsourandcross，shetooksomemilk。”BythistimeMrs。Hugheswasfairlycrying。”Whendoesthedoctorcomeuphere？”“Indeed，sir，andhe’supnearlyeverydaynow，theinnissofull。”，“I’llgoforhim。Andcanyoumanagetoundressherandlayherinbed？

Openthewindowtoo，andletintheair;ifherfeetarecold，putbottlesofhotwatertothem。”，Itwasaproofofthetruelove，whichwasthenatureofboth，thatitnevercrossedtheirmindstoregretthatthispooryoungcreaturehadbeenthusthrownupontheirhands。Onthecontrary，Mrs。Hughescalledit“ablessing。”，“Itblessethhimthatgives，andhimthattakes。”

chapter10，CHAPTERX，ANOTEANDTHEANSWER，Attheinneverythingwaslifeandbustle。Mr。BensonhadtowaitlonginMrs。Morgan’slittleparlourbeforeshecouldcometohim，andhekeptgrowingmoreandmoreimpatient。Atlastshemadeherappearanceandheardhisstory。Peoplemaytalkastheywillaboutthelittlerespectthatispaidtovirtue，unaccompaniedbytheoutwardaccidentsofwealthorstation;butIratherthinkitwillbefoundthat，inthelongrun，trueandsimplevirtuealwayshasitsproportionaterewardintherespectandreverenceofeveryonewhoseesteemisworthhaving。Tobesure，itisnotrewardedafterthewayoftheworld，asmereworldlypossessionsare，withlowobeisanceandlip-service;butallthebetterandmorenoblequalitiesintheheartsofothersmakereadyandgoforthtomeetitonitsapproach，providedonlyitbepure，simple，andunconsciousofitsownexistence。Mr。Bensonhadlittlethoughtforoutwardtokensofrespectjustthen，norhadMrs。Morganmuchtimetospare;butshesmoothedherruffledbrow，andcalmedherbustlingmanner，assoonasevershesawwhoitwasthatawaitedher;forMr。Bensonwaswellknowninthevillage，wherehehadtakenuphissummerholidayamongthemountainsyearafteryear，alwaysaresidentattheshop，andseldomspendingashillingattheinn。Mrs。Morganlistenedpatiently——forher。Mr。Joneswillcomethisafternoon。Butitisashameyoushouldbetroubledwithsuchasher。Ihadbutlittletimeyesterday，butIguessedtherewassomethingwrong，andGwenhasjustbeentellingmeherbedhasnotbeensleptin。Theywereinaprettyhurrytobegoneyesterday，forallthatthegentlemanwasnotfittotravel，tomywayofthinking;indeed，WilliamWynn，thepost-boy，saidhewaswearyenoughbeforehegottotheendofthatYspyttyroad;andhethoughttheywouldhavetorestthereadayortwobeforetheycouldgofurtherthanPentreVoelas。Indeed，andanyhow，theservantistofollowthemwiththebaggagethisverymorning;

andnowIremember，WilliamWynnsaidtheywouldwaitforher。You’dbetterwriteanote，Mr。Benson，andtellthemherstate。”，Itwassound，thoughunpalatableadvice。Itcamefromoneaccustomedtobringexcellent，ifunrefinedsense，tobearquicklyuponanyemergency，andtodeciderapidly。Shewas，intruth，solittleaccustomedtohaveherauthorityquestioned，that，beforeMr。Bensonhadmadeuphismind，shehadproducedpaper，pens，andinkfromthedrawerinherbureau，placedthembeforehim，andwasgoingtoleavetheroom。”Leavethenoteonthisshelf，andtrustmethatitgoesbythemaid。Theboythatdrivesherthereinthecarshallbringyouananswerback。”，Shewasgonebeforehecouldrallyhisscatteredsensesenoughtorememberthathehadnottheleastideaofthenameofthepersontowhomhewastowrite。Thequietleisureandpeaceofhislittlestudyathomefavouredhishabitofreverieandlongdeliberation，justasherpositionasmistressofaninnobligedhertoquick，decisiveways。Heradvice，thoughgoodinsomepoints，wasunpalatableinothers。ItwastruethatRuth’sconditionoughttobeknownbythosewhowereherfriends;

butwerethesepeopletowhomhewasnowgoingtowritefriends？Heknewtherewasarichmother，andahandsome，elegantson;andhehadalsosomeideaofthecircumstanceswhichmightalittleextenuatetheirmodeofquittingRuth。Hehadwide-enoughsympathytounderstandthatitmusthavebeenamostpainfulpositioninwhichthemotherhadbeenplaced，onfindingherselfunderthesameroofwithagirlwhowaslivingwithherson，asRuthwas。Andyethedidnotliketoapplytoher;towritetothesonwasstillmoreoutofthequestion，asitseemedlikeaskinghimtoreturn。

Butthroughoneortheotherlaytheonlycluetoherfriends，whocertainlyoughttobemadeacquaintedwithherposition。Atlengthhewrote——，“MADAM，——Iwritetotellyouoftheconditionofthepooryoungwoman“——(herecamealongpauseofdeliberation)——“whoaccompaniedyoursononhisarrivalhere，andwhowasleftbehindonyourdepartureyesterday。Sheislying(asitappearstome)inaverydangerousstateatmylodgings;and，ifImaysuggest，itwouldbekindtoallowyourmaidtoreturnandattenduponheruntilsheissufficientlyrecoveredtoberestoredtoherfriends，if，indeed，theycouldnotcometotakechargeofherthemselves——Iremain，madam，yourobedientservant，THURSTANBENSON。”，Thenotewasveryunsatisfactoryafterallhisconsideration，butitwasthebesthecoulddo。Hemadeinquiryofapassingservantastothelady’sname，directedthenote，andplaceditontheindicatedshelf。Hethenreturnedtohislodgings，toawaitthedoctor’scomingandthepostboy’sreturn。TherewasnoalterationinRuth;shewasasonestunnedintounconsciousness;

shedidnotmoveherposture，shehardlybreathed。FromtimetotimeMrs。

Hugheswettedhermouthwithsomeliquid，andtherewasalittlemechanicalmotionofthelips;thatwastheonlysignoflifeshegave。Thedoctorcameandshookhishead，——“athoroughprostrationofstrength，occasionedbysomegreatshockonthenerves，“——andprescribedcareandquiet，andmysteriousmedicines，butacknowledgedthattheresultwasdoubtful，verydoubtful。Afterhisdeparture，Mr。BensontookhisWelshgrammarandtriedagaintomastertheever-puzzlingrulesforthemutationsofletters;butitwasofnouse，forhisthoughtswereabsorbedbythelife-in-deathconditionoftheyoungcreature，whowaslatelyboundingandjoyous。Themaidandtheluggage，thecarandthedriver;badarrivedbeforenoonattheirjourney’send，andthenotehadbeendelivered。ItannoyedMrs。

Bellinghamexceedingly。Itwastheworstofthesekindofconnections，——therewasnocalculatingtheconsequences;theywerenever-ending。Allsortsofclaimsseemedtobeestablished，andallsortsofpeopletostepintotheirsettlement。Theideaofsendinghermaid！Why，Simpsonwouldnotgoifsheaskedher。Shesoliloquisedthuswhilereadingtheletter;andthen，suddenlyturningroundtothefavouriteattendant，whohadbeenlisteningtohermistress’sremarkswithnoinattentiveear，sheasked——，“Simpson，wouldyougoandnursethiscreature，asthis——“shelookedatthesignature——“Mr。Benson，whoeverheis，proposes？”“Me！no，indeed，ma’am，“saidthemaid，drawingherselfup，stiffinhervirtue。“I’msure，ma’am，you：wouldnotexpectitofme;Icouldneverhavethefacetodressaladyofcharacteragain。”，“Well，well！don’tbealarmed;Icannotspareyou：bytheway，justattendtothestringsonmydress;thechambermaidherepulledthemintoknots，andbrokethemterribly，lastnight。Itisawkward，though，very，“saidshe，relapsingintoamusingfitovertheconditionofRuth。”Ifyou’llallowme，ma’am，IthinkImightsaysomethingthatwouldalterthecase。Ibelieve，ma’am，youputabank-noteintothelettertotheyoungwomanyesterday？”Mrs。Bellinghambowedacquiescence，andthemaidwenton——，“Because，ma’am，whenthelittledeformedmanwrotethatnote(he’sMr。

Benson，ma’am)，IhavereasontobelieveneitherhenorMrs。Morganknewofanyprovisionbeingmadefortheyoungwoman。Meandthechambermaidfoundyourletterandthebank-notelyingquitepromiscuous，likewastepaper，onthefloorofherroom;forIbelievesherushedoutlikemadafteryouleft。”，“That，asyousay，altersthecase。Thisletter，then，isprincipallyasortofdelicatehintthatsomeprovisionoughttohavebeenmade;whichistrueenough，onlyithasbeenattendedtoalready。Whatbecameofthemoney？”“Law，ma’am！doyouask？Ofcourse，assoonasIsawit，IpickeditupandtookittoMrs。Morgan，intrustfortheyoungperson。”，“Oh，that’sright。Whatfriendshasshe？DidyoueverhearfromMason？——perhapstheyoughttoknowwheresheis。”，“Mrs。Masondidtellme，ma’am，shewasanorphan;withaguardianwhowasnowaysakin，andwhowashedhishandsofherwhensheranoff。ButMrs。Masonwassadlyputout，andwentintohysterics，forfearyouwouldthinkshehadnotseenafterherenough，andthatshemightloseyourcustom;

shesaiditwasnofaultofhers，forthegirlwasalwaysaforwardcreature，boastingofherbeauty，andsayinghowprettyshewas，andstrivingtogetwherehergoodlookscouldbeseenandadmired，——onenightinparticular，ma’am，atacountyball;andhowMrs。MasonhadfoundoutsheusedtomeetMr。Bellinghamatanoldwoman’shouse，whowasaregularoldwitch，ma’am，andlivesinthelowestpartofthetown，whereallthebadcharactershaunt。”，“There！that’senough，“saidMrs。Bellinghamsharply，forthemaid’schatteringhadoutrunhertact;andinheranxietytovindicatethecharacterofherfriendMrs。MasonbyblackeningthatofRuth，shehadforgottenthatshealittleimplicatedhermistress’sson，whomhisproudmotherdidnotliketoimagineaseverpassingthroughalowanddegradedpartofthetown。”Ifshehasnofriends，andisthecreatureyoudescribe(whichisconfirmedbymyownobservation)，thebestplaceforheris，asIsaidbefore，thePenitentiary。Herfiftypoundswillkeepheraweekorso，ifsheisreallyunabletotravel，andpayforherjourney;andifonherreturntoFordhamshewillletmeknow，Iwillundertaketoobtainheradmissionimmediately。”，“I’msureit’swellforhershehastodowithaladywhowilltakeanyinterestinher，afterwhathashappened。”，Mrs。Bellinghamcalledforherwriting-desk，andwroteafewhastylinestobesentbythepost-boy，whowasonthepointofstarting——，“Mrs。Bellinghampresentshercomplimentstoherunknowncorrespondent，Mr。Benson，andbegstoinformhimofacircumstanceofwhichshebelieveshewasignorantwhenhewrotetheletterwithwhichshehasbeenfavoured;

namely，thatprovisiontotheamountof£50wasleftfortheunfortunateyoungpersonwhoisthesubjectofMr。Benson’sletter。ThissumisinthehandsofMrs。Morgan，aswellasanotefromMrs。Bellinghamtothemiserablegirl，inwhichsheproposestoprocureheradmissionintotheFordhamPenitentiary，thebestplaceforsuchacharacter，asbythisprofligateactionshehasforfeitedtheonlyfriendremainingtoherintheworld。

ThispropositionMrs。Bellinghamrepeats;andtheyaretheyoungwoman’sbestfriendswhomosturgehertocomplywiththecoursenowpointedout。”，“TakecareMr。BellinghamhearsnothingofthisMr。Benson’snote，“saidMrs。Bellingham，asshedeliveredtheanswertohermaid;“heissosensitivejustnowthatitwouldannoyhimsadly，Iamsure。”

chapter11，CHAPTERXI，THURSTANANDFAITHBENSON，YouhavenowseenthenotewhichwasdeliveredintoMr。Benson’shands，asthecoolshadesofeveningstoleovertheglowingsummersky。Whenhehadreadit，heagainpreparedtowriteafewhastylinesbeforethepostwentout。Thepost-boywasevennowsoundinghishornthroughthevillageasasignalforletterstobeready;anditwaswellthatMr。Benson，inhislongmorning’smeditation，haddecideduponthecoursetobepursued，incaseofsuchananswerasthatwhichhehadreceivedfromMrs。Bellingham。

Hispresentnotewasasfollows;——，“DEARFAITH，——Youmustcometothisplacedirectly，whereIearnestlydesireyouandyouradvice。Iamwellmyself，sodonotbealarmed。Ihavenotimeforexplanation，butIamsureyouwillnotrefuseme;letmetrustthatIshallseeyouonSaturdayatthelatest。YouknowthemodebywhichIcame;itisthebestbothforexpeditionandcheapness。DearFaith，donotfailme——，Youraffectionatebrother。THURSTANBENSON。”P。S——IamafraidthemoneyIleftmayberunningshort。Donotletthisstopyou。TakemyFacciolatitoJohnson’s，hewilladvanceuponit;itisthethirdrow，bottomshelf。Onlycome。”，Whenthisletterwasdespatchedhehaddoneallhecould;andthenexttwodayspassedlikealongmonotonousdreamofwatching，thought，andcare，undisturbedbyanyevent，hardlybythechangefromdaytonight，which，nowtheharvestmoonwasatherfull，wasscarcelyperceptible。

OnSaturdaymorningtheanswercame——，“DEARESTTHURSTAN，——Yourincomprehensiblesummonshasjustreachedme，andIobey，therebyprovingmyrighttomynameofFaith。Ishallbewithyoualmostassoonasthisletter。Icannothelpfeelinganxious，aswellascurious。Ihavemoneyenough，anditiswellIhave;forSally，whoguardsyourroomlikeadragon，wouldratherseemewalkthewholeway，thanhaveanyofyourthingsdisturbed——Youraffectionatesister，<CENTER“FAITHBENSON。”ItwasagreatrelieftoMr。Bensontothinkthathissisterwouldsosoonbewithhim。Hehadbeenaccustomedfromchildhoodtorelyonherpromptjudgmentandexcellentsense;andtohercarehefeltthatRuthoughttobeconsigned，asitwastoomuchtogoontaxinggoodMrs。Hugheswithnightwatchingandsicknursing，withallherotherclaimsonhertime。

HeaskedheroncemoretositbyRuth，whilehewenttomeethissister。ThecoachpassedbythefootofthesteepascentwhichleduptoLlan-dhu。

Hetookaboytocarryhissister’sluggagewhentheyarrived;theyweretoosoonatthebottomofthehill;andtheboybegantomakeducksanddrakesintheshallowestpartofthestream，whichthereflowedglassyandsmooth，whileMr。Bensonsatdownonagreatstone，undertheshadowofanalderbushwhichgrewwherethegreenflatmeadowskirtedthewater。

Itwasdelightfultobeoncemoreintheopenair，andawayfromthescenesandthoughtswhichhadbeenpressingonhimforthelastthreedays。Therewasanewbeautyineverythingfromthebluemountainswhichglimmeredinthedistantsunlight，downtotheflat，rich，peacefulvale，withitscalmroundshadows，wherehesat。Theverymarginofwhitepebbleswhichlayonthebanksofthestreamhadasortofcleanlybeautyaboutit。Hefeltcalmerandmoreateasethanhehaddoneforsomedays;andyet，whenhebegantothink，itwasratherastrangestorywhichhehadtotellhissister，inordertoaccountforhisurgentsummons。Herewashe，solefriendandguardianofapoorsickgirl，whoseverynamehedidnotknow;aboutwhomallthathedidknowwas，thatshehadbeenthemistressofamanwhohaddesertedher，andthathefeared——hebelieved——shehadcontemplatedsuicide。Theoffence，too，wasoneforwhichhissister，goodandkindasshewas，hadlittlecompassion。Well，hemustappealtoherloveforhim，whichwasaveryunsatisfactorymodeofproceeding，ashewouldfarratherhavehadherinterestinthegirlfoundedonreason，orsomelesspersonalbasis，thanshowingitmerelybecauseherbrotherwishedit。Thecoachcameslowlyrumblingoverthestonyroad。Hissisterwasoutside，butgotdowninabriskactiveway，andgreetedherbrotherheartilyandaffectionately。Shewasconsiderablytallerthanhewas，andmusthavebeenveryhandsome;herblackhairwaspartedplainlyoverherforehead，andherdarkexpressiveeyesandstraightnosestillretainedthebeautyofheryouth。Idonotknowwhethershewasolderthanherbrother;but，probablyowingtohisinfirmityrequiringhercare，shehadsomethingofamother’smannertowardshim。”Thurstan，youarelookingpale！Idonotbelieveyouarewell，whateveryoumaysay。Haveyouhadtheoldpaininyourback？”“No——alittle——nevermindthat，dearestFaith。Sitdownhere，whileIsendtheboyupwithyourbox。”Andthen，withsomelittledesiretoshowhissisterhowwellhewasacquaintedwiththelanguage，heblunderedouthisdirectionsinverygrammaticalWelsh;sogrammatical，infact，andsobadlypronounced，thattheboy，scratchinghishead，madeanswer——，“DimSaesoneg。”，SohehadtorepeatitinEnglish。”Well，now，Thurstan，hereIsitasyoubidme。Butdon’ttrymetoolong;

tellmewhyyousentforme。”，Nowcamethedifficulty，andoh！foraseraph’stongue，andaseraph’spowersofrepresentation！Buttherewasnoseraphathand，onlythesoftrunningwaterssingingaquiettune，andpredisposingMissBensontolistenwithasoothedspirittoanytale，notimmediatelyinvolvingherbrother’swelfare，whichhadbeenthecauseofherseeingthatlovelyvale。”Itisanawkwardstorytotell，Faith，butthereisayoungwomanlyingillatmylodgingswhomIwantedyoutonurse。”，Hethoughthesawashadowonhissister’sface，anddetectedaslightchangeinhervoiceasshespoke。”Nothingveryromantic，Ihope，Thurstan。Remember，Icannotstandmuchromance;Ialwaysdistrustit。”，“Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanbyromance。Thestoryisrealenough，andnotoutofthecommonway，I’mafraid。”，Hepaused;hedidnotgetoverthedifficulty。”Well，tellitmeatonce，Thurstan。Iamafraidyouhaveletsomeone，orperhapsonlyyourownimagination，imposeuponyou;butdon’ttrymypatiencetoomuch;youknowI’venogreatstock。”，“ThenI’lltellyou。Theyounggirlwasbroughttotheinnherebyagentleman，whohaslefther;sheisveryill，andhasnoonetoseeafterher。”，MissBensonhadsomemasculinetricks，andonewaswhistlingalong，lowwhistlewhensurprisedordispleased。Shehadoftenfounditausefulventforfeelings，andshewhistlednow。Herbrotherwouldrathershehadspoken。”Haveyousentforherfriends？”sheasked，atlast。”Shehasnone。”，Anotherpauseandanotherwhistle，butrathersofterandmorewaveringthanthelast。”Howissheill？”“Prettynearlyasquietasifsheweredead。Shedoesnotspeak，ormove，orevensigh。”，“Itwouldbebetterforhertodieatonce，Ithink。”，“Faith！”Thatonewordputthemright。Itwasspokeninthetonewhichhadauthorityoverher;itwassofullofgrievedsurpriseandmournfulupbraiding。Shewasaccustomedtoexerciseaswayoverhim，owingtohergreaterdecisionofcharacter，and，probably，ifeverythingweretracedtoitscause，tohersuperiorvigourofconstitution;butattimesshewashumbledbeforehispure，childlikenature，andfeltwhereshewasinferior。Shewastoogoodand;truetoconcealthisfeeling，ortoresentitsbeingforceduponher。Afteratimeshesaid——，“Thurstandear，letusgotoher。”，Shehelpedhimwithtendercare，andgavehimherarmupthelongandtedioushill;butwhentheyapproachedthevillage，withoutspeakingawordonthesubject，theychangedtheirposition，andsheleant(apparently)onhim。Hestretchedhimselfupintoasvigorousagaitashecould，whentheydrewneartotheabodesofmen。Onthewaytheyhadspokenbutlittle。Hehadaskedaftervariousmembersofhiscongregation，forhewasaDissentingministerinacountrytown，andshehadanswered;buttheyneitherofthemspokeofRuth，thoughtheirmindswerefullofher。Mrs。Hugheshadteareadyforthetravelleronherarrival。Mr。Bensonchafedalittleinternallyattheleisurelywayinwhichhissistersippedandsipped，andpausedtotellhimsometriflingparticularrespectinghomeaffairs，whichshehadforgottenbefore。”Mr。BradshawhasrefusedtoletthechildrenassociatewiththeDixonsanylonger，becauseoneeveningtheyplayedatactingcharades。”，“Indeed！Alittlemorebreadandbutter，Faith？”“ThankyouthisWelshairdoesmakeonehungry。Mrs。BradshawispayingpooroldMaggie’srent，tosaveherfrombeingsentintotheworkhouse。”That’sright。Won’tyouhaveanothercupoftea？”“Ihavehadtwo。However，IthinkI’lltakeanother。”，Mr。Bensoncouldnotrefrainfromalittlesighashepoureditout。Hethoughthehadneverseenhissistersodeliberatelyhungryandthirstybefore。Hedidnotguessthatshewasfeelingthemealratherarespitefromadistastefulinterview，whichshewasawarewasawaitingheratitsconclusion。Butallthingscometoanend，andsodidMissBenson’stea。”Now，willyougoandseeher？”“Yes。”，Andsotheywent。Mrs。Hugheshadpinnedupapieceofgreencalico，bywayofaVenetianblind，toshutouttheafternoonsun;andinthelightthusshadedlayRuth——still，andwan，andwhite。Evenwithherbrother’saccountofRuth’sstate，suchdeath-likequietnessstartledMissBenson——startledherintopityforthepoorlovelycreaturewholaythusstrickenandfelled。

Whenshesawher，shecouldnolongerimaginehertobeanimpostor，orahardenedsinner;suchprostrationofwoebelongedtoneither。Mr。Bensonlookedmoreathissister’sfacethanatRuth’s;hereadhercountenanceasabook。Mrs。Hughesstoodby，crying。Mr。Bensontouchedhissister，andtheylefttheroomtogether。”Doyouthinkshewilllive？”askedhe。”Icannottell，“saidMissBenson，inasoftenedvoice。“Buthowyoungshelooks！quiteachild，poorcreature！Whenwillthedoctorcome，Thurstan？

Tellmeallabouther;youhavenevertoldmetheparticulars。”，Mr。Bensonmighthavesaidshehadnevercaredtohearthembefore，andhadratheravoidedthesubject;buthewastoohappytoseethisawakeningofinterestinhissister’swarmhearttosayanythingintheleastreproachful。

Hetoldherthestoryaswellashecould，and，ashefeltitdeeply，hetolditwithheart’seloquence;andasheended，andlookedather，thereweretearsintheeyesofboth。”Andwhatdoesthedoctorsay？”askedshe，afterapause。”Heinsistsuponquiet;heordersmedicinesandstrongbroth。Icannottellyouall;Mrs。Hughescan。Shehasbeensotrulygood。’Doinggood，hopingfornothingagain。’““Shelooksverysweetandgentle。Ishallsituptonight，andwatchhermyself;andIshallsendyouandMrs。Hughesearlytobed，foryouhavebothawornlookaboutyouIdon’tlike。Areyousuretheeffectofthatfallhasgoneoff？Doyoufeelanythingofitinyourbackstill？Afterall，Iowehersomethingforturningbacktoyourhelp。Areyousureshewasgoingtodrownherself？”“Icannotbesure，forIhavenotquestionedher。Shehasnotbeeninastatetobequestioned;butIhavenodoubtwhateveraboutit。Butyoumustnotthinkofsittingupafteryourjourney，Faith。”，“Answerme，Thurstan。Doyoufeelanybadeffectfromthatfall？”“No，hardlyany。Don’tsitup，Faith，to-night！”“Thurstan，it’snousetalking，forIshall;and，ifyougoonopposingme，IdaresayIshallattackyourback，and，putablisteronit。Dotellmewhatthat’hardlyany’means。Besides，tosetyouquiteatease，youknowIhaveneverseenmountainsbefore，andtheyfillmeandoppressmesomuchthatIcouldnotsleep;Imustkeepawakethisfirstnight，andseethattheydon’tfallontheearthandoverwhelmit。Andnowanswermyquestionsaboutyourself。”，MissBensonhadthepower，whichsomepeoplehave，ofcarryingherwishesthroughtotheirfulfilment;herwillwasstrong，hersensewasexcellent，andpeopleyieldedtoher——theydidnotknowwhy。Beforeteno’clockshereignedsolepowerandpotentateinRuth’slittlechamber。Nothingcouldhavebeenbetterdevisedforgivingheraninterestintheinvalid。Theverydependenceofonesohelplessuponhercareinclinedherhearttowardsher。Shethoughtsheperceivedaslightimprovementinthesymptomsduringthenight，andshewasalittlepleasedthatthisprogressshouldhavebeenmadewhileshereignedmonarchofthesick-room。Yes，certainlytherewasanimprovement。Therewasmoreconsciousnessinthelookoftheeyes，althoughthewholecountenancestillretaineditspainfultracesofacutesuffering，manifestedinananxious，startleduneasyaspect。Itwasbroadmorninglight，thoughbarelyfiveo’clock，whenMissBensoncaughtthesightofRuth’slipsmoving，asifinspeech。MissBensonstoopeddowntolisten。”Whoareyou？”askedRuth，inthefaintestofwhispers。”MissBenson——Mr。Benson’ssister，“shereplied。ThewordsconveyednoknowledgetoRuth;onthecontrary，weakasababeinmindandbodyasshewas，herlipsbegantoquiver，andhereyestoshowaterrorsimilartothatofanylittlechildwhowakensinthepresenceofastranger，andseesnodear，familiarfaceofmotherornursetoreassureitstremblingheart。MissBensontookherhandinhers，andbegantostrokeitcaressingly。”Don’tbeafraid，dear;I’mafriendcometotakecareofyou。Wouldyoulikesometeanow，mylove？”TheveryutteranceofthesegentlewordswasunlockingMissBenson’sheart。

Herbrotherwassurprisedtoseehersofullofinterestwhenhecametoinquirelateroninthemorning。ItrequiredMrs。Hughes’spersuasions，aswellashisown，toinducehertogotobedforanhourortwoafterbreakfast;and，beforeshewent，shemadethempromisethatsheshouldbecalledwhenthedoctorcame。Hedidnotcomeuntillateintheafternoon。

Theinvalidwasrallyingfast，thoughrallyingtoaconsciousnessofsorrow，aswasevincedbythetearswhichcameslowlyrollingdownherpalesadcheeks——tearswhichshehadnotthepowertowipeaway。Mr。Bensonhadremainedinthehousealldaytohearthedoctor’sopinion;

and，nowthathewasrelievedfromthechargeofRuthbyhissister’spresence，hehadthemoretimetodwelluponthecircumstancesofhercase——sofarastheywereknowntohim。Herememberedhisfirstsightofher;herlithefigureswayingtoandfroasshebalancedherselfontheslipperystones，halfsmilingatherowndilemma，withabright，happylightintheeyes，thatseemedlikeareflectionfromtheglancingwaterssparklingbelow。

Thenherecalledthechanged，affrightedlookofthoseeyesastheymethis，afterthechild’srebuffofheradvances;howthatlittleincidentfilledupthetaleatwhichMrs。Hugheshadhinted，inakindofsorrowfulway，asifloath(asaChristianshouldbe)tobelieveevil。Thenthatfearfulevening，whenhehadonlyjustsavedherfromcommittingsuicide，andthatnightmaresleep！Andnow——lost，forsaken，andbutjustdeliveredfromthejawsofdeath，shelaydependentforeverythingonhissisterandhim——utterstrangersafewweeksago。Wherewasherlover？Couldhebeeasyandhappy？Couldhegrowintoperfecthealth，withthesegreatsinspressingonhisconsciencewithastrongandhardpain？Orhadheaconscience？”IntowholelabyrinthsofsocialethicsMr。Benson’sthoughtswandered，whenhissisterenteredsuddenlyandabruptly。”Whatdoesthedoctorsay？Isshebetter？”“Oh，yes！she’sbetter，“answeredMissBenson，sharpandshort。Herbrotherlookedatherindismay。Shebumpeddownintoachairinacross，disconcertedmanner。Theywerebothsilentforafewminutes，onlyMissBensonwhistledandcluckedalternately。”Whatisthematter，Faith？Yousaysheisbetter。”，“Why，Thurstan，thereissomethingsoshockingthematter，thatIcannottellyou。”，Mr。Bensonchangedcolourwithaffright。Allthingspossibleandimpossiblecrossedhismindbuttherightone。Isaid，“allthingspossible“;Imadeamistake。HeneverbelievedRuthtobemoreguiltythansheseemed。”Faith，Iwishyouwouldtellme，andnotbewildermewiththosenoisesofyours，“saidhenervously。”Ibegyourpardon;butsomethingsoshockinghasjustbeendiscovered——I

don’tknowhowtowordit——shewillhaveachild。Thedoctorsaysso。”，Shewasallowedtomakenoisesunnoticedforafewminutes。Herbrotherdidnotspeak。Atlastshewantedhissympathy。”Isn’titshocking，Thurstan？Youmighthaveknockedmedownwithastrawwhenhetoldme。”，“Doessheknow？”“Yes;andIamnotsurethatthatisn’ttheworstpartofall。”，“How？——whatdoyoumean？”“Oh，Iwasjustbeginningtohaveagoodopinionofher;butI’mafraidsheisverydepraved。Afterthedoctorwasgone，shepulledthebed-curtainaside，andlookedasifshewantedtospeaktome。(Ican’tthinkhowsheheard，forwewereclosetothewindow，andspokeverylow。)Well，Iwenttoher，thoughIreallyhadtakenquiteaturnagainsther。Andshewhispered，quiteeagerly，’DidhesayIshouldhaveababy？’OfcourseIcouldnotkeepitfromher;butIthoughtitmydutytolookascoldandsevereasIcould。Shedidnotseemtounderstandhowitoughttobeviewed，buttookitjustasifshehadarighttohaveababy。Shesaid，’Oh，myGod，IthankThee！Oh，Iwillbesogood！’Ihadnopatiencewithherthen，soIlefttheroom。”，“Whoiswithher？”“Mrs。Hughes。Sheisnotseeingthethinginamorallight，asIshouldhaveexpected。”，Mr。Bensonwassilentagain。Aftersometimehebegan——，“Faith，Idon’tseethisaffairquiteasyoudo。IbelieveIamright。”，“Yousurpriseme，brother！Idon’tunderstandyou。”，“Waitawhile！Iwanttomakemyfeelingsverycleartoyou，butIdon’tknowwheretobegin，orhowtoexpressmyself。”，“Itis，indeed，anextraordinarysubjectforustohavetotalkabout;

but，ifonceIgetclearofthisgirl，I’llwashmyhandsofallsuchcasesagain。”，Herbrotherwasnotattendingtoher;hewasreducinghisownideastoform。”Faith，doyouknowIrejoiceinthischild’sadvent？”“MayGodforgiveyou，Thurstan！——ifyouknowwhatyouaresaying。But，surely，itisatemptation，dearThurstan。”，“Idonotthinkitisadelusion。Thesinappearstometobequitedistinctfromitsconsequences。”，“Sophistry——andatemptation，“saidMissBensondecidedly。”No，itisnot，“saidherbrother，withequaldecision。“IntheeyeofGod，sheisexactlythesameasifthelifeshehasledhadleftnotracebehind。Weknewhererrorsbefore，Faith。”，“Yes，butnotthisdisgrace——thisbadgeofhershame！”“Faith，Faith！letmebegofyounottospeaksoofthelittleinnocentbabe，whomaybeGod’smessengertoleadherbacktoHim。Thinkagainofherfirstwords——theburstofnaturefromherheart！DidshenotturntoGod，andenterintoacovenantwithHim——’Iwillbesogood’？Why，itdrawsheroutofherself！Ifherlifehashithertobeenself-seekingandwickedlythoughtless，hereistheveryinstrumenttomakeherforgetherself，andbethoughtfulforanother。Teachher(andGodwillteachher，ifmandoesnotcomebetween)toreverenceherchild;andthisreverencewillshutoutsin，——willbepurification。”，Hewasverymuchexcited;hewasevensurprisedathisownexcitement;

buthisthoughtsandmeditationsthroughthelongafternoonhadpreparedhismindforthismannerofviewingthesubject。”Thesearequitenewideastome，“saidMissBensoncoldly。“Ithinkyou，Thurstan，arethefirstpersonIeverheardrejoicingoverthebirthofanillegitimatechild。Itappearstome，Imustown，ratherquestionablemorality。”，“Idonotrejoice。Ihavebeenallthisafternoonmourningoverthesinwhichhasblightedthisyoungcreature;Ihavebeendreadinglest，assherecoveredconsciousness，thereshouldbeareturnofherdespair。Ihavebeenthinkingofeveryholyword，everypromisetothepenitent——ofthetendernesswhichledtheMagdalenaright。Ihavebeenfeeling，severelyandreproachfully，thetimiditywhichhashithertomademeblinkallencounterwithevilsofthisparticularkind。OFaith！onceforall，donotaccusemeofquestionablemorality，whenIamtryingmorethaneverIdidinmylifetoactasmyblessedLordwouldhavedone。”，Hewasverymuchagitated。Hissisterhesitated，andthenshespokemoresoftlythanbefore——，“But，Thurstan，everythingmighthavebeendoneto’leadherright’(asyoucallit)，withoutthischild，thismiserableoffspringofsin。”，“Theworldhas，indeed，madesuchchildrenmiserable，innocentastheyare;butIdoubtifthisbeaccordingtothewillofGod，unlessitbeHispunishmentfortheparents’guilt;andeventhentheworld’swayoftreatmentistooapttohardenthemother’snaturalloveintosomethinglikehatred。Shame，andtheterroroffriends’displeasure，turnhermad——defileherholiestinstincts;and，asforthefathers——Godforgivethem！Icannot——atleast，notjustnow。”，MissBensonthoughtonwhatherbrothersaid。Atlengthsheasked，“Thurstan(rememberI’mnotconvinced)，howwouldyouhavethisgirltreatedaccordingtoyourtheory？”“Itwillrequiresometime，andmuchChristianlove，tofindoutthebestway。IknowI’mnotverywise;butthewayIthinkitwouldberighttoactin，wouldbethis——“Hethoughtforsometimebeforehespoke，andthensaid——，“Shehasincurredaresponsibility——thatwebothacknowledge。Sheisabouttobecomeamother，andhavethedirectionandguidanceofalittletenderlife。Ifancysucharesponsibilitymustbeseriousandsolemnenough，withoutmakingitintoaheavyandoppressiveburden，sothathumannaturerecoilsfrombearingit。Whilewedoallwecantostrengthenhersenseofresponsibility，Iwouldlikewisedoallwecantomakeherfeelthatitisresponsibilityforwhatmaybecomeablessing。”，“Whetherthechildrenarelegitimateorillegitimate？”askedMissBensondryly。”Yes！”saidherbrotherfirmly。“ThemoreIthink，themoreIbelieveI

amright。Noone，“saidhe，blushingfaintlyashespoke，“canhaveagreaterrecoilfromproffigacythanIhave。Youyourselfhavenotgreatersorrowoverthisyoungcreature’ssinthanIhavethedifferenceisthis，youconfusetheconsequenceswiththesin。”，“Idon’tunderstandmetaphysics。”，“IamnotawarethatIamtalkingmetaphysics。Icanimaginethatifthepresentoccasionbetakenrightly，andusedwell，allthatisgoodinhermayberaisedtoaheightunmeasuredbutbyGod;whileallthatisevilanddarkmay，byHisblessing，fadeanddisappearinthepurelightofherchild’spresence——Oh，Father！listentomyprayer，thatherredemptionmaydatefromthistime。HelpustospeaktoherinthelovingspiritofthyHolySon！”Thetearswerefullinhiseyes;healmosttrembledinhisearnestness。

Hewasfaintwiththestrongpowerofhisownconviction，andwithhisinabilitytomovehissister。Butshewasshaken。Shesatverystillforaquarterofanhourormorewhileheleanedback，exhaustedbyhisownfeelings。”Thepoorchild！”saidsheatlength——“thepoor，poorchild！whatitwillhavetostrugglethroughandendure！DoyourememberThomasWilkins，andthewayhethrewtheregistryofhisbirthandbaptismbackinyourface？

Why，hewouldnothavethesituation;hewenttosea，andwasdrowned，ratherthanpresenttherecordofhisshame。”，“Idorememberitall。Ithasoftenhauntedme。ShemuststrengthenherchildtolooktoGod，ratherthantoman’sopinion。Itwillbethediscipline，thepenance，shehasincurred。Shemustteachittobe(humanlyspeaking)

self-dependent。”，“Butafterall，“saidMissBenson(forshehadknownandesteemedpoorThomasWilkins，andhadmournedoverhisuntimelydeath，andtherecollectionthereofsoftenedher)——“afterall，itmightbeconcealed。Theverychildneedneverknowitsillegitimacy。”，“How？”askedherbrother。”Why——weknowsolittleaboutheryet;butinthatletter，itsaidshehadnofriends;——now，couldshenotgointoquiteafreshplace，andbepassedoffasawidow？”Ah，tempter！unconscioustempter！Herewasawayofevadingthetrialsforthepoorlittleunbornchild，ofwhichMr。Bensonhadneverthought。

Itwasthedecision——thepivot，onwhichthefateofyearsmoved;andheturneditthewrongway。Butitwasnotforhisownsake。Forhimself，hewasbraveenoughtotellthetruth;forthelittlehelplessbaby，abouttoenteracruel，bitingworld，hewastemptedtoevadethedifficulty。

Heforgotwhathehadjustsaid，ofthedisciplineandthepenancetothemotherconsistinginstrengtheningherchildtomeet，trustfullyandbravely，theconsequencesofherownweakness。Herememberedmoreclearlythewildfierceness，theCain-likelook，ofThomasWilkins，astheobnoxiouswordinthebaptismalregistrytoldhimthathemustgoforthbrandedintotheworld，withhishandagainsteveryman’s，andeveryman’sagainsthim。”Howcoulditbemanaged，Faith？”“Nay，Imustknowmuchmore，whichshealonecantellus，beforeIcanseehowitistobemanaged。Itiscertainlythebestplan。”，“Perhapsitis，“saidherbrotherthoughtfully，butnolongerclearlyordecidedly;andsotheconversationdropped。Ruthmovedthebed-curtainaside，inhersoftmanner，whenMissBensonre-enteredtheroom;shedidnotspeak，butshelookedatherasifshewishedhertocomenear。MissBensonwentandstoodbyher。Ruthtookherhandinhersandkissedit;asiffatiguedevenbythisslightmovement，shefellasleep。MissBensontookupherwork，andthoughtoverherbrother’sspeeches。

Shewasnotconvinced，butshewassoftenedandbewildered。

chapter12，CHAPTERXII，LOSINGSIGHTOFTHEWELSHMOUNTAINS，MissBensoncontinuedinanundecidedstateofmindforthetwonextdays;

butonthethird，astheysatatbreakfast，shebegantospeaktoherbrother。”Thatyoungcreature’snameisRuthHilton。”，“Indeed！howdidyoufinditout？”“Fromherself，ofcourse。Sheismuchstronger。Isleptwithherlastnight，andIwasawareshewasawakelongbeforeIlikedtospeak，butatlastIbegan。Idon’tknowwhatIsaid，orhowitwenton，butIthinkitwasalittlerelieftohertotellmesomethingaboutherself。Shesobbedandcriedherselftosleep;Ithinksheisasleepnow。”Tellmewhatshesaidaboutherself。”，“Oh，itwasreallyverylittle;itwasevidentlyamostpainfulsubject。

Sheisanorphan，withoutbrotherorsister，andwithaguardian，whom，Ithinkshesaid，sheneversawbutonce。Heapprenticedher(afterherfather’sdeath)toadressmaker。ThisMr。Bellinghamgotacquaintedwithher，andtheyusedtomeetonSundayafternoons。Onedaytheywerelate，lingeringontheroad，whenthedressmakercameupbyaccident。Sheseemstohavebeenveryangry，andnotunnaturallyso。Thegirltookfrightatherthreats，andtheloverpersuadedhertogooffwithhimtoLondon，thereandthen。LastMay，Ithinkitwas。That’sall。”，“Didsheexpressanysorrowforhererror？”“No，notinwords;buthervoicewasbrokenwithsobs，thoughshetriedtomakeitsteady。Afterawhileshebegantotalkaboutherbaby，butshyly，andwithmuchhesitation。Sheaskedme，howmuchIthoughtshecouldearnasadressmaker，byworkingvery，veryhard;andthatbroughtusroundtoherchild。Ithoughtofwhatyouhadsaid，Thurstan，andItriedtospeaktoherasyouwishedme。Iamnotsureifitwasright;Iamdoubtfulinmyownmindstill。”，“Don’tbedoubtful，Faith！DearFaith，Ithankyouforyourkindness。”，“Thereisreallynothingtothankmefor。Itisalmostimpossibletohelpbeingkindtoher;thereissomethingsomeekandgentleabouther，sopatient，andsograteful！”“Whatdoesshethinkofdoing？”“Poorchild！shethinksoftakinglodgings——verycheapones，shesays;

thereshemeanstoworknightanddaytoearnenoughforherchild。Forshesaidtome;withsuchprettyearnestness，’Itmustneverknowwant，whateverIdo。Ihavedeservedsuffering，butitwillbesuchalittleinnocentdarling！’Herutmostearningswouldnotbemorethansevenoreightshillingsaweek，I’mafraid;andthensheissoyoungandsopretty！”“ThereisthatfiftypoundsMrs。Morganbroughtme，andthosetwoletters。

Doessheknowaboutthemyet？”“No;Ididnotliketotellhertillsheisalittlestronger。Oh，Thurstan！

Iwishtherewasnotthisprospectofachild。Icannothelpit。Ido——I

couldseeawayinwhichwemighthelpher，ifitwerenotforthat。”，“Howdoyoumean？”“Oh，it’snousethinkingofit，asitis！Orelsewemighthavetakenherhomewithus，andkepthertillshehadgotalittledressmakinginthecongregation，butforthismeddlesomechild;thatspoilseverything。

Youmustletmegrumbletoyou，Thurstan。Iwasverygoodtoher，andspokeastenderlyandrespectfullyofthelittlethingasifitweretheQueen’s，andborninlawfulmatrimony。”，“That’sright，mydearFaith！Grumbleawaytome，ifyoulike。I’llforgiveyou，forthekindthoughtoftakingherhomewithus。Butdoyouthinkhersituationisaninsuperableobjection？”“Why，Thurstan！——it’ssoinsuperable，itputsitquiteoutofthequestion。”，“How？——that’sonlyrepeatingyourobjection。Whyisitoutofthequestion？”“Iftherehadbeennochildcoming，wemighthavecalledherbyherrightname——MissHilton;that’sonething。Then，anotheris，thebabyinourhouse。Why，Sallywouldgodistraught！”“NevermindSally。Ifshewereanorphanrelationofourown，leftwidowed，“

saidhe，pausingasifindoubt。“Youyourselfsuggestedsheshouldbeconsideredasawidow，forthechild’ssake。I’monlytakingupyourideas，dearFaith。Irespectyouforthinkingoftakingherhome;itisjustwhatweoughttodo。Thankyouforremindingmeofmyduty。”，“Nay，itwasonlyapassingthought。ThinkofMr。Bradshaw。Oh！Itrembleatthethoughtofhisgrimdispleasure。”，“WemustthinkofahigherthanMr。Bradshaw。IownIshouldbeaverycowardifheknew。Heissosevere，soinflexible。Butafterallheseessolittleofus;henevercomestotea，youknow，butisalwaysengagedwhenMrs。Bradshawcomes。Idon’tthinkheknowsofwhatourhouseholdconsists。”，“NotknowSally？Ohyes，buthedoes。HeaskedMrs。Bradshawonedayifsheknewwhatwageswegaveher，andsaidwemightgetafarmoreefficientandyoungerservantforthemoney。And，speakingaboutmoney，thinkwhatourexpenseswouldbeifwetookherhomeforthenextsixmonths。”，Thatconsiderationwasapuzzlingone;andbothsatsilentandperplexedforatime。MissBensonwasassorrowfulasherbrother，forshewasbecomingasanxiousashewastofinditpossiblethatherplancouldbecarriedout，“There’sthefiftypounds，“saidhe，withasighofreluctanceattheidea。”Yes，there’sthefiftypounds，“echoedhissister，withthesamesadnessinhertone。“Isupposeitishers。”，“Isupposeitis;and，beingso，wemustnotthinkwhogaveittoher。

Itwilldefrayherexpenses。Iamverysorry，butIthinkwemusttakeit。”，“Itwouldneverdotoapplytohimunderthepresentcircumstances，“saidMissBenson，inahesitatingmanner。”No，thatwewon’t，“saidherbrotherdecisively。“Ifsheconsentstoletustakecareofher，wewillneverletherstooptorequestanythingfromhim，evenforhischild。Shecanliveonbreadandwater——wecanallliveonbreadandwater——ratherthanthat。”，“ThenIwillspeaktoherandproposetheplan。Oh，Thurstan！fromachildyoucouldpersuademetoanything！IhopeIamdoingright。HowevermuchIopposeyouatfirst，Iamsuretoyieldsoon;almostinproportiontomyviolenceatfirst。IthinkIamveryweak。”，“No，notinthisinstance。Wearebothright：I，inthewayinwhichthechildoughttobeviewed;you，deargoodFaith，forthinkingoftakingherhomewithus。Godblessyou，dear，forit！”WhenRuthbegantositup(andthestrange，new，deliciousprospectofbecomingamotherseemedtogivehersomemysterioussourceofstrength，sothatherrecoverywasrapidandswiftfromthattime)，MissBensonbroughtherthelettersandthebank-note。”Doyourecollectreceivingthisletter，Ruth？”askedshe，withgravegentleness。

Ruthchangedcolour，andtookitandreaditagainwithoutmakinganyreplytoMissBenson。Thenshesighed，andthoughtawhile;andthentookupandreadthesecondnote——thenotewhichMrs。BellinghamhadsenttoMr。

Bensoninanswertohis。Afterthatshetookupthebank-noteandturneditroundandround，butnotasifshesawit。MissBensonnoticedthatherfingerstrembledsadly，andthatherlipswerequiveringforsometimebeforeshespoke。”Ifyouplease，MissBenson，Ishouldliketoreturnthismoney。”，“Why，mydear？”“Ihaveastrongfeelingagainsttakingit。Whilehe，“saidshe，deeplyblushing，andlettingherlargewhitelidsdropdownandveilhereyes，“lovedme，hegavememanythings——mywatch——oh，manythings;andItookthemfromhimgladlyandthankfully，becausehelovedme——forIwouldhavegivenhimanything——andIthoughtofthemassignsoflove。Butthismoneypainsmyheart。Hehasleftofflovingme，andhasgoneaway。Thismoneyseems——oh，MissBenson——itseemsasifhecouldcomfortme，forbeingforsaken，bymoney。”Andatthatwordthetears，solongkeptbackandrepressed，forcedtheirwaylikerain。Shecheckedherself，however，intheviolenceofheremotion，forshethoughtofherchild。”So，willyoutakethetroubleofsendingitbacktoMrs。Bellingham？”“ThatIwill，mydear。Iamgladofit，thatIam！Theydon’tdeservetohavethepowerofgiving：theydon’tdeservethatyoushouldtakeit。”，MissBensonwentandencloseditupthereandthen;simplywritingthesewordsintheenvelope，“FromRuthHilton。”，“AndnowwewashourhandsoftheseBellinghams，“saidshetriumphantly。

ButRuthlookedtearfulandsad;notaboutreturningthenote，butfromtheconvictionthatthereasonshehadgivenforthegroundofherdeterminationwastrue——henolongerlovedher。Tocheerher，MissBensonbegantospeakofthefuture。MissBensonwasoneofthosepeoplewho，themoreshespokeofaplaninitsdetails，andthemoresherealiseditinherownmind，themorefirmlyshebecameapartisanoftheproject。ThusshegrewwarmandhappyintheideaoftakingRuthhome;butRuthremaineddepressedandlanguidundertheconvictionthathenolongerlovedher。Nohome，nofuture，butthethoughtofherchild，couldweanherfromthissorrow。MissBensonwasalittlepiqued;

andthispiqueshoweditselfafterwardsintalkingtoherbrotherofthemorning’sproceedingsinthesickchamber。”Iadmiredheratthetimeforsendingawayherfiftypoundssoproudly;

butIthinkshehasacoldheart：shehardlythankedmeatallformyproposaloftakingherhomewithus。”，“Herthoughtsarefullofotherthingsjustnow;andpeoplehavesuchdifferentwaysofshowingfeeling：somebysilence，somebywords。Atanyrate，itisunwisetoexpectgratitude。”，“Whatdoyouexpect——notindifferenceoringratitude？”“Itisbetternottoexpectorcalculateconsequences。ThelongerIlive，themorefullyIseethat。Letustrysimplytodorightactions，withoutthinkingofthefeelingstheyaretocalloutinothers。Weknowthatnoholyorself-denyingeffortcanfalltothegroundvainanduseless;butthesweepofeternityislarge，andGodaloneknowswhentheeffectistobeproduced。Wearetryingtodorightnow，andtofeelright;don’tletusperplexourselveswithendeavouringtomapouthowsheshouldfeel，orhowsheshouldshowherfeelings。”，“That’sallveryfine，andIdaresayverytrue，“saidMissBenson，alittlechagrined。“But’abirdinthehandisworthtwointhebush;’andIwouldratherhavehadonegood，hearty，’Thankyou，’now，forallIhavebeenplanningtodoforher，thanthegrandeffectsyoupromisemeinthe’sweepofeternity。’Don’tbegraveandsorrowful，Thurstan，orI’llgooutoftheroom。IcanstandSally’sscoldings，butIcan’tbearyourlookofquietdepressionwheneverIamalittlehastyorimpatient。Ihadratheryouwouldgivemeagoodboxontheear。”，“AndIwouldoftenratheryouwouldspeak，ifeversohastily，insteadofwhistling。So，ifIboxyourearswhenIamvexedwithyou，willyoupromisetoscoldmewhenyouareputoutoftheway，insteadofwhistling？”“Verywell！that’sabargain。Youbox，andIscold。But，seriously，Ibegantocalculateourmoneywhenshesocavalierlysentoffthefifty-poundnote(Ican’thelpadmiringherforit！)，andIamverymuchafraidweshallnothaveenoughtopaythedoctor’sbill，andtakeherhomewithus。”，“Shemustgoinsidethecoach，whateverwedo，“saidMr。Bensondecidedly。

“Who’sthere？Comein！Oh！Mrs。Hughes！Sitdown。”，“Indeed，sir，andIcannotstay;buttheyoungladyhasjustmademefindupherwatchforher，andaskedmetogetitsoldtopaythedoctor，andthelittlethingsshehashadsinceshecame;andplease，sir，indeedI

don’tknowwheretosellitnearerthanCaernarvon。”，“Thatisgoodofher，“saidMissBenson，hersenseofjusticesatisfied;

and，rememberingthewayinwhichRuthhadspokenofthewatch，shefeltwhatasacrificeitmusthavebeentoresolvetopartwithit。”Andhergoodnessjusthelpsusoutofourdilemma，“saidherbrother;

whowasunawareofthefeelingswithwhichRuthregardedherwatch，or，perhaps，hemighthavepartedwithhisFacciolati。Mrs。Hughespatientlyawaitedtheirleisureforansweringherpracticalquestion。Wherecouldthewatchbesold？Suddenlyherfacebrightened。”Mr。Jones，thedoctor，isjustgoingtobemarried，perhapshewouldlikenothingbetterthantogivethisprettywatchtohisbride;indeed，andIthinkit’sverylikely;andhe’llpaymoneyforitaswellaslettingalonehisbill。I’llaskhim，sir，atanyrate。”，Mr。Joneswasonlytoogladtoobtainpossessionofsoelegantapresentatsocheaparate。Heeven，asMrs。Hugheshadforetold，“paidmoneyforit;“morethanwasrequiredtodefraytheexpensesofRuth’saccommodation，asmostofthearticlesoffoodshehadwerepaidforatthetimebyMr。

orMissBenson，buttheystrictlyforbadeMrs。HughestotellRuthofthis。”Wouldyouobjecttomybuyingyouablackgown？”saidMissBensontoher，thedayafterthesaleofthewatch。Shehesitatedalittle，andthenwenton——，“MybrotherandIthinkitwouldbebettertocallyou——asifinfactyouwere——awidow。Itwillsavemuchawkwardness，anditwillspareyourchildmuch“——mortification，shewasgoingtohaveadded;butthatworddidnotexactlydo。But，atthementionofherchild，Ruthstarted，andturnedruby-red;asshealwaysdidwhenallusionwasmadetoit。”Oh，yes！certainly。Thankyoumuchforthinkingofit。Indeed，“saidshe，verylow，asiftoherself，“Idon’tknowhowtothankyouforallyouaredoing;butIdoloveyou，andwillprayforyou，ifImay。”，“Ifyoumay，Ruth“repeatedMissBenson，inatoneofsurprise。”Yes，ifImay。Ifyouwillletmeprayforyou。”，“Certainly，mydear。MydearRuth，youdon’tknowhowoftenIsin;Idosowrong，withmyfewtemptations。WearebothofusgreatsinnersintheeyesoftheMostHoly;letusprayforeachother。Don’tspeaksoagain，mydear;atleast，nottome。”，MissBensonwasactuallycrying。Shehadalwayslookeduponherselfassoinferiortoherbrotherinrealgoodness，hadseensuchheightsaboveher，thatshewasdistressedbyRuth’shumility。Afterashorttimesheresumedthesubject。”ThenImaygetyouablackgown？——andwemaycallyouMrs。Hilton？”“No;notMrs。Hilton！”saidRuthhastily。MissBenson，whohadhithertokepthereyesavertedfromRuth’sfacefromamotiveofkindlydelicacy，nowlookedatherwithsurprise。”Whynot？”askedshe。”Itwasmymother’sname，“saidRuth，inalowvoice。“Ihadbetternotbecalledbyit。”，“Thenletuscallyoubymymother’sname，“saidMissBensontenderly。

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