Ruth

ker's Appre

guished by the Tudor sovereigns, and, in consequence of their favour and pro

variety of windows that had been crammed into the walls long before Mr Pitt's days of taxation. The streets below suffered from all these projections and advanced stories above; they were dark, and ill-paved with large, round, jolting pebbles, and with no side-path protected by kerb-stones; there were no lamp-posts for long winter nights; and no regard was paid to the wants of the middle class, who neither drove about in coaches of their own, nor were carried by their own men in their own sedans into the very halls of their friends. The professional men and their wives, the shopkeepers and their spouses, and all such people,

into which they are absorbed before they are well aware, forms chains which only one in a hundred has moral strength enough to despise, and to break when the right time comes-when an inward necessity for independent individual a

nty-town lost its attraction for the Astleys, the Dunstans, the Waverhams, how could it be supposed that the Domvilles, the Bextons, and the Wildes would continue to go and winter there in their second-rate houses, and with their increased expenditure? So the gran

er had to ring for candles an hour earlier than he was accustomed to do when living in a more plebeian street. In short, by mutual consent, the whole front of one side of the street was pulled down, and rebuilt in the flat, mean, unrelieved style of George the Third. The body of the h

n the morning chimed forth the old bells of St Saviour's. And yet more than a dozen girls still sat in the room into which Ruth entered, stitching away as if for very life, not daring to gape, or show any outward manifestation of sleepiness.

es! there will be an interval allowed of half an hour. Ring the bell, Miss Sutton. Martha shall bring you up some bread and cheese and beer. You will be so good as to eat it

ason's returning footstep, even while it was still far off on the echoing stairs. Two or three others huddled over the scanty fireplace, which, with every possible economy of space, and no attempt whatever at anything of grace or ornament, was inserted in the slight, flat-looking wall, that had been run up by the present owner of

and gazed into the quiet moonlight night. It was doubly light-almost as much so as day-for everything was covered with the deep snow which had been falling silently ever since the evening before. The window was in a square recess; the old strange little panes of glass had been replaced by those which gave more light. A little distance off, the feathery branches of a larch waved softly to and fro in the scarcely perceptible night-breeze. Poor old larch! the time had been when it had stood in a pleasant lawn,

d wrapping it round her head, to sally forth and enjoy the glory; and time was when that impulse would have been instantly followed; but now, Ruth's eyes filled with tears, and she stood quite

ed herself by a long hard fit of coughing, "come and have some

e fresh air would do me

," replied the other, shi

her, sitting by the fire;-even to mother," she added, in a low, melancholy tone, which had something of inexpressible sadness in it. "Why, Jenny!" said she, rousing herself, but not before her eyes were swimming with tears, "own, now, that you never saw those

ome, and the pain in her side worse than usual. But she put her arm round Ruth's neck, and stood by her, glad that the orphan apprentice, who was

ht till Mrs Mason's step was heard, when each

lovely wreaths of flowers, profuse and luxuriant beyond description, and so real-looking, that you could almost fancy you smelt their fragrance, and heard the south wind go softly rustling in and out among the crimson roses-the branches of purple and white lilac-the floating golden-tressed laburnum boughs. Besides these, there were stately white lilies, sacred to the Virgin-hollyhocks, fraxinella, monk's-hood, pansies, primroses; every flower which blooms profusely in charming o

asure his handiwork, even in its wane, had power to give to the heavy heart of a young girl; for they co

ety of the town since the assize-balls had been discontinued. Many were the dresses she had promised should be sent home "without fail" the next morning; she had not

to the flagging spirits, and with a little pre

th sandal ribbon, pins, and such little matters, and to be ready to repair any accidental injury to the ladies' dresses. I shall send four-of the most diligent." She laid a marked emphasis on

lready selected in her own mind the four girls who were most likely to do credit to the "establishment;" and these were secretly determined upon, although it was very well to promise the reward to

ven that welcome command was languidly obeyed. Slowly they folded up their work, heavily the

oppressive stillness! which lets every sound of the thread be heard as it goes eternally backwards

ck; and by-and-by you won't mind the closeness of the room. You're worn out to-night, or you woul

sing? We must be up again

eat deal of rest, if you will but undress

esisted; but before Ruth

cross and impatient. I

t it goes off, and they don't care much for anything after aw

then she remembered the premium her father had struggled hard to pay, and the large family, younger than herself, that had to be cared for, and s

her sleep as if her heart would break. Such agita

h! R

, "I thought I saw mamma by the side of the bed, coming, as she used to do, to see if I were asleep and comfo

to me, and you're feverish with sitting up late. Go to sle

dear! dear!" Ruth was asleep

heir rest had been short,

ss Hilton, you will see that you are ready to a

sed rule by which it was made, received it with the sullen indifference which had become their feeling with regard to most events-a dea

d lost herself in thoughts of home, until she fully expected the reprimand which at any other time she w

ed for some variety to the dull, monotonous life she was leading, she could not feel happy to accept a privilege, granted, as she believed, in ignorance of the real stat

very tired; and I could not help thinking, and when I think, I can't attend to my work." She stopped, believing she ha

oth, you must leave off thinking. Your guardian, you know, expects you to m

umed her employment in a manner which any one but a "new girl" would have known to

o go, ma'am. Miss Wood was far more indu

with the remarkable beauty which Ruth possessed; such a credit to the house, with her waving outline of figure, her striking face, with

ou) to have my decisions questioned. What I say, I mean; and I have my reasons. So sit down, if you pleas

me," said Ruth, in no low voice to

up to you than any one, if it were mine to give. And suppose it is, and take the p

shall enjoy it now. I did work diligently for five minutes last night, after I heard of it, I wanted to go so much.