Ruth

Gather

the fresh beauty of nature. Ruth was quite unconscious of being the object of remark, and, in her light, rapid passings to and fro, h

ble to catch a glimpse of her as she entered from her morning's ramble. "Not abo

ittle boy, could only say (without seeing the young g

to come here. To think of such wickedness under the same roof

nd eggs, and he heard his wife's commands. Whether smelling or hearing

by are ready to go out with you. You mu

perspective far away, she passed by the little shop; and, just issuing from it, came the nurse and baby, and little boy. The baby sat in placid dignity in her nurse's arms, with a face of queenly calm. Her fresh, soft, peachy complexion was really tempting; and Ruth, who was al

ing back his hand; "how dare you do that to

. "She's a bad naughty girl-mamma said s

ust have heard; but it was awkward to bring it out

t last, apologetically, to Ruth, who stood, white

u say it yourself. Go away, naughty woman!" said

emned alike by youth and age, she stole with timid step into the house. Mr Bellingham was awaiting her coming in the sitting-room. The glorious day restored all his buoyancy of spirits. He talked gaily away, without pausing for a reply; while Ruth made tea, and tried to calm her heart, which was yet beating with the agitation of the new ideas she

ight have been aware that I was out of spirits, I heard nothing but expressions of delight; to-day, when every creature

ation in which she was henceforward to be held. She thought he would be as much grieved as she was at what had taken place that morning; she fancied she

nd be cheerful. I must not think of myself so much. If I ca

oment she relaxed, thoughts would intrude, and wonders would force themselves upon her mind; so t

bounding into a run, before they reached the lowest plane. A green gloom reigned there; it was the still hour of noon; the little birds were quiet in some leafy shade. They went on a few yards, and then they came to a circular pool overshadowed by the trees, whose highest boughs had been beneath their feet a few minutes before. The pond was hardly below the surface of the ground, and there was nothing like a bank on any side. A heron was standing there motionless, but when he saw them he flapp

Ruth, her eye catching on the far

spongy all round there. Sit still, Ruth; t

ill while he arranged her coronet, looking up in his face with loving eyes, with a peaceful composure. She knew that he was pleased from his manner, which had the joyousness

nd look at yourself in the pond. He

t of any other beautiful object would have done, but she never thought of associating it with herself. She knew that she

ess against the trees which grew around; her face was flushed into a brilliancy of colour which resembled that of a rose in June; the great heavy white flowers drooped on either side of her beautiful head,

et, as they came near the inn, the simple thought of giving him pleasure was not enou

nto melancholy reveries without any cause. You have been sighing twenty times during the last half

n she remembered that it was very dull for him to be alone with her, he

those games at cards you were speaking about

orgot that there was such a thing as depression or gloom in the world, in the

o you know, little goose, your blunders have made me laugh

e sofa, and in an inst

your forehead," she begged;

. She covered him with her shawl, which she had thrown over a chair on coming in from their twilight ramble. She had ample time to think; but she tried to banish thought. At last, his breathing became quick and oppressed, and, after listening to it for some minutes with increasing affright, Ruth ventured t

rday's suffering went into the black distance of long-past years. The present was all-in-all. When she heard people stirring, she went in search of

her-"Mrs Morgan, I'm afraid Mr Bellingham is very ill;"-here she burst into tears, but instantly checking herself, "Oh, what must

s Morgan's face, as

ry, that can do no good, 'deed it can't. I'll go and see the poo

he sick-room Mr Bellingham was sitting up in bed, look

he fell down exhausted on the pillow. Mrs Morgan went up

deed and I will; we'll have him her

sooner?" asked Ruth

en mile away, and he may be gone a round eight or nine mile on th

arkened room. Mrs Morgan sent her breakfast upstairs by a chambermaid, but Ruth motioned it away in her sick agony, and the girl had no right to urge her to partake of it. That alone broke the monotony of the long morning. She heard the sound of merry parties setting out

ning the symptoms; but when she questioned him in turn he only shook his head and looked grave. He made a sign to Mrs Morgan to follow him out of the room, and th

id Mr Jones to Mrs Morgan in Welsh.

or young man! He looked t

ent. However, we must hope for the best, Mrs Morgan. Who is to attend upon him? He will r

Not but what I'm sorry for her, for she's an innocent, inoffensive young creature. I always think it right, for my own morals, to put a little

heard a low tap at the door, which recalled her from her morality,

was white and trembling; but she stood in that dignity whic

llingham. Every direction you give me shall be most carefully attended to. You spoke about leec

ones spoke with a deference which he had not thought of using upstairs, even while he supposed her to be the sister of the invalid. Ruth listened

oo young to have the responsibility of such a serious cas

for her; she was real quality. She left some clothes and books behind her (for the maid was almost as fine as the mistress, and little thought of seeing after her lady's clothes

ur writing to the lady, and

u would just write it yourself. Englis

order to save time, Mr Jones too