ave not looked at
yet--we must think of that, too. You know who said, 'Do unto others
as ye would that they should do unto you'? Mr Bradshaw may not have
had that in his mind when he desired his wife to send you this; he
may have been self-seeking, and only anxious to gratify his love of
patronising--that is the worst motive we can give him; and that would
be no excuse for your thinking only of yourself, and returning his
present."

"But you would not have me pretend to be obliged?" asked Ruth.

"No, I would not. I have often been similarly situated to you, Ruth;
Mr Bradshaw has frequently opposed me on the points on which I feel
the warmest--am the most earnestly convinced. He, no doubt, thinks me
Quixotic, and often speaks of me, and to me, with great contempt when
he is angry. I suppose he has a little fit of penitence afterwards,
or perhaps he thinks he can pay for ungracious speeches by a present;
so, formerly, he invariably sent me something after these occasions.
It was a time, of all others, to feel as you are doing now; but I
became convinced it would be right to accept them, giving only the
very cool thanks which I felt. This omission of all show of much
gratitude had the best effect--the presents have much diminished; but
if the gifts have lessened, the unjustifiable speeches have decreased
in still greater proportion, and I am sure we respect each other
more. Take this muslin, Ruth, for the reason I named; and thank him
as your feelings prompt you. Overstrained expressions of gratitude
always seem like an endeavour to place the receiver of these
expressions in the position of debtor for future favours. But you
won't fall into this error."

Ruth listened to Mr Benson; but she had not yet fallen sufficiently
into the tone of his mind to understand him fully. She only felt that
he comprehended her better than Miss Benson, who once more tried to
reconcile her to her present, by calling her attention to the length
and breadth thereof.

"I will do what you wish me," she said, after a little pause of
thoughtfulness. "May we talk of something else?"

Mr Benson saw that his sister's frame of mind was not particularly
congenial with Ruth's, any more than Ruth's was with Miss Benson's;
and, putting aside all thought of returning to the business which had
appeared to him so important when he came into the room (but which
principally related to himself), he remained above an hour in the
parlour, interesting them o