ard of the Prince of Air.

There was a knock at the bedroom door--a little, gentle knock, and a
soft child's voice.

"Mrs Denbigh, may I come in, please? I am so frightened!"

It was Elizabeth. Ruth calmed her passionate breathing by one hasty
draught of water, and opened the door to the timid girl.

"Oh, Mrs Denbigh! did you ever hear such a night? I am so frightened!
and Mary sleeps so sound."

Ruth was too much shaken to be able to speak all at once; but she
took Elizabeth in her arms to reassure her. Elizabeth stood back.

"Why, how wet you are, Mrs Denbigh! and there's the window open, I do
believe! Oh, how cold it is!" said she, shivering.

"Get into my bed, dear!" said Ruth.

"But do come too! The candle gives such a strange light with that
long wick, and, somehow, your face does not look like you. Please,
put the candle out, and come to bed. I am so frightened, and it seems
as if I should be safer if you were by me."

Ruth shut the window, and went to bed. Elizabeth was all shivering
and quaking. To soothe her, Ruth made a great effort; and spoke of
Leonard and his fears, and, in a low hesitating voice, she spoke of
God's tender mercy, but very humbly, for she feared lest Elizabeth
should think her better and holier than she was. The little girl was
soon asleep, her fears forgotten; and Ruth, worn out by passionate
emotion, and obliged to be still for fear of awaking her bedfellow,
went off into a short slumber, through the depths of which the echoes
of her waking sobs quivered up.

When she awoke the grey light of autumnal dawn was in the room.
Elizabeth slept on; but Ruth heard the servants about, and the
early farmyard sounds. After she had recovered from the shock of
consciousness and recollection, she collected her thoughts with a
stern calmness. He was here. In a few hours she must meet him. There
was no escape, except through subterfuges and contrivances that were
both false and cowardly. How it would all turn out she could not say,
or even guess. But of one thing she was clear, and to one thing she
would hold fast: that was, that, come what might, she would obey
God's law, and, be the end of all what it might, she would say, "Thy
will be done!" She only asked for strength enough to do this when
the time came. How the time would come--what speech or action would
be requisite on her part, she did not know--she did not even try to
conjecture. She left that in His hands.

She was icy cold, but