r Donne put his hands on her arms as they hung down before her--her
hands tightly clasped together.

"Ask me to let you go," said he. "I will, if you will ask me." He
looked very fierce and passionate and determined. The vehemence of
his action took Ruth by surprise, and the painful tightness of the
grasp almost made her exclaim. But she was quite still and mute.

"Ask me," said he, giving her a little shake. She did not speak. Her
eyes, fixed on the distant shore, were slowly filling with tears.
Suddenly a light came through the mist that obscured them, and the
shut lips parted. She saw some distant object that gave her hope.

"It is Stephen Bromley," said she. "He is coming to his nets. They
say he is a very desperate, violent man, but he will protect me."

"You obstinate, wilful creature!" said Mr Donne, releasing his grasp.
"You forget that one word of mine could undeceive all these good
people at Eccleston; and that if I spoke out ever so little, they
would throw you off in an instant. Now!" he continued, "do you
understand how much you are in my power?"

"Mr and Miss Benson know all--they have not thrown me off," Ruth
gasped out. "Oh! for Leonard's sake! you would not be so cruel."

"Then do not you be cruel to him--to me. Think once more!"

"I think once more;" she spoke solemnly. "To save Leonard from the
shame and agony of knowing my disgrace, I would lie down and die. Oh!
perhaps it would be best for him--for me, if I might; my death would
be a stingless grief--but to go back into sin would be the real
cruelty to him. The errors of my youth may be washed away by my
tears--it was so once when the gentle, blessed Christ was upon earth;
but now, if I went into wilful guilt, as you would have me, how could
I teach Leonard God's holy will? I should not mind his knowing my
past sin, compared to the awful corruption it would be if he knew
me living now, as you would have me, lost to all fear of God--" Her
speech was broken by sobs. "Whatever may be my doom--God is just--I
leave myself in His hands. I will save Leonard from evil. Evil
would it be for him if I lived with you. I will let him die first!"
She lifted her eyes to heaven, and clasped and wreathed her hands
together tight. Then she said: "You have humbled me enough, sir. I
shall leave you now."

She turned away resolutely. The dark, grey fisherman was at hand. Mr
Donne folded his arms, and set his teeth, and looked after her.

"What a stately step s