re with substantial happiness--happiness
both to you and to me--for I am sure I can make you happy--aye! and
make you love me, too, in spite of your pretty defiance. I love you
so dearly I must win love back. And here are advantages for Leonard,
to be gained by you quite in a holy and legitimate way."

She stood very erect.

"If there was one thing needed to confirm me, you have named it. You
shall have nothing to do with my boy, by my consent, much less by my
agency. I would rather see him working on the roadside than leading
such a life--being such a one as you are. You have heard my mind
now, Mr Bellingham. You have humbled me--you have baited me; and
if at last I have spoken out too harshly, and too much in a spirit
of judgment, the fault is yours. If there were no other reason to
prevent our marriage but the one fact that it would bring Leonard
into contact with you, that would be enough."

"It is enough!" said he, making her a low bow. "Neither you nor your
child shall ever more be annoyed by me. I wish you a good evening."

They walked apart--he back to the inn, to set off instantly, while
the blood was hot within him, from the place where he had been so
mortified--she to steady herself along till she reached the little
path, more like a rude staircase than anything else, by which she had
to climb to the house.

She did not turn round for some time after she was fairly lost to
the sight of any one on the shore; she clambered on, almost stunned
by the rapid beating of her heart. Her eyes were hot and dry; and
at last became as if she were suddenly blind. Unable to go on, she
tottered into the tangled underwood which grew among the stones,
filling every niche and crevice, and little shelving space, with
green and delicate tracery. She sank down behind a great overhanging
rock, which hid her from any one coming up the path. An ash-tree was
rooted in this rock, slanting away from the sea-breezes that were
prevalent in most weathers; but this was a still, autumnal Sabbath
evening. As Ruth's limbs fell, so they lay. She had no strength, no
power of volition to move a finger. She could not think or remember.
She was literally stunned. The first sharp sensation which roused
her from her torpor was a quick desire to see him once more; up she
sprang, and climbed to an out-jutting dizzy point of rock, but a
little above her sheltered nook, yet commanding a wide view over the
bare, naked sands;--far away below, touchin