months since
Jemima had left off sitting in the schoolroom, as had been her wont
during the first few years of Ruth's governess-ship. Now, each
morning Miss Bradshaw seated herself at a little round table in the
window, at her work, or at her writing; but whether she sewed, or
wrote, or read, Ruth felt that she was always watching--watching. At
first Ruth had welcomed all these changes in habit and behaviour,
as giving her a chance, she thought, by some patient waiting or
some opportune show of enduring, constant love, to regain her lost
friend's regard; but by-and-by the icy chillness, immovable and grey,
struck more to her heart than many sudden words of unkindness could
have done. They might be attributed to the hot impulses of a hasty
temper--to the vehement anger of an accuser; but this measured manner
was the conscious result of some deep-seated feeling; this cold
sternness befitted the calm implacability of some severe judge. The
watching, which Ruth felt was ever upon her, made her unconsciously
shiver, as you would if you saw that the passionless eyes of the dead
were visibly gazing upon you. Her very being shrivelled and parched
up in Jemima's presence, as if blown upon by a bitter, keen, east
wind.

Jemima bent every power she possessed upon the one object of
ascertaining what Ruth really was. Sometimes the strain was very
painful; the constant tension made her soul weary; and she moaned
aloud, and upbraided circumstance (she dared not go higher--to the
Maker of circumstance) for having deprived her of her unsuspicious
happy ignorance.

Things were in this state when Mr Richard Bradshaw came on his annual
home visit. He was to remain another year in London, and then to
return and be admitted into the firm. After he had been a week at
home, he grew tired of the monotonous regularity of his father's
household, and began to complain of it to Jemima.

"I wish Farquhar were at home. Though he is such a stiff, quiet old
fellow, his coming in in the evenings makes a change. What has become
of the Millses? They used to drink tea with us sometimes, formerly."

"Oh! papa and Mr Mills took opposite sides at the election, and we
have never visited since. I don't think they are any great loss."

"Anybody is a loss--the stupidest bore that ever was would be a
blessing, if he only would come in sometimes."

"Mr and Miss Benson have drank tea here twice since you came."

"Come, that's capital! Apropos of stupid bore