her own heart, as to the Past; the old offence could never be drowned
in the Deep; but thus, when all was calm on the great, broad, sunny
sea, it rose to the surface, and faced her with its unclosed eyes and
its ghastly countenance. The blood bubbled up to her brain, and made
such a sound there, as of boiling waters, that she did not hear the
words which Mr Bradshaw first spoke; indeed, his speech was broken
and disjointed by intense passion. But she needed not to hear; she
knew. As she rose up at first, so she stood now--numb and helpless.
When her ears heard again (as if the sounds were drawing nearer, and
becoming more distinct, from some faint, vague distance of space),
Mr Bradshaw was saying, "If there be one sin I hate--I utterly
loathe--more than all others, it is wantonness. It includes all
other sins. It is but of a piece that you should have come with your
sickly, hypocritical face, imposing upon us all. I trust Benson did
not know of it--for his own sake, I trust not. Before God, if he got
you into my house on false pretences, he shall find his charity at
other men's expense shall cost him dear--you--the common talk of
Eccleston for your profligacy--" He was absolutely choked by his
boiling indignation. Ruth stood speechless, motionless. Her head
drooped a little forward, her eyes were more than half veiled by
the large quivering lids, her arms hung down straight and heavy. At
last she heaved the weight off her heart enough to say, in a faint,
moaning voice, speaking with infinite difficulty:

"I was so young."

"The more depraved, the more disgusting you," Mr Bradshaw exclaimed,
almost glad that the woman, unresisting so long, should now begin to
resist. But to his surprise (for in his anger he had forgotten her
presence) Jemima moved forwards, and said, "Father!"

"You hold your tongue, Jemima. You have grown more and more
insolent--more and more disobedient every day. I now know who to
thank for it. When such a woman came into my family there is no
wonder at any corruption--any evil--any defilement--"

"Father!"

"Not a word! If, in your disobedience, you choose to stay and hear
what no modest young woman would put herself in the way of hearing,
you shall be silent when I bid you. The only good you can gain is in
the way of warning. Look at that woman" (indicating Ruth, who moved
her drooping head a little on one side, as if by such motion she
could avert the pitiless pointing--her face growing white