hat she can
bear her shame now in a way she never could have done at first."

"All the same it was wrong in me to do what I did."

"I did it too, as much or more than you. And I don't think it wrong.
I'm certain it was quite right, and I would do just the same again."

"Perhaps it has not done you the harm it has done me."

"Nonsense! Thurstan. Don't be morbid. I'm sure you are as good--and
better than ever you were."

"No, I am not. I have got what you call morbid just in consequence of
the sophistry by which I persuaded myself that wrong could be right.
I torment myself. I have lost my clear instincts of conscience.
Formerly, if I believed that such or such an action was according
to the will of God, I went and did it, or at least I tried to do it,
without thinking of consequences. Now, I reason and weigh what will
happen if I do so and so--I grope where formerly I saw. Oh, Faith! it
is such a relief to me to have the truth known, that I am afraid I
have not been sufficiently sympathising with Ruth."

"Poor Ruth!" said Miss Benson. "But at any rate our telling a lie has
been the saving of her. There is no fear of her going wrong now."

"God's omnipotence did not need our sin."

They did not speak for some time.

"You have not told me what Mr Bradshaw said."

"One can't remember the exact words that are spoken on either side in
moments of such strong excitement. He was very angry, and said some
things about me that were very just, and some about Ruth that were
very hard. His last words were that he should give up coming to
chapel."

"Oh, Thurstan! did it come to that?"

"Yes."

"Does Ruth know all he said?"

"No! Why should she? I don't know if she knows he has spoken to me at
all. Poor creature! she had enough to craze her almost without that!
She was for going away and leaving us, that we might not share in her
disgrace. I was afraid of her being quite delirious. I did so want
you, Faith! However, I did the best I could; I spoke to her very
coldly, and almost sternly, all the while my heart was bleeding for
her. I dared not give her sympathy; I tried to give her strength. But
I did so want you, Faith."

"And I was so full of enjoyment, I am ashamed to think of it. But the
Dawsons are so kind--and the day was so fine-- Where is Ruth now?"

"With Leonard. He is her great earthly motive--I thought that being
with him would be best. But he must be in bed and asleep now."

"I will go up to her," said