cious
and sullen ways to his mother--ways that alternated with passionate,
fitful bursts of clinging love--assumed more the character of
repentance; he tried to do so no more. But still his health was
delicate; he was averse to going out-of-doors; he was much graver
and sadder than became his age. It was what must be, an inevitable
consequence of what had been; and Ruth had to be patient, and pray in
secret, and with many tears, for the strength she needed.

She knew what it was to dread the going out into the streets after
her story had become known. For days and days she had silently shrunk
from this effort. But one evening towards dusk, Miss Benson was busy,
and asked her to go an errand for her; and Ruth got up and silently
obeyed her. That silence as to inward suffering was only one part of
her peculiar and exquisite sweetness of nature; part of the patience
with which she "accepted her penance." Her true instincts told her
that it was not right to disturb others with many expressions of her
remorse; that the holiest repentance consisted in a quiet and daily
sacrifice. Still there were times when she wearied pitifully of
her inaction. She was so willing to serve and work, and every one
despised her services. Her mind, as I have said before, had been
well cultivated during these last few years; so now she used all the
knowledge she had gained in teaching Leonard, which was an employment
that Mr Benson relinquished willingly, because he felt that it would
give her some of the occupation that she needed. She endeavoured to
make herself useful in the house in every way she could; but the
waters of housekeeping had closed over her place during the time of
her absence at Mr Bradshaw's--and, besides, now that they were trying
to restrict every unnecessary expense, it was sometimes difficult
to find work for three women. Many and many a time Ruth turned over
in her mind every possible chance of obtaining employment for her
leisure hours, and nowhere could she find it. Now and then Sally, who
was her confidante in this wish, procured her some needlework, but
it was of a coarse and common kind, soon done, lightly paid for. But
whatever it was, Ruth took it, and was thankful, although it added
but a few pence to the household purse. I do not mean that there was
any great need of money; but a new adjustment of expenditure was
required--a reduction of wants which had never been very extravagant.

Ruth's salary of forty pounds