either Ruth or Leonard.

So Leonard went for the papers. Stealing along by back
streets--running with his head bent down--his little heart panting
with dread of being pointed out as his mother's child--so he used to
come back, and run trembling to Sally, who would hush him up to her
breast with many a rough-spoken word of pity and sympathy.

Mr Farquhar tried to catch him to speak to him, and tame him as it
were; and, by-and-by, he contrived to interest him sufficiently to
induce the boy to stay a little while in the house, or stables, or
garden. But the race through the streets was always to be dreaded as
the end of ever so pleasant a visit.

Mr Farquhar kept up the intercourse with the Bensons which he had
thus begun. He persevered in paying calls--quiet visits, where
not much was said, political or local news talked about, and the
same inquiries always made and answered as to the welfare of the
two families, who were estranged from each other. Mr Farquhar's
reports were so little varied that Jemima grew anxious to know more
particulars.

"Oh, Mr Farquhar!" said she; "do you think they tell you the truth? I
wonder what Ruth can be doing to support herself and Leonard? Nothing
that you can hear of, you say; and, of course, one must not ask the
downright question. And yet I am sure they must be pinched in some
way. Do you think Leonard is stronger?"

"I am not sure. He is growing fast; and such a blow as he has had
will be certain to make him more thoughtful and full of care than
most boys of his age; both these circumstances may make him thin and
pale, which he certainly is."

"Oh! how I wish I might go and see them all! I could tell in a
twinkling the real state of things." She spoke with a tinge of her
old impatience.

"I will go again, and pay particular attention to anything you wish
me to observe. You see, of course, I feel a delicacy about asking
any direct questions, or even alluding in any way to these late
occurrences."

"And you never see Ruth by any chance?"

"Never!"

They did not look at each other while this last question was asked
and answered.

"I will take the paper to-morrow myself; it will be an excuse for
calling again, and I will try to be very penetrating; but I have not
much hope of success."

"Oh, thank you. It is giving you a great deal of trouble; but you are
very kind."

"Kind, Jemima!" he repeated, in a tone which made her go very red
and hot; "must I tell you how you can