a little paler. The eyes were as full of
spiritual light, the gently parted lips as rosy, and the smile, if
more rare, yet as sweet as ever.

CHAPTER XXXIV

"I Must Go and Nurse Mr Bellingham"

The next morning, Miss Benson would insist upon making Ruth lie down
on the sofa. Ruth longed to do many things; to be much more active;
but she submitted, when she found that it would gratify Miss Faith if
she remained as quiet as if she were really an invalid.

Leonard sat by her holding her hand. Every now and then he looked up
from his book, as if to make sure that she indeed was restored to
him. He had brought her down the flowers which she had given him the
day of her departure, and which he had kept in water as long as they
had any greenness or fragrance, and then had carefully dried and put
by. She too, smiling, had produced the one rose which she had carried
away to the hospital. Never had the bond between her and her boy been
drawn so firm and strong.

Many visitors came this day to the quiet Chapel-house. First of all
Mrs Farquhar appeared. She looked very different from the Jemima
Bradshaw of three years ago. Happiness had called out beauty; the
colouring of her face was lovely, and vivid as that of an autumn
day; her berry-red lips scarce closed over the short white teeth for
her smiles; and her large dark eyes glowed and sparkled with daily
happiness. They were softened by a mist of tears as she looked upon
Ruth.

"Lie still! Don't move! You must be content to-day to be waited upon,
and nursed! I have just seen Miss Benson in the lobby, and had charge
upon charge not to fatigue you. Oh, Ruth! how we all love you, now we
have you back again! Do you know, I taught Rosa to say her prayers as
soon as ever you were gone to that horrid place, just on purpose that
her little innocent lips might pray for you--I wish you could hear
her say it--'Please, dear God, keep Ruth safe.' Oh, Leonard! are not
you proud of your mother?"

Leonard said "Yes," rather shortly, as if he were annoyed that any
one else should know, or even have a right to imagine, how proud he
was. Jemima went on:

"Now, Ruth! I have got a plan for you. Walter and I have partly made
it; and partly it's papa's doing. Yes, dear! papa has been quite
anxious to show his respect for you. We all want you to go to the
dear Eagle's Crag for this next month, and get strong, and have some
change in that fine air at Abermouth. I am going to take litt