g:

"There, sir! when you are an old man, you may read that testimony to
your mother's noble conduct with pride and pleasure. For, indeed,"
continued he, turning to Jemima, "no words can express the relief
it was to us. I speak of the gentlemen composing the Board of the
Infirmary. When Mrs Denbigh came forward, the panic was at its
height, and the alarm of course aggravated the disorder. The poor
creatures died rapidly; there was hardly time to remove the dead
bodies before others were brought in to occupy the beds, so little
help was to be procured on account of the universal terror; and the
morning when Mrs Denbigh offered us her services, we seemed at the
very worst. I shall never forget the sensation of relief in my mind
when she told us what she proposed to do; but we thought it right to
warn her to the full extent--

"Nay, madam," said he, catching a glimpse of Ruth's changing colour,
"I will spare you any more praises. I will only say, if I can be a
friend to you, or a friend to your child, you may command my poor
powers to the utmost."

He got up, and bowing formally, he took his leave. Jemima came and
kissed Ruth. Leonard went upstairs to put the precious letter away.
Miss Benson sat crying heartily in a corner of the room. Ruth went to
her and threw her arms round her neck, and said:

"I could not tell him just then. I durst not speak for fear of
breaking down; but if I have done right, it was all owing to you and
Mr Benson. Oh! I wish I had said how the thought first came into my
head from seeing the things Mr Benson has done so quietly ever since
the fever first came amongst us. I could not speak; and it seemed
as if I was taking those praises to myself, when all the time I was
feeling how little I deserved them--how it was all owing to you."

"Under God, Ruth," said Miss Benson, speaking through her tears.

"Oh! I think there is nothing humbles one so much as undue praise.
While he was reading that letter, I could not help feeling how many
things I have done wrong! Could he know of--of what I have been?"
asked she, dropping her voice very low.

"Yes!" said Jemima, "he knew--everybody in Eccleston did know--but
the remembrance of those days is swept away. Miss Benson," she
continued, for she was anxious to turn the subject, "you must be on
my side, and persuade Ruth to come to Abermouth for a few weeks. I
want her and Leonard both to come."

"I'm afraid my brother will think that Leonard is missin