her. Ruth also told her mother-in-law what Booz had said
to her; and when the other had informed her that he was near of kin to
them, and perhaps was so pious a man as to make some provision for them,
she went out again on the days following, to gather the gleanings with
Booz's maidservants.

3. It was not many days before Booz, after the barley was winnowed,
slept in his thrashing-floor. When Naomi was informed of this
circumstance she contrived it so that Ruth should lie down by him, for
she thought it might be for their advantage that he should discourse
with the girl. Accordingly she sent the damsel to sleep at his feet; who
went as she bade her, for she did not think it consistent with her duty
to contradict any command of her mother-in-law. And at first she lay
concealed from Booz, as he was fast asleep; but when he awaked about
midnight, and perceived a woman lying by him, he asked who she was;--and
when she told him her name, and desired that he whom she owned for her
lord would excuse her, he then said no more; but in the morning, before
the servants began to set about their work, he awaked her, and bid
her take as much barley as she was able to carry, and go to her
mother-in-law before any body there should see that she had lain down by
him, because it was but prudent to avoid any reproach that might arise
on that account, especially when there had been nothing done that was
ill. But as to the main point she aimed at, the matter should rest
here,--"He that is nearer of kin than I am, shall be asked whether he
wants to take thee to wife: if he says he does, thou shalt follow him;
but if he refuse it, I will marry thee, according to the law."

4. When she had informed her mother-in-law of this, they were very glad
of it, out of the hope they had that Booz would make provision for them.
Now about noon Booz went down into the city, and gathered the senate
together, and when he had sent for Ruth, he called for her kinsman also;
and when he was come, he said, "Dost not thou retain the inheritance of
Elimelech and his sons?" He confessed that he did retain it, and that he
did as he was permitted to do by the laws, because he was their nearest
kinsman. Then said Booz, "Thou must not remember the laws by halves, but
do every thing according to them; for the wife of Mahlon is come hither,
whom thou must marry, according to the law, in case thou wilt retain
their fields." So the man yielded up both the field and the wif