登陆注册
15687400000138

第138章 CHAPTER XXVII(6)

He opened the parlour-door, and looked in, but saw no one. Just as he was shutting it, however, he heard a deep, broken, sobbing sigh; and, guided by the sound, he found the boy lying on the floor, fast asleep, but with his features all swollen and disfigured by passionate crying. "Poor child! This was what she meant, then," thought Mr. Benson. "He has begun his share of the sorrows too" he continued pitifully. "No! I will not waken him back to consciousness." So he returned alone into the study.

Ruth sat where he had placed her, her head bent back, and her eyes shut.

But when he came in she started up. "I must be going," she said in a hurried way. "Nay, Ruth, you must not go. You must not leave us. We cannot do without you. We love you too much." "Love me!" said she, looking at him wistfully. As she looked, her eyes filled slowly with tears. It was a good sign, and Mr. Benson took heart to go on. "Yes! Ruth. You know we do. You may have other things to fill up your mind just now, but you know we love you; and nothing can alter our love for you. You ought not to have thought of leaving us. You would not, if you had been quite well." "Do you know what has happened?" she asked, in a low, hoarse voice. "Yes. I know all," he answered. "It makes no difference to us. Why should it?" "Oh! Mr. Benson, don't you know that my shame is discovered?" she replied, bursting into tears--"and I must leave you, and leave Leonard, that you may not share in my disgrace." "You must do no such thing. Leave Leonard! You have no right to leave Leonard.

Where could you go to?" "To Helmsby," she said humbly. "It would break my heart to go, but I think I ought, for Leonard's sake. I know I ought." She was crying sadly by this time, but Mr. Benson knew the flow of tears would ease her brain. "It will break my heart to go, but I know I must." "Sit still here at present," said he, in a decided tone of command. He went for the cup of tea. He brought it to her without Sally's being aware for whom it was intended. "Drink this!" He spoke as you would do to a child, if desiring it to take medicine. "Eat some toast." She took the tea, and drank it feverishly;but when she tried to eat, the food seemed to choke her. Still she was docile, and she tried. "I cannot," said she at last, putting down the piece of toast. There was a return of something of her usual tone in the words. She spoke gently and softly; no longer in the shrill, hoarse voice she had used at first.

Mr. Benson sat down by her. "Now, Ruth, we must talk a little together. I want to understand what your plan was. Where is Helmsby? Why did you fix to go there?" "It is where my mother lived," she answered. "Before she was married she lived there; and wherever she lived, the people all loved her dearly; and I thought--I think, that for her sake, some one would give me work. I meant to tell them the truth," said she, dropping her eyes; "but still they would, perhaps, give me some employment--I don't care what--for her sake. I could do many things," said she, suddenly looking up. "I am sure I could weed--Icould in gardens--if they did not like to have me in their houses. But perhaps some one, for my mother's sake--oh! my dear, dear mother!--do you know where and what I am?" she cried out, sobbing afresh. Mr. Benson's heart was very sore, though he spoke authoritatively, and almost sternly-- "Ruth! you must be still and quiet. I cannot have this. I want you to listen to me. Your thought of Helmsby would be a good one, if it was right for you to leave Eccleston; but I do not think it is. I am certain of this, that it would be a great sin in you to separate yourself from Leonard.

You have no right to sever the tie by which God has bound you together." "But if I am here they will all know and remember the shame of his birth;and if I go away they may forget----" "And they may not. And if you go away, he may be unhappy or ill; and you, who above all others have--and have from God--remember that , Ruth!--the power to comfort him, the tender patience to nurse him, have left him to the care of strangers. Yes; I know! But we ourselves are as strangers, dearly as we love him, compared to a mother. He may turn to sin, and want the long forbearance, the serene authority of a parent and where are you?

同类推荐
  • 太上秘法镇宅灵符

    太上秘法镇宅灵符

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Awakening & To Let

    Awakening & To Let

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 书博鸡者事

    书博鸡者事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 浣纱石上女

    浣纱石上女

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 赤松子章历

    赤松子章历

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 万界魂尊

    万界魂尊

    浩瀚虚空,蕴含万界,万界皆有灵,种族万千,诸魂争霸,震天动地。万虫之母,眸光开合间,日月倒转,山河失色,川海激荡。九域骨龙,一吐纳,天地同寂,万物噤声,众灵颤抖。冰姹玄女,一跺脚,众神匍匐,瑟瑟发抖,诚惶诚恐。幽泽冥王,抬手间成千上万的虚尊灰飞烟灭。涅槃天尊,一根发丝发丝压塌万古青山,镇杀数亿人皇。魂尊,挥一挥衣袖,踏空而去,留下漫天缤纷,五光十色,令人心旷神怡,目不暇接。一名少年从遗忘之界而来,他踏无尽星域,魂游万界。故事从这里开始.....
  • 超神学院之战神系统

    超神学院之战神系统

    叶子夕穿越到超神学院当了战神。一场世纪战斗即将打响……(新人新书,难免有写的不好的地方,请多多包涵)
  • 大沙门百一羯磨法

    大沙门百一羯磨法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 赤竹风雪恋

    赤竹风雪恋

    爱之深,情之切,既然选择了相爱,那就要坚守彼此有过的诺言,哪怕是付出生命。
  • 重生飞扬人生

    重生飞扬人生

    前世落魄而死,今生震翅飞扬!张宇重生2005高一时代,贫困家庭出生的他为了不让今生再重蹈覆辙,只能披荆斩棘的向上爬,书写了一段传奇。笔者为您还原最真实的学校生活,给您最想要的激情澎湃!看累了学霸的文艺生活,再来看看学渣的血泪往事,相信会给您不一样的感受。新书求推荐!求收藏!求月票!
  • 斗零

    斗零

    古来世界,自古而来便遵循着丛林法则,虚伪之中,来自彼方的少年能否成为变数?
  • 无限之战斗

    无限之战斗

    第一次写,请多多关照。第一个电影《隐蔽而伟大》,第二个《赌神》,第三个《赌侠》,额,后面的以后再想。。。
  • 傲绝星域

    傲绝星域

    天道终将会毁灭,唯有强者才能君临天下。世间万物皆归于尘。君临天下,俯视苍生。
  • 末日生存日记

    末日生存日记

    我拿着自制的尖木棍,重重刺进那头丧尸的后脑勺中!但是,木棍断了!尖头的部分还留在它的脑子里,另一头则被我握在手里。丧尸非但没事,反而更疯狂了!顶着血肉模糊的脑袋,回身朝我扑过来!
  • 千金归来:老公,请走开

    千金归来:老公,请走开

    深爱之人毫无预兆地变脸:出轨,设计她父亲跳楼,逼她离婚,甚至还想要她的命!被伤到体无完肤的凌萱,落荒而逃。两年后,再相逢。“凌萱?”“陆董,我叫凌若,您是不是认错人了?”复仇的火焰在凌萱心底熊熊燃烧:陆庭轩,你的戏已落幕,该轮到我登场了……