The verses he was reading
were the following:--
"Why art thou so vexed, O my soul: and why art thou so disquieted
within me? O put thy trust in God: for I will yet thank him,
which is the help of my countenance, and my God."
And when he had finished he shut the book, and sighed with the
satisfaction of having done his duty. The words of holy trust,
though, perhaps, they were not fully understood, carried a
faithful peace down into the depths of his soul. As he looked up,
he saw the young couple standing in the middle of the floor. He
pushed his iron-rimmed spectacles on to his forehead, and rose
to greet the daughter of his old master and ever-honoured
mistress.
"God bless thee, lass! God bless thee! My old eyes are glad to
see thee again."
Ruth sprang forward to shake the horny hand stretched forward in
the action of blessing. She pressed it between both of hers, as
she rapidly poured out questions. Mr. Bellingham was not
altogether comfortable at seeing one whom he had already begun to
appropriate as his own, so tenderly familiar with a
hard-featured, meanly-dressed day-labourer. He sauntered to the
window, and looked out into the grass-grown farmyard; but he
could not help overhearing some of the conversation, which seemed
to him carried on too much in the tone of equality. "And who's
yon?" asked the old labourer at last. "Is he your sweetheart?
Your missis's son, I reckon.
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