She was too
good and true to conceal this feeling, or to resent its being
forced upon her. After a time she said--
"Thurstan dear, let us go to her."
She helped him with tender care, and gave him her arm up the long
and tedious hill; but when they approached the village, without
speaking a word on the subject, they changed their position, and
she leant (apparently) on him. He stretched himself up into as
vigorous a gait as he could, when they drew near to the abodes of
men.
On the way they had spoken but little. He had asked after various
members of his congregation, for he was a Dissenting minister in
a country town, and she had answered; but they neither of them
spoke of Ruth, though their minds were full of her.
Mrs. Hughes had tea ready for the traveller on her arrival. Mr.
Benson chafed a little internally at the leisurely way in which
his sister sipped and sipped, and paused to tell him some
trifling particular respecting home affairs, which she had
forgotten before.
"Mr. Bradshaw has refused to let the children associate with the
Dixons any longer, because one evening they played at acting
charades."
"Indeed! A little more bread and butter, Faith?"
"Thank you; this Welsh air does make one hungry. Mrs. Bradshaw is
paying poor old Maggie's rent, to save her from being sent into
the workhouse.
"That's right. Won't you have another cup of tea?"
"I have had two.
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