"What is the matter, Faith? You say she is better."
"Why, Thurstan, there is something so shocking the matter, that I
cannot tell you."
Mr. Benson changed colour with affright. All things possible and
impossible crossed his mind but the right one. I said, "all
things possible"; I made a mistake. He never believed Ruth to be
more guilty than she seemed.
"Faith, I wish you would tell me, and not bewilder me with those
noises of yours," said he nervously.
"I beg your pardon; but something so shocking has just been
discovered--I don't know how to word it--she will have a child.
The doctor says so." She was allowed to make noises unnoticed for
a few minutes. Her brother did not speak. At last she wanted his
sympathy.
"Isn't it shocking, Thurstan? You might have knocked me down with
a straw when he told me."
"Does she know?"
"Yes; and I am not sure that that isn't the worst part of all."
"How?--what do you mean?"
"Oh, I was just beginning to have a good opinion of her; but I'm
afraid she is very depraved. After the doctor was gone, she
pulled the bed-curtain aside, and looked as if she wanted to
speak to me. (I can't think how she heard, for we were close to
the window, and spoke very low.) Well, I went to her, though I
really had taken quite a turn against her. And she whispered,
quite eagerly, 'Did he say I should have a baby?' Of course I
could not keep it from her; but I thought it my duty to look as
cold and severe as I could.
Pages:
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170