"Did Sally send you, Ben?
Get the ostler's lantern, and look out the luggage."
CHAPTER XIII
THE DISSENTING MINISTER'S HOUSEHOLD
Miss Benson had resumed every morsel of the briskness which she
had rather lost in the middle of the day; her foot was on her
native stones, and a very rough set they were, and she was near
her home and among known people. Even Mr. Benson spoke very
cheerfully to Ben, and made many inquiries of him respecting
people whose names were strange to Ruth. She was cold, and
utterly weary. She took Miss Benson's offered arm, and could
hardly drag herself as far as the little quiet street in which
Mr. Benson's house was situated. The street was so quiet that
their footsteps sounded like a loud disturbance, and announced
their approach as effectually as the "trumpet's lordly blare" did
the coming of Abdallah. A door flew open, and a lighted passage
stood before them. As soon as they had entered, a stout elderly
servant emerged from behind the door, her face radiant with
welcome.
"Eh, bless ye! are ye hack again? I thought I should ha' been
lost without ye." She gave Mr. Benson a hearty shake of the hand,
and kissed Miss Benson warmly; then, turning to Ruth, she said,
in a loud whisper--
"Who's yon?"
Mr. Benson was silent, and walked a step onwards. Miss Benson
said boldly out--
"The lady I named in my note, Sally--Mrs. Denbigh, a distant
relation.
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