Bradshaw's great bass voice being half a note in advance of the
others, in accordance with his place of precedence as principal
member of the congregation. His powerful voice was like an organ
very badly played, and very much out of tune; but as he had no
ear, and no diffidence, it pleased him very much to hear the fine
loud sound. He was a tall, large-boned, iron man; stern,
powerful, and authoritative in appearance; dressed in clothes of
the finest broadcloth, and scrupulously ill-made, as if to show
that he was indifferent to all outward things. His wife was sweet
and gentle-looking, but as if she was thoroughly broken into
submission.
Ruth did not see this, or hear aught but the words which were
reverently--oh, how reverently!--spoken by Mr. Benson. He had had
Ruth present in his thoughts all the time he had been preparing
for his Sunday duty; and he had tried carefully to eschew
everything which she might feel as an allusion to her own case.
He remembered how the Good Shepherd, in Poussin's beautiful
picture, tenderly carried the lambs which had wearied themselves
by going astray, and felt how like tenderness was required
towards poor Ruth. But where is the chapter which does not
contain something which a broken and contrite spirit may not
apply to itself? And so it fell out that, as he read, Ruth's
heart was smitten, and she sank down, and down, till she was
kneeling on the floor of the pew, and speaking to God in the
spirit, if not in the words, of the Prodigal Son: "Father! I have
sinned against Heaven and before Thee, and am no more worthy to
be called Thy child!" Miss Benson was thankful (although she
loved Ruth the better for this self-abandonment) that the
minister's seat was far in the shade of the gallery.
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