He had come hastily, for he had much to do; but he no
sooner heard the case than he sat down, and tried to draw some
more explicit declaration of her feeling from Ruth, who had
remained silent during Miss Benson's explanation.
"You would rather send this present back?" said he.
"Yes," she answered softly. "Is it wrong?"
"Why do you want to return it?"
"Because I feel as if Mr. Bradshaw had no right to offer it me."
Mr. Benson was silent.
"It's beautifully fine," said Miss Benson, still examining the
piece.
"You think that it is a right which must be earned?"
"Yes," said she, after a minute's pause. "Don't you?"
"I understand what you mean. It is a delight to have gifts made
to you by those whom you esteem and love, because then such gifts
are merely to be considered as fringes to the garment--as
inconsiderable additions to the mighty treasure of their
affection, adding a grace, but no additional value, to what
before was precious, and proceeding as naturally out of that as
leaves burgeon out upon the trees; but you feel it to be
different when there is no regard for the giver to idealise the
gift--when it simply takes its stand among your property as so
much money's value. Is this it, Ruth?"
"I think it is. I never reasoned why I felt as I did; I only knew
that Mr. Bradshaw's giving me a present hurt me, instead of
making me glad."
"Well, but there is another side of the case we have not looked
at yet--we must think of that, too.
Pages:
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220