"
Ruth was sobbing.
"I do not deserve your kindness," said she, in a broken voice; "I
do not deserve it."
Her tears fell fast and soft like summer rain, but no further
word was spoken. Mr. Benson quietly passed on to make the inquiry
for which he had entered the room.
But when there was nothing to decide upon, and no necessity for
entering upon any new course of action, Ruth's mind relaxed from
its strung-up state. She fell into trains of reverie, and
mournful regretful recollections which rendered her languid and
tearful. This was noticed both by Miss Benson and Sally, and as
each had kind sympathies, and felt depressed when they saw any
one near them depressed, and as each, without much reasoning on
the cause or reason for such depression, felt irritated at the
uncomfortable state into which they themselves were thrown, they
both resolved to speak to Ruth on the next fitting occasion.
Accordingly, one afternoon--the morning of that day had been
spent by Ruth in house-work, for she had insisted on Mr. Benson's
words, and had taken Miss Benson's share of the more active and
fatiguing household duties, but she went through them heavily,
and as if her heart was far away--in the afternoon when she was
nursing her child, Sally, on coming into the back parlour, found
her there alone, and easily detected the fact that she was
crying.
"Where's Miss Benson?" asked Sally gruffly.
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