In this respect, Miss
Benson had more faith than her brother--or so it seemed; for
quick, resolute action in the next step of Life was all she
required, while he deliberated and trembled, and often did wrong
from his very deliberation, when his first instinct would have
led him right.
But, although decided and prompt as ever, Miss Benson was grown
older since the summer afternoon when she dismounted from the
coach at the foot of the long Welsh hill that led to Llan-dhu,
where her brother awaited her to consult her about Ruth. Though
her eye was as bright and straight-looking as ever, quick and
brave in its glances, her hair had become almost snowy white; and
it was on this point she consulted Sally, soon after the date of
Leonard's last untruth. The two were arranging Miss Benson's room
one morning, when, after dusting the looking-glass, she suddenly
stopped in her operation, and after a close inspection of
herself, startled Sally by this speech--
"Sally! I'm looking a great deal older than I used to do!"
Sally, who was busy dilating on the increased price of flour,
considered this remark of Miss Benson's as strangely irrelevant
to the matter in hand, and only noticed it by a--
"To be sure! I suppose we all on us do. But two-and-fourpence a
dozen is too much to make us pay for it."
Miss Benson went on with her inspection of herself, and Sally
with her economical projects.
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