Of a sudden she crept to a chair, and there knelt as in the very
presence of God, hiding her face, at first not speaking a word
(for did He not know her heart), but by-and-by moaning out, amid
her sobs and tears (and now for the first time she wept)--
"Oh, my God, help me, for I am very weak. My God! I pray Thee be
my rock and my strong fortress, for I of myself am nothing. If I
ask in His name, Thou wilt give it me. In the name of Jesus
Christ I pray for strength to do Thy will!"
She could not think, or, indeed, remember anything but that she
was weak, and God was strong, and "a very present help in time of
trouble;" and the wind rose yet higher, and the house shook and
vibrated as, in measured time, the great and terrible gusts came
from the four quarters of the heavens and blew around it, dying
away in the distance with loud and unearthly wails, which were
not utterly still before the sound of the coming blast was heard
like the trumpets of the vanguard of the Prince of Air.
There was a knock at the bedroom door--a little, gentle knock,
and a soft child's voice.
"Mrs. Denbigh, may I come in, please? I am so frightened!"
It was Elizabeth. Ruth calmed her passionate breathing by one
hasty draught of water, and opened the door to the timid girl.
"Oh, Mrs. Denbigh! did you ever hear such a night? I am so
frightened I and Mary sleeps so sound."
Ruth was too much shaken to be able to speak all at once; but she
took Elizabeth in her arms to reassure her.
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