His voice retained something of its former influence.
When he spoke, without her seeing him, she could not help
remembering former days.
She did not answer this last speech any more than the first. She
saw clearly, that, putting aside all thought as to the character
of their former relationship, it had been dissolved by his
will--his act and deed; and that, therefore, the power to refuse
any further intercourse whatsoever remained with her.
It sometimes seems a little strange how, after having earnestly
prayed to be delivered from temptation, and having given
ourselves with shut eyes into God's hand, from that time every
thought, every outward influence, every acknowledged law of life,
seems to lead us on from strength to strength. It seems strange
sometimes, because we notice the coincidence; but it is the
natural, unavoidable consequence of all, truth and goodness being
one and the same, and therefore carried out in every
circumstance, external and internal, of God's creation. When Mr.
Donne saw that Ruth would not answer him, he became only the more
determined that she should hear what he had to say. What that was
he did not exactly know. The whole affair was most mysterious and
piquant.
The umbrella protected Ruth from more than the rain on that walk
homewards, for under its shelter she could not be spoken to
unheard. She had not rightly understood at what time she and the
girls were to dine.
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