But she was quite still and
mute.
"Ask me," said he, giving her a little shake. She did not speak.
Her eyes, fixed on the distant shore, were slowly filling with
tears. Suddenly a light came through the mist that obscured them,
and the shut lips parted. She saw some distant object that gave
her hope.
"It is Stephen Bromley," said she. "He is coming to his nets.
They say he is a very desperate, violent man, but he will protect
me."
"You obstinate, wilful creature!" said Mr. Donne, releasing his
grasp. "You forget that one word of mine could undeceive all
these good people at Eccleston; and that if I spoke out ever so
little, they would throw you off in an instant. Now!" he
continued, "do you understand how much you are in my power?"
"Mr. and Miss Benson know all--they have not thrown me off," Ruth
gasped out.
"Oh! for Leonard's sake! you would not be so cruel."
"Then do not be cruel to him--to me. Think once more!"
"I think once more." She spoke solemnly. "To save Leonard from
the shame and agony of knowing my disgrace I would lay down and
die. Oh! perhaps it would be best for him--for me, if I might; my
death would be a stingless grief--but to go back into sin would
be the real cruelty to him. The errors of my youth may be washed
away by my tears--it was so once when the gentle, blessed Christ
was upon earth; but now, if I went into wilful guilt, as you
would have me, how could I teach Leonard God's holy will? I
should not mind his knowing my past sin, compared to the awful
corruption it would be if he knew me living now, as you would
have me, lost to all fear of God----" Her speech was broken by
sobs.
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