I know I ought." She was
crying sadly by this time, but Mr. Benson knew the flow of tears
would ease her brain. "It will break my heart to go, but I know I
must."
"Sit still here at present," said he, in a decided tone of
command. He went for the cup of tea. He brought it to her without
Sally's being aware for whom it was intended.
"Drink this!" He spoke as you would do to a child, if desiring it
to take medicine. "Eat some toast." She took the tea, and drank
it feverishly; but when she tried to eat, the food seemed to
choke her. Still she was docile, and she tried.
"I cannot," said she at last, putting down the piece of toast.
There was a return of something of her usual tone in the words.
She spoke gently and softly; no longer in the shrill, hoarse
voice she had used at first. Mr. Benson sat down by her.
"Now, Ruth, we must talk a little together. I want to understand
what your plan was. Where is Helmsby? Why did you fix to go
there?"
"It is where my mother lived," she answered. "Before she was
married she lived there; and wherever she lived, the people all
loved her dearly; and I thought--I think, that for her sake, some
one would give me work. I meant to tell them the truth," said
she, dropping her eyes; "but still they would, perhaps, give me
some employment--I don't care what--for her sake. I could do many
things," said she, suddenly looking up. "I am sure I could
weed--I could in gardens--if they did not like to have me in
their houses.
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