It was what must be an inevitable consequence of what had
been; and Ruth had to be patient, and pray in secret, and with
many tears, for the strength she needed.
She knew what it was to dread the going out into the streets
after her story had become known. For days and days she had
silently shrunk from this effort. But, one evening towards dusk,
Miss Benson was busy, and asked her to go an errand for her; and
Ruth, got up and silently obeyed her. That silence as to inward
suffering was only one part of her peculiar and exquisite
sweetness of nature; part of the patience with which she
"accepted her penance." Her true instincts told her that it was
not right to disturb others with many expressions of her remorse;
that the holiest repentance consisted in a quiet and daily
sacrifice. Still there were times when she wearied pitifully of
her inaction. She was so willing to serve and work, and every one
despised her services. Her mind, as I have said before, had been
well cultivated during these last few years; so now she used all
the knowledge she had gained in teaching Leonard, which was an
employment that Mr. Benson relinquished willingly, because he
felt that it would give her some of the occupation that she
needed. She endeavoured to make herself useful in the house in
every way she could; but the waters of house-keeping had closed
over her place during the time of her absence at Mr.
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