She bade the inmates of the hospital farewell, and after
carefully submitting herself to the purification recommended by
Mr. Davis, the principal surgeon of the place, who had always
attended Leonard, she returned to Mr. Benson's just at gloaming
time.
They each vied with the other in the tenderest cares. They
hastened tea; they wheeled the sofa to the fire; they made her
lie down; and to all she submitted with the docility of a child;
and, when the candles came, even Mr. Benson's anxious eye could
see no change in her looks, but that she seemed a little paler.
The eyes were as full of spiritual light, the gently parted lips
as rosy, and the smile, if more rare, yet as sweet as ever.
CHAPTER XXXIV
"I MUST GO AND NURSE MR. BELLINGHAM"
The next morning Miss Benson would insist upon making Ruth lie
down on the sofa. Ruth longed to do many things; to be much more
active; but she submitted, when she found that it would gratify
Miss Faith if she remained as quiet as if she were really an
invalid.
Leonard sat by her holding her hand. Every now and then he looked
up from his book, as if to make sure that she indeed was restored
to him. He had brought her down the flowers which she had given
him the day of her departure, and which he had kept in water as
long as they had any greenness or fragrance, and then had
carefully dried and put by. She too, smiling, had produced the
one rose which she had carried away to the hospital.
Pages:
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573