"Go and tell your uncle," said Miss Benson to Leonard.
"Stop, my boy! I have just met Mr. Benson in the street, and my
errand now is to your mother. I should like you to remain and
hear what it is; and I am sure that my business will give these
ladies,"--bowing to Miss Benson and Jemima--"so much pleasure,
that I need not apologise for entering upon it in their
presence." He pulled out his double eye-glass, saying, with a
grave smile--
"You ran away from us yesterday so quietly and cunningly, Mrs.
Denbigh, that you were, perhaps, not aware that the Board was
sitting at that very time, and trying to form a vote sufficiently
expressive of our gratitude to you. As chairman, they requested
me to present you with this letter, which I shall have the
pleasure of reading."
With all due emphasis he read aloud a formal letter from the
Secretary to the Infirmary, conveying a vote of thanks to Ruth.
The good rector did not spare her one word, from date to
signature; and then, folding the letter up, he gave it to
Leonard, saying--
"There, sir! when you are an old man, you may read that testimony
to your mother's noble conduct with pride and pleasure. For,
indeed," continued he, turning to Jemima, "no words can express
the relief it was to us. I speak of the gentlemen composing the
Board of the Infirmary. When Mrs. Denbigh came forward, the panic
was at its height, and the alarm of course aggravated the
disorder.
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