"Oh! think there is nothing humbles one so much as undue praise.
While he was reading that letter, I could not help feeling how
many things I have done wrong! Could he know of--of what I have
been?" asked she, dropping her voice very low.
"Yes!" said Jemima, "he knew--everybody in Eccleston did
know--but the remembrance of those days is swept away. Miss
Benson," she continued, for she was anxious to turn the subject,
"you must be on my side, and persuade Ruth to come to Abermouth
for a few weeks. I want her and Leonard both to come."
"I'm afraid my brother will think that Leonard is missing his
lessons sadly. Just of late we could not wonder that the poor
child's heart was so full; but he must make haste, and get on all
the more for his idleness." Miss Benson piqued herself on being a
disciplinarian.
"Oh, as for lessons, Walter is so very anxious that you should
give way to his superior wisdom, Ruth, and let Leonard go to
school. He will send him to any school you fix upon, according to
the mode of life you plan for him."
"I have no plan," said Ruth. "I have no means of planning. All I
can do is to try and make him ready for anything."
"Well," said Jemima, "we must talk it over at Abermouth; for I am
sure you won't refuse to come, dearest, dear Ruth! Think of the
quiet, sunny days, and the still evenings, that we shall have
together, with little Rosa to tumble about among the fallen
leaves; and there's Leonard to have his first sight of the sea.
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