aunted
his dreams; he spoke, but his voice refused to utter aloud; and she
fled, relentless, to the deep, black pool.

But God works in His own way.

The visions melted into deep, unconscious sleep. He was awakened by a
knock at the door, which seemed a repetition of what he had heard in
his last sleeping moments.

It was Mrs Hughes. She stood at the first word of permission within
the room.

"Please, sir, I think the young lady is very ill indeed, sir; perhaps
you would please to come to her."

"How is she ill?" said he, much alarmed.

"Quite quiet-like, sir; but I think she is dying, that's all, indeed,
sir!"

"Go away, I will be with you directly!" he replied, his heart sinking
within him.

In a very short time he was standing with Mrs Hughes by Ruth's
bedside. She lay as still as if she were dead, her eyes shut, her wan
face numbed into a fixed anguish of expression. She did not speak
when they spoke, though after a while they thought she strove to
do so. But all power of motion and utterance had left her. She was
dressed in everything, except her bonnet, as she had been the day
before; although sweet, thoughtful Mrs Hughes had provided her with
nightgear, which lay on the little chest of drawers that served as
a dressing-table. Mr Benson lifted up her arm to feel her feeble,
fluttering pulse; and when he let go her hand, it fell upon the bed
in a dull, heavy way, as if she were already dead.

"You gave her some food?" said he, anxiously, to Mrs Hughes.

"Indeed, and I offered her the best in the house, but she shook her
poor pretty head, and only asked if I would please to get her a cup
of water. I brought her some milk though, and 'deed, I think she'd
rather have had the water; but not to seem sour and cross, she took
some milk." By this time Mrs Hughes was fairly crying.

"When does the doctor come up here?"

"Indeed, sir, and he's up nearly every day now, the inn is so full."

"I'll go for him. And can you manage to undress her and lay her in
bed? Open the window too, and let in the air; if her feet are cold,
put bottles of hot water to them."

It was a proof of the true love, which was the nature of both, that
it never crossed their minds to regret that this poor young creature
had been thus thrown upon their hands. On the contrary, Mrs Hughes
called it "a blessing."

"It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes."

CHAPTER X

A Note and the Answer

At the inn everything