rvest moon was at her full, was
scarcely perceptible. On Saturday morning the answer came.

DEAREST THURSTAN,--Your incomprehensible summons has just
reached me, and I obey, thereby proving my right to my
name of Faith. I shall be with you almost as soon as this
letter. I cannot help feeling anxious, as well as curious.
I have money enough, and it is well I have; for Sally, who
guards your room like a dragon, would rather see me walk
the whole way, than have any of your things disturbed.

Your affectionate sister,

FAITH BENSON.

It was a great relief to Mr Benson to think that his sister would so
soon be with him. He had been accustomed from childhood to rely on
her prompt judgment and excellent sense; and to her care he felt that
Ruth ought to be consigned, as it was too much to go on taxing good
Mrs Hughes with night watching and sick nursing, with all her other
claims on her time. He asked her once more to sit by Ruth, while he
went to meet his sister.

The coach passed by the foot of the steep ascent which led up to
Llan-dhu. He took a boy to carry his sister's luggage when she
arrived; they were too soon at the bottom of the hill, and the boy
began to make ducks and drakes in the shallowest part of the stream,
which there flowed glassy and smooth, while Mr Benson sat down on a
great stone, under the shadow of an alder bush which grew where the
green, flat meadow skirted the water. It was delightful to be once
more in the open air, and away from the scenes and thoughts which had
been pressing on him for the last three days. There was new beauty in
everything: from the blue mountains which glimmered in the distant
sunlight, down to the flat, rich, peaceful vale, with its calm round
shadows, where he sat. The very margin of white pebbles which lay on
the banks of the stream had a sort of cleanly beauty about it. He
felt calmer and more at ease than he had done for some days; and yet,
when he began to think, it was rather a strange story which he had to
tell his sister, in order to account for his urgent summons. Here was
he, sole friend and guardian of a poor sick girl, whose very name he
did not know; about whom all that he did know was, that she had been
the mistress of a man who had deserted her, and that he feared--he
believed--she had contemplated suicide. The offence, too, was one for
which his sister, good and kind as she was, had little compassion.
Well, he must appeal to