hy, Thurstan, there is something so shocking the matter, that I
cannot tell you."

Mr Benson changed colour with affright. All things possible and
impossible crossed his mind but the right one. I said, "all things
possible;" I made a mistake. He never believed Ruth to be more guilty
than she seemed.

"Faith, I wish you would tell me, and not bewilder me with those
noises of yours," said he, nervously.

"I beg your pardon; but something so shocking has just been
discovered--I don't know how to word it--She will have a child. The
doctor says so."

She was allowed to make noises unnoticed for a few minutes. Her
brother did not speak. At last she wanted his sympathy.

"Isn't it shocking, Thurstan? You might have knocked me down with a
straw when he told me."

"Does she know?"

"Yes; and I am not sure that that isn't the worst part of all."

"How?--what do you mean?"

"Oh! I was just beginning to have a good opinion of her, but I'm
afraid she is very depraved. After the doctor was gone, she pulled
the bed-curtain aside, and looked as if she wanted to speak to me. (I
can't think how she heard, for we were close to the window, and spoke
very low.) Well, I went to her, though I really had taken quite a
turn against her. And she whispered, quite eagerly, 'Did he say I
should have a baby?' Of course, I could not keep it from her; but I
thought it my duty to look as cold and severe as I could. She did not
seem to understand how it ought to be viewed, but took it just as if
she had a right to have a baby. She said, 'Oh, my God, I thank Thee!
Oh! I will be so good!' I had no patience with her then, so I left
the room."

"Who is with her?"

"Mrs Hughes. She is not seeing the thing in a moral light, as I
should have expected."

Mr Benson was silent again. After some time he began:

"Faith, I don't see this affair quite as you do. I believe I am
right."

"You surprise me, brother! I don't understand you."

"Wait awhile! I want to make my feelings very clear to you, but I
don't know where to begin, or how to express myself."

"It is, indeed, an extraordinary subject for us to have to talk
about; but if once I get clear of this girl, I'll wash my hands of
all such cases again."

Her brother was not attending to her; he was reducing his own ideas
to form.

"Faith, do you know I rejoice in this child's advent?"

"May God forgive you, Thurstan!--if you know what you are saying.
But, surely, it is a temptation, de