cal question. Where could the watch be sold? Suddenly her face
brightened.

"Mr Jones, the doctor, is going to be married, perhaps he would like
nothing better than to give this pretty watch to his bride; indeed,
and I think it's very likely; and he'll pay money for it as well as
letting alone his bill. I'll ask him, sir, at any rate."

Mr Jones was only too glad to obtain possession of so elegant a
present at so cheap a rate. He even, as Mrs Hughes had foretold,
"paid money for it;" more than was required to defray the expenses
of Ruth's accommodation; as the most of the articles of food she had
were paid for at the time by Mr or Miss Benson, but they strictly
forbade Mrs Hughes to tell Ruth of this.

"Would you object to my buying you a black gown?" said Miss Benson to
her the day after the sale of the watch. She hesitated a little, and
then went on:

"My brother and I think it would be better to call you--as if in fact
you were--a widow. It will save much awkwardness, and it will spare
your child much--" Mortification she was going to have added, but
that word did not exactly do. But, at the mention of her child, Ruth
started and turned ruby-red; as she always did when allusion was made
to it.

"Oh, yes! certainly. Thank you much for thinking of it. Indeed," said
she, very low, as if to herself, "I don't know how to thank you for
all you are doing; but I do love you, and will pray for you, if I
may."

"If you may, Ruth!" repeated Miss Benson, in a tone of surprise.

"Yes, if I may. If you will let me pray for you."

"Certainly, my dear. My dear Ruth, you don't know how often I sin; I
do so wrong, with my few temptations. We are both of us great sinners
in the eyes of the Most Holy; let us pray for each other. Don't speak
so again, my dear; at least, not to me!"

Miss Benson was actually crying. She had always looked upon herself
as so inferior to her brother in real goodness; had seen such heights
above her, that she was distressed by Ruth's humility. After a short
time she resumed the subject.

"Then I may get you a black gown?--and we may call you Mrs Hilton?"

"No; not Mrs Hilton!" said Ruth, hastily.

Miss Benson, who had hitherto kept her eyes averted from Ruth's face
from a motive of kindly delicacy, now looked at her with surprise.

"Why not?" asked she.

"It was my mother's name," said Ruth, in a low voice. "I had better
not be called by it."

"Then, let us call you by my mother's name," s