ink of
others before themselves. Ruth had not understood that it was for
economy that their places had been taken on the outside of the coach,
while hers, as an invalid requiring rest, was to be the inside; and
that the biscuits which supplied the place of a dinner were, in fact,
chosen because the difference in price between the two would go a
little way towards fulfilling their plan for receiving her as an
inmate. Her thought about money had been hitherto a child's thought;
the subject had never touched her; but afterwards, when she had lived
a little with the Bensons, her eyes were opened, and she remembered
their simple kindness on the journey, and treasured the remembrance
of it in her heart.

A low grey cloud was the first sign of Eccleston; it was the smoke
of the town hanging over the plain. Beyond the place where she was
expected to believe it existed, arose round, waving uplands; nothing
to the fine outlines of the Welsh mountains, but still going up
nearer to heaven than the rest of the flat world into which she had
now entered. Rumbling stones, lamp-posts, a sudden stop, and they
were in the town of Eccleston; and a strange, uncouth voice, on the
dark side of the coach, was heard to say,

"Be ye there, measter?"

"Yes, yes!" said Miss Benson, quickly. "Did Sally send you, Ben? Get
the ostler's lantern, and look out the luggage."

CHAPTER XIII

The Dissenting Minister's Household

Miss Benson had resumed every morsel of the briskness which she had
rather lost in the middle of the day; her foot was on her native
stones, and a very rough set they were, and she was near her home and
among known people. Even Mr Benson spoke very cheerfully to Ben, and
made many inquiries of him respecting people whose names were strange
to Ruth. She was cold, and utterly weary. She took Miss Benson's
offered arm, and could hardly drag herself as far as the little quiet
street in which Mr Benson's house was situated. The street was so
quiet that their footsteps sounded like a loud disturbance, and
announced their approach as effectually as the "trumpet's lordly
blare" did the coming of Abdallah. A door flew open, and a lighted
passage stood before them. As soon as they had entered, a stout,
elderly servant emerged from behind the door, her face radiant with
welcome.

"Eh, bless ye! are ye back again? I thought I should ha' been lost
without ye."

She gave Mr Benson a hearty shake of the hand, and kissed Miss Be