Heavenly Father can afford in the darkest hour.
No wonder that courage and hope nearly died out of her stricken heart.
The days went by, and John made no attempt to bridge the chasm between
himself and Ruth. She knew he was making preparations for speedily
leaving England. She also knew that whenever he returned from visiting
his father's home, he was more or less the worse for drink. As usual,
she stayed up for him, and kept her knowledge of his condition from her
fellow-servants, though she could not hide from them that the
relationship between them had changed.

"You're not treating that girl well, I believe," said cook sharply to
John one day; "you'll never meet her equal again, though you may cross
the seas."

"Mind your own business," angrily retorted John, following Ruth into the
garden.

"Have you anything to say to me, Ruth? I'm going home to-morrow, and I
expect to sail next week," he said. If his tone had been less hard, Ruth
might have ventured to plead again with him, but she simply said:

"No, John, I have said all that I mean to, except that I wish you all
success and happiness."

"Same to you, Ruth," dryly responded John, and turned on his heel.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER V.

A CHANGE OF OPINIONS AND OF HOUSEMAIDS.

"I CAN'T think what's come to Ruth," said Mr. Groombridge one day, at
dinner-time, about six months after John Greenwood had sailed for
Australia; "she's lost all her brightness, and goes about the house as
white and silent as a ghost."

"She is greatly changed, poor girl, and though I cannot get her to
confess it, cook tells me there was some misunderstanding between her
and John, and that she has not heard from him since he sailed," replied
his wife.

"She told me the other day he had arrived safely and was doing well in a
store," said Harry.

"She would hear all that from his parents; but, my dear, you had better
try and win the girl's confidence, and see if you can do anything. It's
a thousand pities for a young thing to mope and pine away her best
years, when a little advice may set matters right, and make two people
happy."

"I'll do what I can, but I'm afraid it will not be of much use," said
Mrs. Groombridge.

"Ruth," she said, when retiring that evening, "I want you to do one or
two little things in my room."

"Yes, ma'am," replied Ruth, and followed her mistress upstairs. As she
was flitting about the bedroom Mrs. Groombridge sudden