 that have taken up my time.«
    »And yet I am tempted to give you another little commission, if it is not
taking up too much of your time, and presuming too much on your good nature,«
said he, a bright idea having just struck him. »Mrs. Mason lives in Heneage
Place, does not she? My mother's ancestors lived there; and once, when the house
was being repaired, she took me in to show me the old place. There was an old
hunting-piece painted on a panel over one of the chimney-pieces; the figures
were portraits of my ancestors. I have often thought I should like to purchase
it, if it still remained there. Can you ascertain this for me, and bring me word
next Sunday?«
    »Oh, yes, sir,« said Ruth, glad that this commission was completely within
her power to execute, and anxious to make up for her previous seeming neglect.
»I'll look directly I get home, and ask Mrs. Mason to write and let you know.«
    »Thank you,« said he, only half satisfied; »I think, perhaps, however, it
might be as well not to trouble Mrs. Mason about it: you see it would compromise
me, and I am not quite determined to purchase the picture; if you would
ascertain whether the painting is there, and tell me, I would take a little time
to reflect, and afterwards I could apply to Mrs. Mason myself.«
    »Very well, sir; I will see about it.« So they parted.
    Before the next Sunday Mrs. Wood had taken her daughter to her distant home,
to recruit in that quiet place. Ruth watched her down the street from an upper
window, and, sighing deep and long, returned to the workroom, whence the warning
voice and gentle wisdom had departed.
 

                                  Chapter III

                             Sunday at Mrs. Mason's

Mr. Bellingham attended afternoon service at St. Nicholas' church the next
Sunday. His thoughts had been far more occupied by Ruth than hers by him,
although his appearance upon the scene of her life was more an event to her than
it was to him. He was puzzled by the impression she had produced on him, though
he did not in general analyse the nature of his feelings, but simply enjoyed
them with the delight which youth takes in experiencing new and strong emotion.
    He was old compared to Ruth, but young as a man; hardly three-and-twenty.
The fact of his being an
