;
and something in his manner impressed this on his mother, for she immediately
changed her mode of attack.
    »We may as well drop all dispute as to the young woman's manners; but I
suppose you do not mean to defend your connection with her; I suppose you are
not so lost to all sense of propriety as to imagine it fit or desirable that
your mother and this degraded girl should remain under the same roof, liable to
meet at any hour of the day?« She waited for an answer, but no answer came.
    »I ask you a simple question; is it, or is it not, desirable?«
    »I suppose it is not,« he replied gloomily.
    »And I suppose, from your manner, that you think the difficulty would be
best solved by my taking my departure, and leaving you with your vicious
companion?«
    Again no answer, but inward and increasing annoyance, of which Mr.
Bellingham considered Ruth the cause. At length he spoke -
    »Mother, you are not helping me in my difficulty. I have no desire to banish
you, nor to hurt you, after all your care for me. Ruth has not been so much to
blame as you imagine, that I must say; but I do not wish to see her again, if
you can tell me how to arrange it otherwise, without behaving unhandsomely. Only
spare me all this worry a while, I am so weak. I put myself in your hands.
Dismiss her, as you wish it; but let it be done handsomely, and let me hear no
more about it; I cannot bear it; let me have a quiet life, without being
lectured, while I am pent up here, and unable to shake off unpleasant thoughts.«
    »My dear Henry, rely upon me.«
    »No more, mother; it's a bad business, and I can hardly avoid blaming myself
in the matter. I don't want to dwell upon it.«
    »Don't be too severe in your self-reproaches while you are so feeble, dear
Henry; it is right to repent, but I have no doubt in my own mind she led you
wrong with her artifices. But, as you say, everything should be done handsomely.
I confess I was deeply grieved when I first heard of the affair, but since I
have seen the girl -- Well! I'll say no more about her, since I see it
displeases you; but I am thankful to God that you see the error
