 and so proud, and glad,« she said, clasping her
little hands. »But so surprised! I am sure he had never thought of such a
thing.«
    Of course John asked her immediately - because you know they were in that
foolish state when great allowances must be made - when she had begun to think
of such a thing, and this made a little diversion in their talk; a charming
diversion to them, but not so interesting to us; at the end of which, they came
back to Tom again.
    »Ah! dear Tom!« said Ruth. »I suppose I ought to tell you everything now. I
should have no secrets from you. Should I, John, love?«
    It is of no use saying how that preposterous John answered her, because he
answered in a manner which is untranslatable on paper, though highly
satisfactory in itself. But what he conveyed was, No no no, sweet Ruth; or
something to that effect.
    Then she told him Tom's great secret; not exactly saying how she had found
it out, but leaving him to understand it if he liked; and John was sadly grieved
to hear it, and was full of sympathy and sorrow. But they would try, he said,
only the more, on this account, to make him happy, and to beguile him with his
favourite pursuits. And then, in all the confidence of such a time, he told her
how he had a capital opportunity of establishing himself in his old profession
in the country; and how he had been thinking, in the event of that happiness
coming upon him which had actually come - there was another slight diversion
here - how he had been thinking that it would afford occupation to Tom, and
enable them to live together in the easiest manner, without any sense of
dependence on Tom's part; and to be as happy as the day was long. And Ruth
receiving this with joy, they went on catering for Tom to that extent that they
had already purchased him a select library and built him an organ, on which he
was performing with the greatest satisfaction: when they heard him knocking at
the door.
    Though she longed to tell him what had happened, poor little Ruth was
greatly agitated by his arrival; the more so because she knew that Mr.
Chuzzlewit was with him. So she said, all in a tremble:
    »What shall I do, dear John! I can't bear that he should hear it from any
one but me, and I could not tell him, unless
