. Bradshaw,
though he bowed in a distant manner when he and Mr. Benson met face to face,
shunned him as often as he possibly could. All that happened in the household,
which once was as patent to him as his own, was now a sealed book; he heard of
its doings by chance, if he heard at all. Just at the time when he was feeling
the most depressed from this cause, he met Jemima at a sudden turn of the
street. He was uncertain for a moment how to accost her, but she saved him all
doubt; in an instant she had his hand in both of hers, her face flushed with
honest delight.
    »Oh, Mr. Benson, I am so glad to see you! I have so wanted to know all about
you. How is poor Ruth? dear Ruth! I wonder if she has forgiven me my cruelty to
her? And I may not go to her now, when I should be so glad and thankful to make
up for it.«
    »I never heard you had been cruel to her. I am sure she does not think so.«
    »She ought; she must. What is she doing? Oh! I have so much to ask, I can
never hear enough; and papa says« - she hesitated a moment, afraid of giving
pain, and then, believing that they would understand the state of affairs, and
the reason for her behaviour better if she told the truth, she went on - »Papa
says I must not go to your house - I suppose it's right to obey him?«
    »Certainly, my dear. It is your clear duty. We know how you feel towards
us.«
    »Oh! but if I could do any good - if I could be of any use or comfort to any
of you - especially to Ruth, I should come, duty or not. I believe it would be
my duty,« said she, hurrying on to try and stop any decided prohibition from Mr.
Benson. »No! don't be afraid; I won't come till I know I can do some good. I
hear bits about you through Sally every now and then, or I could not have waited
so long. Mr. Benson,« continued she, reddening very much, »I think you did quite
right about poor Ruth.«
    »Not in the falsehood, my dear.«
    »No! not perhaps in that. I was not thinking of that. But I have been
thinking a great deal
