
and what he is.«
    »But Walter says he is both stronger in health, and not so - nervous and
shy;« Jemima added the last words in a hesitating and doubtful manner, as if she
did not know how to express her full meaning without hurting Ruth.
    »He does not show that he feels his disgrace so much. I cannot talk about
it, Jemima, my heart aches so about him. But he is better,« she continued,
feeling that Jemima's kind anxiety required an answer at any cost of pain to
herself. »He is only studying too closely now; he takes to his lessons evidently
as a relief from thought. He is very clever, and I hope and trust, yet I tremble
to say it, I believe he is very good.«
    »You must let him come and see us very often when we come back. We shall be
two months away. We are going to Germany, partly on Walter's business. Ruth, I
have been talking to papa to-night, very seriously and quietly; and it has made
me love him so much more, and understand him so much better.«
    »Does he know of your coming here? I hope he does,« said Ruth.
    »Yes. Not that he liked my doing it at all. But, somehow, I can always do
things against a person's wishes more easily when I am on good terms with them -
that's not exactly what I meant; but now to-night, after papa had had been
showing me that he really loved me more than I ever thought he had done (for I
always fancied he was so absorbed in Dick, he did not care much for us girls), I
felt brave enough to say that I intended to come here and bid you all good-bye.
He was silent for a minute, and then said I might do it, but I must remember he
did not approve of it, and was not to be compromised by my coming; still I can
tell that, at the bottom of his heart, there is some of the old kindly feeling
to Mr. and Miss Benson, and I don't despair of its all being made up, though,
perhaps, I ought to say that mamma does.«
    »Mr. and Miss Benson won't hear of my going away,« said Ruth sadly.
    »They are quite right.«
    »But I am earning nothing. I cannot get any employment. I am only a burden
and an expense
