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Peter composed his countenance in a moment, and appeared shocked at the idea, which, as he said truly enough, was now presented to him for the first time; but then Mrs Jamieson must remember that he had been living for a long time among savages—all of whom were heathens—some of them, he was afraid, were downright Dissenters. Then, seeing Miss Matty draw near, he hastily changed the conversation, and after a little while, turning to me, he said, “Don’t be shocked, prim little Mary, at all my wonderful stories. I consider Mrs Jamieson fair game, and besides I am bent on propitiating her, and the first step towards it is keeping her well awake. I bribed her here by asking her to let me have her name as patroness for my poor conjuror this evening; and I don’t want to give her time enough to get up her rancour against the Hogginses, who are just coming in. I want everybody to be friends, for it harasses Matty so much to hear of these quarrels. I shall go at it again by-and-by, so you need not look shocked. I intend to enter the Assembly Room to-night with Mrs Jamieson on one side, and my lady, Mrs Hoggins, on the other. You see if I don’t.”

      Somehow or another he did; and fairly got them into conversation together. Major and Mrs Gordon helped at the good work with their perfect ignorance of any existing coolness between any of the inhabitants of Cranford.

      Ever since that day there has been the old friendly sociability in Cranford society; which I am thankful for, because of my dear Miss Matty’s love of peace and kindliness. We all love Miss Matty, and I somehow think we are all of us better when she is near us.

      Ruth

       Table of Contents

by

Table of Contents

       I. The Dressmaker's Apprentice at Work

       II. Ruth Goes to the Shire-Hall

       III. Sunday at Mrs Mason's

       IV. Treading in Perilous Places

       V. In North Walesz

       VI. Troubles Gather About Ruth

       VII. The Crisis—Watching and Waiting

       VIII. Mrs Bellingham "Does the Thing Handsomely"

       IX. The Storm-Spirit Subdued

       X. A Note and the Answer

       XI. Thurstan and Faith Benson

       XII. Losing Sight of the Welsh Mountains

       XIII. The Dissenting Minister's Household

       XIV. Ruth's First Sunday at Eccleston

       XV. Mother and Child

       XVI. Sally Tells of Her Sweethearts, and Discourses on the Duties of Life

       XVII. Leonard's Christening

       XVIII. Ruth Becomes a Governess in Mr Bradshaw's Family

       XIX. After Five Years

       XX. Jemima Refuses to Be Managed

       XXI. Mr Farquhar's Attentions Transferred

       XXII. The Liberal Candidate and His Precursor

       XXIII. Recognition

       XXIV. The Meeting on the Sands

       XXV. Jemima Makes a Discovery

       XXVI. Mr Bradshaw's Virtuous Indignation

       XXVII. Preparing to Stand on the Truth

       XXVIII. An Understanding Between Lovers

       XXIX. Sally Takes Her Money Out of the Bank

       XXX. The Forged Deed

       XXXI. An Accident to the Dover Coach

       XXXII. The Bradshaw Pew Again Occupied

       XXXIII. A Mother to Be Proud Of

       XXXIV. "I Must Go and Nurse Mr Bellingham"

       XXXV. Out of Darkness into Light

       XXXVI. The End

      Drop, drop, slow tears!

       And bathe those beauteous feet,

       Which brought from heaven

       The news and Prince of peace.

       Cease not, wet eyes,

       For mercy to entreat:

       To cry for vengeance

       Sin doth never cease.

       In your deep floods

       Drown all my faults and fears;

       Nor let His eye

       See sin, but through my tears.

      Phineas Fletcher

      Chapter I.

       The Dressmaker's Apprentice at Work

       Table

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