the afternoon's event), her whole thoughts bent upon rightly
understanding and following out his wishes for the little boy's
welfare; and until now this had been the first object in his own
mind. But at this moment the strong perception of Ruth's
exceeding beauty came again upon him. He almost lost the sense of
what he was saying, he was so startled with admiration. The night
before, he had not seen her eyes; and now they looked straight
and innocently full at him, grave, earnest, and deep. But when
she instinctively read the change in the expression of his
countenance, she dropped her large white veiling lids; and he
thought her face was lovelier still. The irresistible impulse
seized him to arrange matters, so that he might see her again
before long.

"No!" said he. "I see it would he better that you should keep the
purse. Many things may be wanted for the lad which we cannot
calculate upon now. If I remember rightly, there are three
sovereigns and some loose change; I shall, perhaps, see you again
in a few days, when, if there he any money left in the purse, you
can restore it to me."

"Oh, yes, sir," said Ruth, alive to the magnitude of the wants to
which she might have to administer, and yet rather afraid of the
responsibility implied in the possession of so much money.

"Is there any chance of my meeting you again in this house?"
asked he.

"I hope to come whenever I can, sir; but I must run in
errand-times, and I don't know when my turn may be."