the bond between them. But Ruth's loving disposition, continually
sending forth fibres in search of nutriment, found no other
object for regard among those of her daily life to compensate for
the want of natural ties.

But, almost insensibly, Jenny's place in Ruth's heart was filled
up; there was some one who listened with tender interest to all
her little revelations; who questioned her about her early days
of happiness, and, in return, spoke of his own childhood--not so
golden in reality as Ruth's, but more dazzling, when recounted
with stories of the beautiful cream-coloured Arabian pony, and
the old picture-gallery in the house, and avenues, and terraces,
and fountains in the garden, for Ruth to paint, with all the
vividness of imagination, as scenery and background for the
figure which was growing by slow degrees most prominent in her
thoughts.

It must not be supposed that this was affected all at once,
though the intermediate stages have been passed over. On Sunday,
Mr. Bellingham only spoke to her to receive the information about
the panel; nor did he come to St. Nicholas' the next, nor yet the
following Sunday. But the third he walked by her side a little
way, and, seeing her annoyance, he left her; and then she wished
for him back again, and found the day very dreary, and wondered
why a strange, undefined feeling, had made her imagine she was
doing wrong in walking alongside of one so kind and good as Mr.
Bellingham; it had been very foolish of her to be self-conscious
all the time, and if ever he spoke to her again she would not
think of what people might say, but enjoy the pleasure which his
kind words and evident interest in her might give. Then she