But I'm afeard she's treading in perilous places.

I'll put my missis up to going to the town and getting speech of her, and telling her a bit of her danger.

An old motherly woman like our Mary will set about it better nor a stupid fellow like me." The poor old labourer prayed long and earnestly that night for Ruth.
He called it "wrestling for her soul;" and I think his prayers were heard, for "God judgeth not as man judgeth." Ruth went on her way, all unconscious of the dark phantoms of the future that were gathering around her; her melancholy turned, with the pliancy of childish years, at sixteen not yet lost, into a softened manner which was infinitely charming.

By-and-by she cleared up into sunny happiness.

The evening was still and full of mellow light, and the new-born summer was so delicious that, in common with all young creatures, she shared its influence and was glad.
They stood together at the top of a steep ascent, "the hill" of the hundred.