Mrs Mason's displeasure seemed a distant thing; his going away was the present distress.

He went on: "Ruth, would you go with me to London?
My darling, I cannot leave you here without a home; the thought of leaving you at all is pain enough, but in these circumstances--so friendless, so homeless--it is impossible.

You must come with me, love, and trust to me." Still she did not speak.

Remember how young, and innocent, and motherless she was! It seemed to her as if it would be happiness enough to be with him; and as for the future, he would arrange and decide for that.

The future lay wrapped in a golden mist, which she did not care to penetrate; but if he, her sun, was out of sight and gone, the golden mist became dark heavy gloom, through which no hope could come.