He was awakened by a knock at the door, which seemed a repetition of what he had heard in his last sleeping moments.
It was Mrs Hughes.

She stood at the first word of permission within the room.
"Please, sir, I think the young lady is very ill indeed, sir; perhaps you would please to come to her." "How is she ill ?" said he, much alarmed.
"Quite quiet-like, sir; but I think she is dying, that's all, indeed, sir!" "Go away, I will be with you directly!" he replied, his heart sinking within him.
In a very short time he was standing with Mrs Hughes by Ruth's bedside.

She lay as still as if she were dead, her eyes shut, her wan face numbed into a fixed anguish of expression.

She did not speak when they spoke, though after a while they thought she strove to do so.

But all power of motion and utterance had left her.