And, if he had wronged her, his child would make amends.
Israel thought of this again and again.

The delicious hope pursued him.
It was his secret, and he never gave it speech.

But time passed, and no child was born.

And Ruth herself saw that she was barren, and she began to cast down her head before her husband.

Israel's hope was of longer life, but the truth dawned upon him at last.