On the hard, echoing sands, and distinct from the ceaseless murmur of the salt sea waves, came footsteps--nearer--nearer. Very near they were when Ruth, unwilling to show the fear that rioted in her heart, turned round, and faced Mr Donne.
He came forward, with both hands extended.
"This is kind! my own Ruth," said he. Ruth's arms hung down motionless at her sides.
"Why, you little revengeful creature! And so I am to explain all before you will even treat me with decent civility."
"I do not want explanations," said Ruth, in a trembling tone. "We must not speak of the past. You asked me to come in Leonard's--in my child's name, and to hear what you had to say about him."
"But what I have to say about him relates to you even more. And how can we talk about him without recurring to the past? That past, which you try to ignore--I know you cannot do it in your heart--is full of happy recollections to me. Were you not happy in Wales?" he said, in his tenderest tone.
But there was no answer; not even one faint sigh, though he listened intently.
"You dare not speak; you dare not answer me. Your heart will not allow you to prevaricate, and you know you were happy."
Suddenly Ruth's beautiful eyes were raised to him, full of lucid splendour, but grave and serious in their expression; and her cheeks, heretofore so faintly tinged with the tenderest blush, flashed into a ruddy glow.
"I was happy. I do not deny it. Whatever comes, I will not blench from the truth. I have answered you."
"And yet," replied he, secretly exulting in her admission, and not perceiving the inner strength of which she must have been conscious before she would have dared to make it--"and yet, Ruth, we are not to recur to the past! Why not? If it was happy at the time, is the recollection of it so miserable to you?"
He tried once more to take her hand, but she quietly stepped back.
"I came to hear what you had to say about my child," said she, beginning to feel very weary.
She drew herself up, and her face went very pale.
"What have you to say about him?" asked she, coldly.
"Much," exclaimed he--"much that may affect his whole life. But it all depends upon whether you will hear me or not."
"Good Heavens! Ruth, you will drive me mad. Oh! what a changed person you are from the sweet, loving creature you were! I wish you were not so beautiful." She did not reply, but he caught a deep, involuntary sigh.