The three quiet people knelt down side by side, and two of them prayed earnestly for “them that had gone astray.”  Before ten o’clock, the household were in bed.  Ruth, sleepless, weary, restless with the oppression of a sorrow which she dared not face and contemplate bravely, kept awake all the early part of the night.  Many a time did she rise, and go to the long casement window, and looked abroad over the still and quiet town—­over the grey stone walls, and chimneys, and old high-pointed roofs—­on to the far-away hilly line of the horizon, lying calm under the bright moonshine.  It was late in the morning when she woke from her long-deferred slumbers; and when she went downstairs, she found Mr. and Miss Benson awaiting her in the parlour.  That homely, pretty, old-fashioned little room!  How bright and still and clean it looked!  The window (all the windows at the hack of the house were casements) was open, to let in the sweet morning air, and streaming eastern sunshine.  The long jessamine sprays, with their white-scented stars, forced themselves almost into the room.  The little square garden beyond, with grey stone walls all round, was rich and mellow in its autumnal colouring, running from deep crimson hollyhocks up to amber and gold nasturtiums, and all toned down by the clear and delicate air.  It was so still, that the gossamer-webs, laden with dew, did not tremble or quiver in the least; but the sun was drawing to himself the sweet incense of many flowers, and the parlour was scented with the odours of mignonette and stocks.  Miss Benson was arranging a bunch of China and damask roses in an old-fashioned jar; they lay, all dewy and fresh, on the white breakfast-cloth when Ruth entered.  Mr. Benson was reading in some large folio.  With gentle morning speech they greeted her; but the quiet repose of the scene was instantly broken by Sally popping in from the kitchen, and glancing at Ruth with sharp reproach.  She said—­

“I reckon I may bring in breakfast, now?” with a strong emphasis on the last word.

“I am afraid I am very late,” said Ruth.

“Oh, never mind,” said Mr. Benson gently.  “It was our fault for not telling you our breakfast hour.  We always have prayers at half-past seven; and for Sally’s sake, we never vary from that time; for she can so arrange her work, if she knows the hour of prayers, as to have her mind calm and untroubled.”

“Ahem!” said Miss Benson, rather inclined to “testify” against the invariable calmness of Sally’s mind at any hour of the day; but her brother went on as if he did not hear her.

“But the breakfast does not signify being delayed a little; and I am sure you were sadly tired with your long day yesterday.”

Sally came slapping in, and put down some withered, tough, dry toast, with—­

“It’s not my doing if it is like leather”; but as no one appeared to hear her, she withdrew to her kitchen, leaving Ruth’s cheeks like crimson at the annoyance she had caused.