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The man in possession has informed me that, besides the rent owing, he heard that there was a bill of sale on the furniture and that, if the rent were paid to-morrow, the furniture would be seized for the other debt. Ruth, you have not heard all, and I have not the courage to tell you. I have this morning, she continued, "received this letter from Mr. Morecombe. Read it, and then tell me whether I have not cause to be unhappy."

Charity here placed the letter in Ruth's hand, who was horrified at its contents. It appeared to be the production of an utterly reckless and ruined man. He told his wife that it was perfectly useless ro disguise matters longer — he had lost everything, and had not now a shilling in the world. Things, for some time past, had been going from bad to worse with him, and if she did not obtain some assistance from her father, it would be impossible for him to return home, as judgment had been taken out against him for more than one debt, and the bailiffs were already on his track. [627]

Bibliography

Gilbert, William. Ruth Thornbury; or the Old Maid's Story. Good Words (October-December 1866): 324-32, 482-92, 562-75, 622-36, 710-20, 779-92, 852-61.

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