All that night there was a faint light burning in Ruth’s room—the room where everything reminded her of the husband who had set out on a perilous journey from whence he might never return.
And all that night, with tears and sobs, Ruth knelt and prayed—prayed as she had never prayed before to the God she worshipped—for help and succour in this, the darkest hour of her life.
Late that evening Squire Heritage called at Mr. Seth Preene’s house.
Seth started up in astonishment.
‘Why, whatever brings you up to town?’
‘The worst,’ answered the squire. ‘Gurth Egerton is back, and knows all. He will split to-morrow.’
‘How do you know?’ gasped Preene,
‘A woman has split on the plot,’ answered the squire. ‘There s only one chance now. Do you know where Egerton is?’
‘Yes, at his house—at Birnie’s that is now.’