CHAPTER XVI.
For many years nothing had given Mr.Alwynn such heart-felt pleasure as the news Ruth had to tell him, as he drove her back next morning to Slumberleigh, behind Mrs.Alwynn's long-tailed ponies.
It was a still September morning, with a faint pearl sky and half-veiled silver sun.

Pale gleams of sunshine wandered across the busy harvest fields, and burnished the steel of the river.
Decisions of any kind rarely look their best after a sleepless night; but as Ruth saw the expression of happiness and relief that came into her uncle's face, when she told him what had happened, she felt again that she was glad--very glad.
"Oh, my dear! my dear!"-- Mr.Alwynn was driving the ponies first against the bank, and then into the opposite ditch--"how glad I am; how thankful! I had almost hoped, certainly; I wished so much to think it possible; but then, one can never tell.

Poor Dare! poor fellow! I used to be so sorry for him.

And how much you will be able to do at Vandon among the people.

It will be a different place.