"You shall see her to-night. I will take you to her." She was fain to be satisfied with this assurance, but she would not be content till she saw a portrait of Ruth. He gave her a cabinet photograph, and she gazed at it longingly, yearningly. "She is beautiful, beautiful!" "Yes, she is a beautiful girl," said Aaron, and then proceeded with the story, saying nothing, however, of what he had done for the young couple. At first she was grieved to hear that Ruth was married, but she found some consolation in the reflection that she had married into a peer's family. When Aaron related the particulars of the lawyer's visit to him, commissioned by Lord Storndale because of his stern objection to his son marrying a Jewess, she exclaimed: "But Ruth is not a Jewess!" and was appalled by the thought that her daughter was not born in wedlock. A child of shame! How would she be received? It was her turn now to fear, and Aaron, whose native shrewdness had returned to him, divined her fear; but it was not for him to moot the subject. "My child," she said, with hot blushes on her face, "believes herself to be your daughter?" "She does. It was my intention to undeceive her to-night." "You know my story?" "It was imparted to me," he replied, with averted head, "when I was asked to receive your child." "Who knows the truth," she asked, trembling and hesitating, "about me?" "I, Mr. Moss, Dr. Spenlove, and your husband's lawyers." "No other persons?" "No other persons." He took her hand. "Dear lady, from my heart I pity and sympathize with you. If I can assist you in any way----" "You can--you can!" she cried. "For God's sake do not destroy the happiness that may be mine!" "As Heaven is my judge, no word shall pass my lips. Be comforted, be comforted. The lawyers' lips are sealed, as you have already learned, and I will answer for Mr. Moss and Dr. Spenlove. Say to her and to her husband's family what you will--it will be justified. Your secret is safe." She thanked him humbly and gratefully; it was she who was abashed; it was she who had to implore for mercy; and it was due to his wisdom that her aching heart was eased. "If I can repay you--if I can repay you!" she murmured. "You can repay me by saying you forgive me for the sin I committed." "Your sin!" she cried in amazement. "You, who have brought up my child in virtue and honor! At my door lies the sin, not at yours." "You forget," he groaned; "my wife, whom I love with a love dearer than life itself, has yet to receive the confession I have made to you. It was my love for her that led me into the error." "An error," said Mrs. Gordon in tender accents, "that has saved a daughter from regarding her mother with abhorrence. Dear friend, God sees and judges, and surely he will approve what you have done. A grateful mother blesses you!" "Remain here," said Aaron. "I will speak to my friends and yours, and then I will conduct you to your daughter." CHAPTER XXXIX. A PANIC IN THE CITY.