"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 sympathise 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 honour! At my door lies the sin, not at yours." "You forget," he groaned; "I have sinned against my wife, whom I love with a love dearer than life itself, and she 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 XLIII. A PANIC IN THE CITY. On the following morning Aaron was up earlier than usual, and in the daily papers he read the confirmation of the intelligence which Mr. Moss had imparted to him. The panic on the Stock Exchange had grown to fever heat, and fortunes were already being won and lost. The bank in which his money was deposited, and in which he held a large number of shares, was tottering, and he knew that he was ruined if it could not weather the storm.