It was as Simon hoped: Ruth, overcome In prudence by her generous desire To serve a soul in need; some natural zeal Perhaps commingling to bring home such spoil Of her Eunicé's winning, a surprise And joy to Paul and all the rest--so led, Ruth with Eunicé to Drusilla went. But not alone; Stephen their counsel shared, And he, deeply misdoubting of it all, Went with them. In the inner court he stayed, Awaiting watchful, eye and ear, while they, Having with all obeisance been received And ushered inward by the instructed slave, Should do their errand with the mistress there. He was disturbed, when Felix, with a scowl Askance at him, crossing the court in haste Followed the women through the selfsame door, Scarce shut behind them ere he entered too. It was of her astute design and art, Drusilla's, that her husband should have scope To show at full in act before her eyes What ground of truth there was for Simon's hints Against his faith to her. She had hid herself, Not to be seen but see, while in the room Whither the women were ushered Felix might, Were such his mind, waylay the pretty maid, Proving himself what Simon would have him be. "Thou with thy daughter, madam, art well come; These are dull days in Melita for us," So, with a gross familiar air ill masked In mock of supercilious courtesy, Felix to Ruth; who noticed with dismay That servitor and servitress at once, As if at silent signal unperceived, Vanished from presence and left her alone, Her and Eunicé, no Drusilla seen, With Felix and his bristling insolence. Her fears were not allayed when Felix said Further: "My lady will be glad to see Thee, madam, for she dies of weariness In this insufferable place, with naught Of new to while the endless hours away; But as for this our pretty little maid, She shall accept my awkward offices To entertain her, while her mother waits Apart on dame Drusilla and chats with her." So saying, he stepped to the half-open door And clapped his hands in summons for a slave. One quickly answered, and the master said: "Where is thy mistress? Take this madam to her," Pointing to Ruth.