human
I have been thinking, Ruth, if all young men had such good sisters as I, how few would go far astray.
gpt
O, Guy, she said, her eyes filling with tears,
human
I have been anything but a good sister. I thought of it day and night, when you were ill, and it nearly drove me mad.
gpt
What do you mean, Ruth, I don't understand you. What had you to blame yourself for?
human
The great thing, my neglect of duty. I did not hold religion up in its true light. I lowered the standard, and you did not give it proper respect. I wronged you, Guy, and I wronged God and my own soul. I meant to tell you all this, but something kept me back. My inconsistent life came up before me, and I thought I would wait until you had seen a change in me.
gpt
I see it _now_, he replied;
human
One can see changes more readily in you, than in Agnes.
gpt
Because there is nothing to change in her. Guy, I would give all the world if I had it, to be the trusting Christian our Agnes is. If you had seen her when you were ill, you would have known how wonderful she is. She thought of everybody and everything, but never once despaired or murmured. I think the Lord spared you because of her.
human
Why?
gpt
Because, she said the other night, we must live such lives that we can _claim_ the answer to our prayers; and that is not the kind of a life I have been living. I did not dare to claim anything; I only _begged_ to have you spared, and promised to lead a new life.
human
Now is the time, thought Ruth, and going over to him she threw her arms round him saying:
gpt
I went with you, Guy, dear brother say that you will go with me. Don't let us three be separated any longer.
human
We will go together, Ruth, God helping me.
gpt
O, Guy, it has come at last?