Then she awoke, and saw someone standing beside her — Illustration by Mary Ellen Edwards (1838–1934) for William Gilbert's Ruth Thornbury; or the Old Maid's Story, which appeared in the Good Words (1 October 1866): facing 714. Source: Internet Archive version of Good Words.

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. — George P. Landow]

Passage illustrated

Then she awoke, and saw someone standing beside her bedide. The figure seemed to be dressed in a robe of white, which became the more distinct from the clear rays of the moon falling on it. So peculiar was the effect produced, that the form appeared almost ethereal, and conveyed to Ruth's scarcely awakened perception the idea that it was an angel standing by her side. A momentary feeling of awe came over her, which was broken by the sound of Charity's voice.

"Are you sleeping, dear Ruth?" she said.

"Charity," said Ruth, having now fully regained her self-possession, "is that you? How imprudent it is of you to leave your room; pray go back again, or you may suffer for it." . . . Ruth remained with her sister for the rest of the night. [715]

Bibliography

Gilbert, William. Ruth Thornbury; or the Old Maid's Story. Good Words (October-December 1866): 324-32, 482-92, 562-75, 622-36, 710-20, 779-92, 852-61.


Last modified 7 September 2014