“He threw himself on his knees by her side” — Illustration by Mary Ellen Edwards (1838–1934) for William Gilbert's "Ruth Thornbury"

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[He] threw himself on his knees by her side

Mary Ellen Edwards (1838–1934)

1866

Wood engraving

Illustration for William Gilbert's Ruth Thornbury

Good Words (1 August 1866): facig 570.

See below for passage illustrated

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Passage Illustrated

One morning when Mr. Thornbury was absent, and his wife and Charity were occupied in some other part of the house, Ruth and the curate were left by themselves in the drawing-room. Little conversation had passed between them, Ruth's attention having been fixed upon some flowers she was embroidering. The curate was apparently absorbed in the contents of a book he held in his hand. The careful observer might, however, have perceived that he never turned over the leaves of the book he pretended to be reading, but that his eyes were in cessantly wandering from it to his companion. Suddenly, as if impelled by a motive which he found it impossible to resist, he threw the book on the sofa, and hurriedly walking up to Ruth, threw himself on his knees by her side, and grasped her hand, which she immediately and angrily withdrew. Whether this behaviour on her part brought the curate to his senses, or whether he recovered them spontaneously, it is impossible to say; but he abruptly rose from his knees, and, without saying a word, seized his hat and left the room. [571]

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.

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Last modified 8 September 2014