Ruth

Mr. Farquhar has fallen in love with Jemima, even though he is almost 20 years older than her. He admires how she challenges her father, often secretly agreeing with her viewpoints, and he respects Mr. Bradshaw. Mr. Bradshaw thinks it would be very appropriate and sensible for Jemima and Mr. Farquhar to marry, but he does not consider whether his daughter likes this plan. Jemima is sometimes frustrated by Mr. Farquhar because he seems strict and rigid, much like her father. One day, Mr. Bradshaw rebukes Jemima because Mr. Farquhar has complained about Jemima’s tendency to have strong opinions and emotions. Mr. Bradshaw expresses his concern that if Jemima doesn’t show more docile and obedient behavior, Mr. Farquhar will not want to marry her. He also admits that he and Mr. Farquhar have never explicitly spoken about the marriage, although he feels confident they understand one another.

Jemima misunderstands the conversation and believes that Mr. Farquhar does not actually love her and only wants the marriage to protect his business assets. She thinks bitterly about his “cold way of looking out for a wife, just as you would do for a carpet” (167). She is very hurt because, deep down, she does love him, and she begins to act much more coldly toward him. Mr. Bradshaw notices with concern the way his daughter is acting and asks Ruth to speak with Jemima about her behavior. Ruth protests that she has never seen Jemima and Mr. Farquhar interacting. Mr. Bradshaw proposes that Ruth begin to join them in the evenings, and whenever Ruth sees Jemima acting rudely, she is to correct her gently. Ruth is apprehensive about this task, but Mr. Bradshaw insists.

Ruth is invited to join the Bradshaw family and Mr. Farquhar for a small party a few days later. She wears her finest clothes and is very beautiful. During the party, Jemima is rude to Mr. Farquhar, who by this point has been growing more and more impatient with her inconsistent behavior. Ruth does not want to correct Jemima openly, so she models gentler and softer behavior to inspire her to act better. Mr. Farquhar notices the contrast between the two young women and becomes attracted to Ruth. Jemima, meanwhile, is softened by Ruth’s influence and becomes more cheerful, leading Mr. Bradshaw to think that his plan is working.

The next day, Jemima speaks with her mother and comments on how her father seemed very grateful to Ruth, and she does not understand what he was thanking her for. Mrs. Bradshaw hesitates but then reveals Mr. Bradshaw’s plan of asking Ruth to correct Jemima’s behavior so that she would act better toward Mr. Farquhar. Jemima is hurt and offended and feels that her father and Ruth have conspired against her. She becomes even colder toward Mr. Farquhar, who decides to accept that Jemima will never love him. Instead, he begins to consider Ruth as a potential wife, and Jemima notices that Mr. Farquhar is more attentive to Ruth. Jemima becomes more and more jealous of Ruth, such that “the recollection of her marble face wearied her even to sickness; the tones of her low voice were irritating from their very softness” (181). Ruth notices that something has changed between them but does not know what.

Elizabeth Bradshaw falls seriously ill, and the doctor suggests that she go to the seaside to complete her recovery. Mr. Bradshaw rents a house in the seaside town of Abermouth; he is concerned about his daughter, but it is also a convenient time for Ruth and his two youngest daughters to be spending time away. An election is drawing near, and Mr. Bradshaw has taken on the project of getting a Liberal candidate elected. Traditionally, the riding has had a Conservative (Tory) candidate associated with the Cranworth family. However, the rise of manufacturing and the Dissenting religion has led Mr. Bradshaw to believe that the riding could elect a Liberal candidate to protect those interests. Mr. Bradshaw has been in contact with a wealthy man named Mr. Donne, who is interested in running for office. Mr. Donne will be moving into the Bradshaw house as he gets to know the community, so Mr. Bradshaw is happy to have his young children and their governess out of the house.

Jemima debates going to Abermouth with her sisters but decides not to. Ruth is very sad to leave Leonard behind but ends up liking the seashore. She is surprised to receive word from Mr. Bradshaw one day that he will come to the rented house along with Mr. Donne. Mr. Bradshaw has grown uncomfortable in learning that bribery will be required to get Mr. Donne elected, and he knows that Mr. Benson will not approve of this action. Going to church and hearing Mr. Benson preach about morality and integrity will likely make Mr. Bradshaw uncomfortable, so he plans to be conveniently out of town at the seaside. Mr. Bradshaw also wants to show off his wealth since he sometimes feels inferior to the wealthier and more aristocratic Mr. Donne.

Mr. Donne has surprised and impressed the Bradshaw family with his elegance and refinement, creating a sense of “something indescribable—a quiet being at ease, and expecting every one else to be so” (193). He is indifferent to the possibility of bribery being used in the election and doesn’t seem overly interested in the election at all, although he has invested a significant amount of money in it. Jemima, however, speculates that Mr. Donne possesses a quietly repressed intensity.

Mr. Bradshaw arrives in the seaside town, accompanied by Mr. Donne and Mr. Hickson (a lawyer hired to help with the campaign). Ruth and the two Bradshaw girls meet the group of men on the seashore at dusk on a stormy day; it is not easy to see, but Ruth distinctly recognizes his voice and realizes that Mr. Donne is Mr. Bellingham. She is stunned, and Mary and Elizabeth think she has fallen ill.

Ruth rushes back to the house and says she is too ill to join the men for dinner. Mr. Bradshaw begrudgingly accepts this, but he makes it clear that he expects Ruth to be present the following morning. After Ruth has put the two girls to bed, she can finally be alone with her emotions. She is very conflicted about wanting to know why Mr. Bellingham left her and feeling angry about how he abandoned her and being protective of her young son. Her strong emotions are only interrupted by Elizabeth creeping into her room because she is frightened by the storm raging outside.

The next morning, Ruth feels resigned to accepting her fate, reflecting that “how it would all turn out she could not say, or even guess. But of one thing she was clear […] come what might, she would obey God’s law” (203). Ruth quietly joins the men as they discuss politics and the campaign. Bellingham notices her and, at first, thinks she is simply a beautiful woman with some resemblance to Ruth. However, the longer he looks at her, the more he becomes convinced that it must be her. Ruth leaves to take the young girls to church and is surprised when Mr. Bellingham catches up with her. He claims to have decided at the last minute that he wanted to go to church. He makes a few loaded comments to Ruth, including asking her whether she has ever been to Wales. Ruth admits that she has and pointedly says that she was very unhappy while she was there.

Ruth suffers through the church service, wrestling with her emotions and sense of shame. Afterward, Bellingham discreetly whispers that he wants to speak with her alone to explain himself. Ruth is tempted, but she stands firm and refuses to acknowledge or engage with him. Bellingham becomes even more determined to speak with her. However, back at the house, Mr. Bradshaw monopolizes all of Bellingham/Donne’s time, and there is no chance for him to slip away and find Ruth. Ruth continues to resist his discreet requests to speak with him alone, and as the evening winds down, it almost seems that she is safe. Bellingham will be leaving early the following day. In an offhand way, Mr. Bradshaw mentions Leonard, and Bellingham puts the pieces together and realizes that Ruth must have given birth to their child. Bellingham now has significantly more power over her.

After the men leave the seaside town, Ruth is terrified that Bellingham will take their son away now that he knows of Leonard’s existence (at this time, fathers essentially retained all legal rights to their children). A few days later, she receives a letter from Faith telling Ruth about how Mr. Donne (Bellingham) and Mr. Bradshaw came to call on them and how Mr. Donne seemed quite interested in Leonard. Mr. Donne even insisted on trying to give a watch to the little boy, although Mr. Benson eventually had it sent back (he thought the gift was intended as a bribe to secure a vote for Mr. Donne).

Ruth receives a note from Bellingham, telling her that she must meet with him the next Sunday. She agrees to meet with him on the seashore and sends the two Bradshaw girls off to church without her. When Ruth and Bellingham meet, he complains about how coldly she treats him. She insists that she is only meeting with him to protect their son. He reminisces affectionately about their time together and asks Ruth to renew their relationship. He promises to take care of both her and Leonard if she consents to become his mistress again. Ruth tells him that “I would submit to many humiliations for [Leonard’s] sake—but to no more from you” (220). She insists that she has spent years repenting for her past mistakes and would never willingly make them again.

Ruth also states that she never wants Leonard to know the truth about his illegitimacy or to be influenced by his father. Bellingham threatens to reveal the truth about her history, but Ruth tells him that the Bensons already know the truth. Finally, Bellingham offers to marry her so that her and Leonard’s reputations can be protected. Still, Ruth refuses him because she now sees that he is a bad and selfish person, and she does not want him anywhere near Leonard. Angrily, Bellingham storms off.

Ruth is left dazed and stunned after this confrontation. Later, she and the girls learn that Mr. Donne/Bellingham has won the election and left the Bradshaw household. They begin preparations to return home, but these become much hastier once Ruth hears that Leonard is ill. By the time she arrives back at Eccleston, Leonard’s illness has become serious.