Chapter 28
In which Ruth tells Leonard of her disgrace, Bradshaw cuts a lifelong tie with the Bensons, Thurstan persuades Ruth her duty is in Eccleston with Leonard, and Faith soothes with violet-tea and soft loving tones.
Mrs Pearson, the gossiping dressmaker, has ensured that most of Eccleston knew Ruth's secret before it reached Bradshaw's ears. Ruth returns home, frightening Leonard with her woeful look of agony. She asks for one last kiss in the old way, then tells him that when she was young, she did wrong in a way he cannot understand. She warns that he will suffer through life when people throw his illegitimacy in his teeth then, with bitter shame, sees a strange look of repugnance on his face as he realises what she is saying. His eyes blaze with earnestness as he tells her there never was such a mother as she and he will knock down anyone who says otherwise. In the sweetest, saddest tone, she reminds him she said it herself because it was true, and they cling together, Leonard panting like some hunted creature.
She warns him there will be hard trials ahead, but that while her sin may make him an outcast in the world, only his own sin can ever make him an outcast from God. When he leaves the room to sob behind the sofa, Ruth collapses, thinking again that death is the only solution to her position, and might lead cruel hearts to relent and show pity on Leonard.
Benson has been summonsed by Bradshaw who demands to know if he was aware of the character of the woman living beneath his roof. Benson says Bradshaw cannot upbraid him any more than his own conscience has for the years of deceit, even though it was for a good end. Bradshaw responds with withering contempt to this suggestion, stamping his foot as he asks why Benson introduced his sinning protege into his household, exposing his innocent children to corruption.
Benson insists that he would have died rather than expose the girls to any danger. His household had watched Ruth anxiously for a year or more and, seeing no glimpse of boldness or want of conscientiousness, felt she deserved the gentle tender help that Jesus gave once to Mary Magdalen.
Bradshaw calls Benson "a man who has deluded himself into considering falsehood right". He no longer regards him as a fitting exponent of the will of God and will no longer attend his chapel. Benson bows and leaves in silence, with a huge sense of loss at the severance of the long and largely happy friendship with the Bradshaws.
He returns to the house to find Ruth in a trembling, feverish state, determined to leave so that Leonard will be spared her disgrace. She plans to seek work in her mother's home town of Helmsley, but sobs as she wonders if her mother knows where and what she is. Benson tells her it would be a sin to sever the tie with Leonard, who needs his mother's love. He urges her to be brave and faithful, and to answer to God, not to men's opinions and esteem.
He urges her to have courage to bear the trials God has sent her, and teach Leonard to do the same. He feels they have all been cowards in trying to find an easier way for Ruth. When Faith returns, they discuss this, but she still feels they did the right thing. The years of peace have helped Ruth grow stronger and wiser so she can bear her shame now in a way she never could have done at first. Ruth puts the exhausted Leonard to bed, then Faith leads Ruth to rest, bringing her a cup of soothing violet-tea - "not so soothing as tender actions and soft loving tones."