In this manner they settled down to a week’s enjoyment of that Alpine country.  It was most true enjoyment to Ruth.  It was opening a new sense; vast ideas of beauty and grandeur filled her mind at the sight of the mountains, now first beheld in full majesty.  She was almost overpowered by the vague and solemn delight; but by-and-by her love for them equalled her awe, and in the night-time she would softly rise, and steal to the window to see the white moon-light, which gave a new aspect to the everlasting hills that girdle the mountain village.

Their breakfast-hour was late, in accordance with Mr. Bellingham’s tastes and habits; but Ruth was up betimes, and out and away, brushing the dewdrops from the short crisp grass; the lark sung high above her head, and she knew not if she moved or stood still, for the grandeur of this beautiful earth absorbed all idea of separate and individual existence.  Even rain was a pleasure to her.  She sat in the window-seat of their parlour (she would have gone out gladly, but that such a proceeding annoyed Mr. Bellingham, who usually at such times lounged away the listless hours on a sofa, and relieved himself by abusing the weather); she saw the swift-fleeting showers come athwart the sunlight like a rush of silver arrows; she watched the purple darkness on the heathery mountain-side, and then the pale golden gleam which succeeded.  There was no change or alteration of nature that had not its own peculiar beauty in the eyes of Ruth; but if she had complained of the changeable climate, she would have pleased Mr. Bellingham more:  her admiration and her content made him angry, until her pretty motions and loving eyes soothed down his impatience.

“Really, Ruth,” he exclaimed one day, when they had been imprisoned by rain a whole morning, “one would think you had never seen a shower of rain before; it quite wearies me to see you sitting there watching this detestable weather with such a placid countenance; and for the last two hours you have said nothing more amusing or interesting than—­’Oh, how beautiful!’ or, ‘There’s another cloud coming across Moel Wynn.’”

Ruth left her seat very gently, and took up her work.  She wished she had the gift of being amusing; it must be dull for a man accustomed to all kinds of active employments to be shut up in the house.  She was recalled from her absolute self-forgetfulness.  What could she say to interest Mr. Bellingham?  While she thought, he spoke again—­

“I remember when we were reading here three years ago, we had a week of just such weather as this; but Howard and Johnson were capital whist-players, and Wilbraham not bad, so we got through the days famously.  Can you play ecarte, Ruth, or picquet?”

“No, sir; I have sometimes played at beggar-my-neighbour,” answered Ruth humbly, regretting her own deficiencies.

He murmured impatiently, and there was silence for another half-hour.  Then he sprang up, and rang the bell violently.  “Ask Mrs. Morgan for a pack of cards.  Ruthie, I’ll teach you ecarte,” said he.