Ruth

They threaded their way among the grassy heaps to where Ruth was buried, in the south corner, beneath the great Wych-elm. When they got there, Leonard raised himself up from the new-stirred turf. His face was swollen with weeping; but when he saw Mr Bradshaw he calmed himself, and checked his sobs, and, as an explanation of being where he was when thus surprised, he could find nothing to say but the simple words: "My mother is dead, sir."

Seduction, false identity, exposure, nursing death, and the orphan's grave form a complete fallen-woman tragedy without cheap damnation — so plot scores 88.

The quiet days grew into weeks and months, and even years, without any event to startle the little circle into the consciousness of the lapse of time. One who had known them at the date of Ruth's becoming a governess in Mr Bradshaw's family, and had been absent until the time of which I am now going to tell you, would have noted some changes which had imperceptibly come over all.

Ruth, Leonard, the Bensons, and Bradshaw are held in a living circle across five quiet years — typed roles warmed into household intimacy — so cast scores 87.

The quiet days grew into weeks and months, and even years, without any event to startle the little circle into the consciousness of the lapse of time.

Mid-book names its own slow moral time; crisis thickens only after years of governess stillness — deliberate rather than thriller pace — so pace scores 84.

There is an assize-town in one of the eastern counties which was much distinguished by the Tudor sovereigns, and, in consequence of their favour and protection, attained a degree of importance that surprises the modern traveller. A hundred years ago its appearance was that of picturesque grandeur.

Tudor townscape and later Wych-elm burial fuse social argument with sensuous pity — Gaskell's moral prose at full strength — so prose scores 88.

There is an assize-town in one of the eastern counties which was much distinguished by the Tudor sovereigns, and, in consequence of their favour and protection, attained a degree of importance that surprises the modern traveller.

Assize-town, chapel-yard, and Bradshaw respectability map Victorian virtue as a geography that first excludes then mourns Ruth — so world scores 86.

CHAPTER I The Dressmaker's Apprentice at Work There is an assize-town in one of the eastern counties which was much distinguished by the Tudor sovereigns, and, in consequence of their favour and protection, attained a degree of importance that surprises the modern traveller.

Provincial grandeur and the apprentice label invite before the fall — atmosphere before outrage — so hook scores 85.

A stupor of grief succeeded to Leonard's passionate cries. He became so much depressed, physically as well as mentally, before the end of the day, that Mr Davis was seriously alarmed for the consequences. He hailed with gladness a proposal made by the Farquhars, that the boy should be removed to their house, and placed under the fond care of his mother's friend.

Ruth dies after nursing, not as stage penitence — the fallen woman as moral hero rather than warning pamphlet — so innov scores 91.

The first time, for years, that he had entered Mr Benson's house, he came leading and comforting her son—and, for a moment, he could not speak to his old friend, for the sympathy which choked up his voice, and filled his eyes with tears.

Bradshaw's hardness dissolves into paternal grief at the orphan's side — moral restoration without cheap resurrection — so ending scores 88.