The truth is Mr Farquhar is put off by Jemima's erratic behaviour, caused by her father's good intentioned interference. Jemima is headstrong and already jealous that her suitor Mr Farquhar, her father's business partner, seems to admire Ruth over her. Bellingham offers to marry Ruth as he claims he still loves her and for the sake of their child, Ruth rejects him saying she will not let Leonard come in contact with a man like him.įrom local gossip Jemima discovers about Ruth's past, though she is still unaware that it was Mr Donne who is Leonard's father. Ruth recognises Mr Donne as actually being Mr Bellingham and the two have a confrontation on the beach. Mr Bradshaw brings Mr Donne, a man whom he is sponsoring to become their local MP, to the seaside to impress him. Ruth goes away with the Bradshaws to a seaside house while one of Mr Bradshaw's children is convalescing from a long illness. The rich local businessman Mr Bradshaw admires Ruth and employs her as a governess for his children, including his eldest daughter Jemima who is in awe of the beautiful Ruth. She is transformed into a Madonna type figure, calm and innocent once more. Ruth has her baby, whom she names Leonard.

When they learn that Ruth is pregnant they decide to lie to the town and claim that she is a widow called Mrs Denbigh, to protect her from a society which would otherwise shun her. When he learns of her past and that she is alone he brings her back to his home town, where he is a Dissenting minister, to stay with him and his formidable but kind sister Faith. Bellingham is persuaded by his mother to abandon Ruth in Wales, leaving her some money.Ī distraught Ruth attempts suicide but is spotted by Mr Benson who helps comfort her. Bellingham falls sick with fever and the hotel calls for his mother who arrives and is disgusted by her son's having lived in sin with Ruth. They go on holiday to Wales together and there on a country walk Ruth meets the disabled and kind Mr Benson. They meet again by chance and form a secret friendship on an outing together they are spotted by Mrs Mason who, fearing for her shop's reputation, dismisses Ruth.Īlone in the world, Ruth is whisked away by Bellingham to London where it is implied she becomes a fallen woman. At the ball she meets the aristocratic Henry Bellingham, a rake figure who is instantly attracted to her. She is selected to go to a ball to repair torn dresses.

Ruth is a young orphan girl working in a respectable sweatshop for the overworked Mrs Mason.

Ruth is a novel by English novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, first published in three volumes in 1853.

Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell