ELIZABETH GASKELL
RUTH


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.

A hundred years ago its appearance was that of picturesque
grandeur. The old houses, which were the temporary residences of
such of the county families as contented themselves with the
gaieties of a provincial town, crowded the streets, and gave them
the irregular but noble appearance yet to be seen in the cities
of Belgium. The sides of the streets had a quaint richness, from
the effect of the gables, and the stacks of chimneys which cut
against the blue sky above; while, if the eye fell lower down,
the attention was arrested by all kinds of projections in the
shape of balcony and oriel; and it was amusing to see the
infinite variety of windows that had been crammed into the walls
long before Mr. Pitt's days of taxation. The streets below
suffered from all these projections and advanced stories above;
they were dark, and ill-paved with large, round, jolting pebbles,
and with no side-path protected by kerb-stones; there were no
lamp-posts for long winter nights; and no regard was paid to the