seriouslyill，andheardfromhimthestateofthingsathishome。ShetoldMaryofitassheenteredthecourtlatethatevening；andMarylistenedwithsaddenedhearttothestrangecontrastwhichsuchwofultidingspresentedtothegayandlovingwordsshehadbeenhearingonherwalkhome。Sheblamedherselfforbeingsomuchtakenupwithvisionsofthegoldenfuture，thatshehadlatelygonebutseldomonSundayafternoons，orotherleisuretime，toseeMrsWilson，hermother’sfriend；andwithhastypurposeofamendmentsheonlystayedtoleaveamessageforherfatherwiththenext-doorneighbour，andthenwentoffatabriskpaceonherwaytothehouseofmourning。ShestoppedwithherhandonthelatchoftheWilsons’door，tostillherbeatingheart，andlistenedtothebushedquietwithin。SheopenedthedoorsoftlytheresatMrsWilsonintheoldrocking-chair，withonesick，death-likeboylyingonherknee，cryingwithoutletorpause，butsoftly，gently，asfearingtodisturbthetroubledgaspingchild；whilebehindher，oldAliceletherfast-droppingtearsfalldownonthedeadbodyoftheothertwin，whichshewaslayingoutonaboardplacedonasortofsofa-setteeinacorneroftheroom。Overthechild，whichyetbreathed，thefatherbent，watchinganxiouslyforsomegroundofhope，wherehoetherewasnone。MarysteppedslowlyandlightyacrosstoAlice。“Aye，poorladGodhastakenhimearly，Mary。“Marycouldnotspeak；shedidnotknowwhattosay；itwassomuchworsethansheexpected。Atlastsheventuredtowhisper，“Isthereanychancefortheotherone，thinkyou？“Aliceshookherhead，andtoldwithalookthatshebelievedtherewasnone。Shenextendeavouredtoliftthelittlebody，andcarryittoitsold-accustomedbedinitsparents’room。Butearnestasthefatherwasinwatchingtheyet-living，hehadeyesandearsforallthatconcernedthedead，andspranggentlyup，andtookhisdeadsononhishardcouchinhisarmswithtenderstrength，andcarriedhimup-stairsasifafraidofwakeninghim。Theotherchildgaspedlonger，louder，withmoreofeffort。“Wemungethimawayfromhismother。Hecannotdiewhileshe’swishinghim。““Wishinghim？“saidMary，inatoneofinquiry。“Aye；donnoyeknowwhatwishingmeans？There’snonecandieinthearmsofthosewhoarewishingthemsoretostayonearth。Thesoulo’themasholdsthemwon’tletthedyingsoulgofreesoithasahardstruggleforthequietofdeath。Wemungethimawayfra’hismother，orhe’llhaveaharddeath，poorlilefellow。“Sowithoutcircumlocutionshewentandofferedtotakethesinkingchild。
Butthemotherwouldnotlethimgo，andlookinginAlice’sfacewithbrimmingandimploringeyes，declared，inearnestwhispers，thatshewasnotwishinghim，thatshewouldfainhavehimreleasedfromhissuffering。AliceandMarystoodbywitheyesfixedonthepoorchild，whosestrugglesseemedtoincrease，tillatlasthismothersaid，withachokingvoice，“Mayhappenyo’dbettertakehim，Alice；Ibelievemyheart’swishinghima’thiswhile，forIcannot；no，Icannotbringmyseltoletmytwochildergoinoneday；Icannothelplongingtokeephim，andyethesha’n’tsufferlongerforme。“Shebentdown，andfondly，ohwithwhatpassionatefondness，kissedherchild，andthengavehimuptoAlice，whotookhimwithtendercare。Nature’sstrugglesweresoonexhausted，andhebreathedhislittlelifeawayinpeace。Thenthemotherlifteduphervoiceandwept。Hercriesbroughtherhusbanddowntotrywithhisachinghearttocomforthers。AgainAlicelaidoutthedead，Maryhelpingwithreverentfear。Thefatherandmothercarriedhimup-stairstothebed，wherehislittlebrotherlayincalmrepose。MaryandAlicedrewnearthefire，andstoodinquietsorrowforsometime。
ThenAlicebrokethesilencebysaying，“ItwillbebadnewsforJem，poorfellow，whenhecomeshome。““Whereishe？“askedMary。“Workingover-hoursatth’shop。They’ngettenalargeorderfra’forrinparts；andyo’know，Jemmunwork，thoughhisheart’swellnighbreakingforthesepoorladdies。“Againtheyweresilentinthought，andagainAlicespokefirst。“IsometimesthinktheLordisagainstplanning。Whene’erIplanover-much，Heissuretosendandmarallmyplans，asifHewouldha’meputthefutureintoHishands。AforeChristmas-timeIwasasfullasfullcouldbe，ofgoinghomeforgoodandall；yo’hanheardhowI’vewisheditthisterriblelongtime。AndayounglassfrombehindBurtoncameintoplaceinManchesterlastMartinmas；soafterawhileshehadaSundayout，andshecomestome，andtellsmesomecousinso’minebidherfindmeout，andsayhowgladtheyshouldbetoha’metobidewi’em，andlookafterth’childer，forthey’ngettenabigfarm，andshe’sadealtodoamongth’cows。Somanyawinter’snightdidIlieawakeandthink，thatpleaseGod，comesummer，I’dbidGeorgeandhiswifegood-bye，andgohomeatlast。LittledidIthinkhowGodAlmightywouldbalkme，fornotleavingmydaysinHishands，whohadledmethroughthewildernesshitherto。Here’sGeorgeouto’work，andmorecastdownthaneverIseedhim；wantingeverychipo’comforthecanget，e’enaforethislastheavystroke；andnowI’mthinkingtheLord’sfingerpointsverycleartomyfitabidingplace；
andI’msureifGeorgeandJanecansay’Hiswillbedone，’it’snomorethanwhatI’mbeholdentodo。“Sosaying，shefelltotidyingtheroom，removingasmuchasshecouldeveryvestigeofsickness；makingupthefire，andsettingonthekettleforacupofteaforhersister-in-law，whoselowmoansandsobswereoccasionallyheardintheroombelow。Maryhelpedherinalltheselittleoffices。Theywerebusyinthiswaywhenthedoorwassoftlyopened，andJemcamein，allgrimedanddirtyfromhisnight-work，hissoiledapronwrappedroundhismiddle，inguiseandapparelinwhichhewouldhavebeensorryatanothertimetohavebeenseenbyMary。Butjustnowhehardlysawher；hewentstraightuptoAlice，andaskedhowthelittlechapswere。Theyhadbeenashadebetteratdinner-time，andhehadbeenworkingawaythroughthelongafternoon，andfarintothenight，inthebeliefthattheyhadtakentheturn。Hehadstolenoutduringthehalf-hourallowedattheworksfortea，tobuythemanorangeortwo，whichnowpuffedouthisjacketpocket。Hewouldmakehisauntspeak：hewouldnotunderstandhershakeoftheheadandfastcoursingtears。“They’rebothgone，“saidshe。“Dead!““Aye!poorfellows。Theytookworseabouttwoo’clock。Joewentfirst，aseasyasalamb，andWilldiedharderlike。““Both!““Aye，lad!both。TheLordhasta’enthemfromsomeeviltocome，orhewouldnaha’madechoiceo’them。Yemayrestsureo’that。“Jemwenttothecupboard，andquietlyextricatedfromhispockettheorangeshehadbought。Buthestayedlongthere，andatlasthissturdyframeshookwithhisstrongagony。Thetwowomenwerefrightened，aswomenalwaysare，onwitnessingaman’soverpoweringgrief。Theycriedafreshincompany。
Mary’sheartmeltedwithinherasshewitnessedJem’ssorrow，andshesteppedgentlyuptothecornerwherehestood，withhisbackturnedtothem，andputtingherhandsoftlyonhisarm，said，“0，Jem，don’tgivewayso；Icannotbeartoseeyou。“Jemfeltastrangeleapofjoyinhisheart，andknewthepowershehadofcomfortinghim。Hedidnotspeak，asthoughfearingtodestroybysoundormotionthehappinessofthatmoment，whenhersofthand’stouchthrilledthroughhisframe，andhersilveryvoicewaswhisperingtendernessinhisear。Yes!itmightbeverywrong；hecouldalmosthatehimselfforit；