“Mary，you’llhear，maybe，ofmeasadrunkard，andmaybeasathief，andmaybeasamurderer。Remember!whenallarespeakingillofme，youwillhavenorighttoblameme，forit’syourcrueltythatwillhavemademewhatIfeelIshallbecome。Youwon’tevensayyou’lltryandlikeme；willyou，Mary？“saidhe，suddenlychanginghistonefromthreateningdespairtofond，passionateentreaty，ashetookherhandandhelditforciblybetweenbothofhis，whilehetriedtocatchaglimpseofheravertedface。Shewassilent，butitwasfromdeepandviolentemotion。
Hecouldnotbeartowait；hewouldnothope，tobedashedawayagain；
heratherinhisbitternessofheartchosethecertaintyofdespair，andbeforeshecouldresolvewhattoanswer，heflungawayherhandandrushedoutofthehouse。“Jem!Jem!“criedshe，withfaintandchokingvoice。Itwastoolate；
heleftstreetafterstreetbehindhimwithhisalmostwingedspeed，ashesoughtthefields，wherehemightgivewayunobservedtoallthedeepdespairhefelt。Itwasscarcelytenminutessincehehadenteredthehouse，andfoundMaryatcomparativepeace，andnowshelayhalfacrossthedresser，herheadhiddeninherhands，andeverypartofherbodyshakingwiththeviolenceofhersobs。Shecouldnothavetoldatfirstifyouhadaskedher，andshecouldhavecommandedvoiceenoughtoanswerwhyshewasinsuchagonisedgrief。Itwastoosuddenforhertoanalyse，orthinkuponit。Sheonlyfelt，thatbyherowndoingherlifewouldbehereafterdrearyandblank。
By-and-byhersorrowexhaustedherbodybyitspower，andsheseemedtohavenostrengthleftforcrying。Shesatdown；andnowthoughtscrowdedonhermind。Onelittlehourago，andallwasstillunsaid，andshehadherfateinherownpower。Andyet，howlongagohadshedeter-minedtosayprettymuchwhatshedid，iftheoccasioneveroffered。Itwasasiftwopeoplewerearguingthematter；thatmournful，despondingcommunionbetweenherformerself，andherpresentself。Herself，aday，anhourago；andherselfnow。Forwehaveeveryoneofusfelthowaveryfewminutesofthemonthsandyearscalledlife，willsometimessufficetoplacealltimepastandfutureinanentirelynewlight；willmakeusseethevanityorthecriminalityofthebygone，andsochangetheaspectofthecomingtime，thatwelookwithloathingontheverythingwehavemostdesired。Afewmomentsmaychangeourcharacterforlife，bygivingatotallydifferentdirectiontoouraimsandenergies。ToreturntoMary。Herplanhadbeen，aswewellknow，tomarryMrCarson，andtheoccurrenceanhouragowasonlyapreliminarystep。True；butithadunveiledherhearttoher；ithadconvincedhershelovedJemaboveallpersonsorthings。ButJemwasapoormechanic，withamotherandaunttokeep；amother，too，whohadshownherprettyclearlythatshedidnotdesireherforadaughter-in-lawwhileMrCarsonwasrich，andprosperous，andgay，andshebelievedwouldplaceherinallcircumstancesofeaseandluxury，wherewantcouldnevercome。Whatwerethesehollowvanitiestoher，nowshehaddiscoveredthepassionatesecretofhersoul？ShefeltasifshealmosthatedMrCarson，whohaddecoyedherwithhisbaubles。