Jem，too，wenttotheclosettermedhisbedroom。Therewasnobolttothedoor；butbyonestrongeffortofhisrightarm，aheavychestwasmovedagainstitandhecouldsitdownonthesideofhisbed，andthink。Marylovedanother!Thatideawouldriseuppermostinhismind，andhadtobecombatedinallitsformsofpain。Itwas，perhaps，nogreatwonderthatsheshouldpreferonesomuchaboveJemintheexternalthingsoflife。Butthegentleman；whydidhe，withhisrangeofchoiceamongtheladiesoftheland，whydidhestoopdowntocarryoffthepoorman’sdarling？
Withallthegloriesofthegardenathishand，whydidheprefertocullthewild-rose，——Jem’sownfragrantwild-rose？Hisown!Oh!nevernowhisown!——Goneforevermore!Thenuprosetheguiltylongingforblood’!——TheIfrenzyofjealousy!——Someoneshoulddie。HewouldratherMaryweredead，coldinhergrave，thanthatshewereanother’s。Avisionofherpale，sweetface，withherbrighthair，allbedabbledwithgore，seemedtofloatconstantlybeforehisachingeyes。Butherswereeveropen，andcontained，intheirsoft，deathlylook，suchmutereproach!Whathadshedonetodeservesuchcrueltreatmentfromhim？ShehadbeenwooedbyonewhomJemknewtobehandsome，gay，andbright，andshehadgivenhimherlove。Thatwasall!Itwasthewooerwhoshoulddie。Yes，die，knowingthecauseofhisdeath。Jempicturedhimandgloatedonthepicture，lyingsmitten，yetconscious；andlisteningtotheupbraidingaccusationofhismurderer。Howhehadlefthisownrank，anddaredtoloveamaidenoflowdegree；andoh!stingingagonyofall——howshe，inreturn，hadlovedhim!Thentheothernaturespokeup，andbadehimremembertheanguishheshouldsoprepareforMary!Atfirstherefusedtolistentothatbettervoice；orlistenedonlytopervert。Hewouldgloryinherwailinggrief!hewouldtakepleasureinherdesolationofheart!No!hecouldnot，saidthestillsmallvoice。Itwouldbeworse，farworse，tohavecausedsuchwoe，thanitwasnowtobearhispresentheavyburden。Butitwastooheavy，toogrievoustobeborne，andlive。Hewouldslayhimself，andtheloversshouldloveon，andthesunshinebright，andhewithhisburning，wofulheartwouldbeatrest。“RestthatisreservedforthepeopleofGod。“Hadhenotpromisedwithsuchearnestpurposeofsoul，asmakeswordsmoreSolemnthanoaths，tosaveMaryfrombecomingsuchasEsther？Shouldheshrinkfromthedutiesoflife，intothecowardlinessofdeath？WhowouldthenguardMary，withherloveandherinnocence？Woulditnotbeagoodlythingtoserveher，althoughshelovedhimnot；tobeherpreservingangel，throughtheperilsoflife；andshe，unconsciousallthewhile？Hebraceduphissoul，andsaidtohimself，thatwithGod’shelphewouldbethatearthlykeeper。Andnowthemistsandthestormsseemedclearingawayfromhispath，thoughitstillwasfullofstingingthorns。Havingdonethedutynearesttohimofreducingthetumultofhisownhearttosomethinglikeorder，thesecondbecamemoreplainbeforehim。PoorEsther’sexperiencehadledher，perhapstoohastily，totheconclusionthatMrCarson’sintentionswereeviltowardsMary；atleastshehadgivennojustgroundforthefearsshehadentertainedthatsuchwasthecase。
Itwaspossible，nay，toJem’sheartveryprobable，thathemightonlybetoohappytomarryher。Shewasaladybyrightofnature，Jemthought；
inmovement，grace，andspirit。WhatwasbirthtoaManchestermanufacturer，manyofwhomglory，andjustlytoo，inbeingthearchitectsoftheirownfortunes？And，asfaraswealthwasconcerned，judginganotherbyhimself，Jemcouldonlyimagineitagreatprivilegetolayitatthefeetofthelovedone。HarryCarson’smotherhadbeenafactorygirl；so，afterall，whatwasthegreatreasonfordoubtinghisintentionstowardsMary？Theremightprobablybesomelittleawkwardnessabouttheaffairatfirst：
Mary’sfatherhavingsuchstrongprejudicesontheonehand；andsomethingofthesamekindbeinglikelytoexistonthepartofMrCarson’sfamily。