Indeed，andindeedIcanproveit；hewaswithWillallthatnight；hewas，indeed，Job!““Mywench!whosewordhastthouforthat？“saidJob，pityingly。“Why!hismothertoldme，andI’llgetWilltobearwitnesstoit。But，oh!Job“burstingintotears，“itishardifyouwon’tbelieveme。HowshallIclearhimtostrangers，whenthosewhoknowhim，andoughttolovehim，aresosetagainsthisbeinginnocent？““Godknows，I’mnotagainsthisbeinginnocent，“saidJob，solemnly。“I’dgivehalfmyremainingdaysonearth，——I’dgivethemall，MaryandbutfortheloveIbeartomypoorblindgirl，they’dbenogreatgift，ifIcouldsavehim。You’vethoughtmehard，Mary，butI’mnothardatbottom，andI’llhelpyouifIcan，thatIwill，rightorwrong，“headded；butinalowvoice，andcoughedtheuncertainwordsawaythemomentafterwards。“Oh，Job!ifyouwillhelpme，“exclaimedMary，brighteningupthoughitwasbutawintrygleamafterall，“tellmewhattosay，whentheyquestionme；Ishallbesogloppened，Isha’n’tknowwhattoanswer。““Thoucanstdonoughtbetterthantellthetruth。Truth’sbestatalltimes，theysay；andforsureitiswhenfolkhavetodowithlawyers；forthey’re’cuteandcunningenoughtogetitoutsoonerorlater，anditmakesfolklooklikeTomNoddies，whentruthfollowsfalsehood，againsttheirwill。““ButIdon’tknowthetruth；Imean——Ican’tsayrightlywhatImean；butI’msure，ifIwerepentup，andstaredatbyhundredsoffolk，andaskedeversosimpleaquestion，Ishouldbeforansweringitwrong；iftheyaskedmeifIhadseenyouonaSaturday，oraTuesday，oranyday，Ishouldhavecleanforgottenallaboutit，andsaytheverythingIshouldnot。““Well，well，don’tgofortogetsuchnotionsintoyourhead；they’rewhattheycall’narvous，’andtalkingon’emdoesnogood。Here’sMargaret!
blessthewench!Look，Mary，howwellsheguideshersel’。“Jobfelltowatchinghisgranddaughter，aswithbalancing，measuredsteps，timedalmostasiftomusic，shemadeherwayacrossthestreet。Maryshrankasiffromacoldblast——shrankfromMargaret!Theblindgirl，withherreserve，hersilence，seemedtobeaseverejudge；she，listening，wouldbesuchachecktothetrustingearnestnessofconfidence，whichwasbeginningtounlockthesympathyofJob。Maryknewherselftoblame；
felthererrorsineveryfibreofherheart；butyetshewouldratherhavehadthemspokenabout，evenintermsofseverestcensure，thanhavebeentreatedintheicymannerinwhichMargarethadreceivedherthatmorning。“Here’sMary，“saidJob，almostasifhewishedtopropitiatehisgrand-daughter，“cometotakeabitofdinnerwithus，forI’llwarrantshe’sneverthoughtofcookinganyforherselfto-day；andshelooksaswanandpaleasaghost。“Itwascallingoutthefeelingofhospitality，sostrongandwarminmostofthosewhohavelittletooffer，butwhoseheartgoeseagerlyandkindlywiththatlittle。MargaretcametowardsMarywithawelcominggesture，andakindermannerbyfarthanshehadusedinthemorning。“Nay，Mary，thouknow’stthou’stgettennoughtathome，“urgedJob。AndMary，faintandweary，andwithahearttooaching-fullofothermatterstobepertinaciousinthis，withdrewherrefusal。Theyatetheirdinnerquietly；fortoallitwasanefforttospeak：andafteroneortwoattemptstheyhadsubsidedintosilence。WhenthemealwasendedJobbeganagainonthesubjecttheyallhadatheart。“YonpoorladatKirkdalewillwantalawyertoseetheydon’tputonhim，butdohimjustice。Hastthoughtofthat？“Maryhadnot，andfeltsurehismotherhadnot。Margaretconfirmedthislastsupposition。“I’vebutjustbeenthere，andpoorJaneislikeonedateless；somanygriefscomeonheratonce。Onetimesheseemstomakesurehe’llbehung；
andifItookherinthatway，sheflewoutpoorbody!andsaid，thatinspiteofwhatfolkssaid，therewerethemascould，andwouldprovehimguiltless。SoIneverknewwheretohaveher。Theonlythingshewasconstantin，wasdeclaringhiminnocent。““Mother-like!“saidJob。“ShemeantWill，whenshespokeofthemthatcouldprovehiminnocent。
HewaswithWillonThursdaynight；walkingapartofthewaywithhimtoLiverpool；nowthethingistolayholdonWill，andgethimtoprovethis。“SospokeMary，calm，fromtheearnestnessofherpurpose。“Don’tbuildtoomuchonit，mydear，“saidJob。“Idobuildonit，“repliedMary，“becauseIknowit’sthetruth，andI