Ineverseedtwosuchprettywomenforsistersnever。Notbutwhatbeautyisasadsnare。HerewasEsthersopuffedup，thattherewasnoholdingherin。Herspiritwasalwaysup，ifIspokeeversolittleinthewayofadvicetoher；mywifespoiledher，itistrue，foryouseeshewassomucholderthanEsther，shewasmorelikeamothertoher，doingeverythingforher。““Iwondersheeverleftyou，“observedhisfriend。“That’stheworstoffactoryworkforgirls。Theycanearnsomuchwhenworkisplenty，thattheycanmaintainthemselvesanyhow。MyMaryshallneverworkinafactory，thatI’mdeterminedon。YouseeEstherspenthermoneyindress，thinkingtosetoffherprettyface；andgottocomehomesolateatnight，thatatlastItoldhermymind；mymissisthinksIspokecrossly，butImeantright，forIlovedEsther，ifitwasonlyforMary’ssake。SaysI，’Esther，Iseewhatyou’llendatwithyourartificials，andyourfly-awayveils，andstoppingoutwhenhonestwomenareintheirbeds；you’llbeastreet-walker，Esther，andthen，don’tyougotothinkI’llhaveyoudarkenmydoor，thoughmywifeisyoursister。’Sosaysshe，’Don’ttroubleyourself，John。I’llpackupandbeoffnow，forI’llneverstaytohearmyselfcalledasyoucallme。’Sheflusheduplikeaturkey-cock，andIthoughtfirewouldcomeoutofhereyes；butwhenshesawMarycryforMarycan’tabidewordsinahouse，shewentandkissedher，andsaidshewasnotsobadasIthoughther。Sowetalkedmorefriendly，for，asIsaid，Ilikedthelasswellenough，andherprettylooks，andhercheeryways。ButshesaidandatthattimeIthoughttherewassenseinwhatshesaidweshouldbemuchbetterfriendsifshewentintolodgings，andonlycametoseeusnowandthen。““Thenyoustillwerefriendly。Folkssaidyou’dcastheroff，andsaidyou’dneverspeaktoheragain。““Folksalwaysmakeoneadealworsethanoneis，“saidJohnBarton，testily。
“Shecamemanyatimetoourhouseaftersheleftofflivingwithus。LastSundayse’nnight——no!itwasthisverylastSunday，shecametodrinkacupofteawithMary；andthatwasthelasttimeweseteyesonher。““Wassheanywaysdifferentinhermanner？“askedWilson。“Well，Idon’tknow。Ihavethoughtseveraltimessince，thatshewasabitquieter，andmorewomanly-like；moregentle，andmoreblushing，andnotsoriotousandnoisy。Shecomesin，towardsfouro’clock，whenafternoonchurchwasloosing，andshegoesandhangsherbonnetupontheoldnailweusedtocallhers，whileshelivedwithus。Irememberthinkingwhataprettylassshewas，asshesatonalowstoolbyMary，whowasrockingherself，andinratherapoorway。Shelaughedandcriedbyturns，butallsosoftlyandgently，likeachild，thatIcouldn’tfindinmyhearttoscoldher，especiallyasMarywasfrettingalready。OnethingIdorememberIdidsay，andprettysharplytoo。ShetookourlittleMarybythewaist，and“Thoumustleavingoffcallingher’little’Mary，she’sgrowingupintoasfinealassasonecanseeonasummer’sday；moreofhermother’sstockthanthine，“interruptedWilson。“Well，well，Icallher’little，’becausehermother’snameisMary。But，asIwassaying，shetakesMaryinacoaxingsortofway，and’Mary，’saysshe，’whatshouldyouthinkifIsentforyousomedayandmadealadyofyou!’SoIcouldnotstandsuchtalkasthattomygirl，andIsaid，’Thou’dbestnotputthatnonsensei’th’girl’sheadIcantelltheeI’dratherseeherearningherbreadbythesweatofherbrow，astheBibletellshersheshoulddo，aye，thoughshenevergotbuttertoherbread，thanbelikeado-nothinglady，worryingshopmenallmorning，andscreechingatherpiannyallafternoon，andgoingtobedwithouthavingdoneagoodturntoanyoneofGod’screaturesbutherself。’““Thounevercouldabidethegentlefolk，“saidWilson，halfamusedathisfriend’svehemence。“AndwhatgoodhavetheyeverdonemethatIshouldlikethem？“askedBarton，thelatentfirelightinguphiseye：andburstingforth，hecontinued，’IfIamsick，dotheycomeandnurseme？IfmychildliesdyingaspoorTomlay，withhiswhitewanlipsquivering，forwantofbetterfoodthanIcouldgivehim，doestherichmanbringthewineorbroththatmightsavehislife？IfIamoutofworkforweeksinthebadtimes，andwintercomes，withblackfrost，andkeeneastwind，andthereisnocoalforthegrate，andnoclothesforthebed，andthethin“onesareseenthroughtheraggedclothes，doestherichmansharehisplentywithme，asheoughttodo，ifhisreligionwasn’tahumbug？WhenIlieonmydeath-bed，andMaryblessherstandsfretting，asIknowshewillfret，“andherehisvoicefalteredalittle，“willarichladycomeandtakehertoherownhomeifneedbe，tillshecanlookround，andseewhatbesttodo？No，Itellyou，it’sthepoor，andthepooronly，asdoessuchthingsforthepoor。Don’tthinktocomeovermewithth’oldtalethattherichknownothingofthetrialsofthepoor；Isay，iftheydon’tknow，theyoughttoknow。We’retheirslavesaslongaswecanwork；wepileuptheirfortuneswiththesweatofourbrows，andyetwearetoliveasseparateasifwewereintwoworlds；ay，asseparateasDivesandLazarus，withagreatgulfbetwixtus：butIknowwhowasbestoffthen，“andhewounduphisspeechwithalowchucklethathadnomirthinit。“Well，neighbour，“saidWilson，“allthatmaybeverytrue，butwhatI
wanttoknownowisaboutEsther——whendidyoulasthearofher？““Why，shetookleaveofusthatSundaynightinaverylovingway，kissingbothwifeMary，anddaughterMaryifImustnotcallher’little’，andshakinghandswithme；butallinacheerfulsortofmanner，sowethoughtnothingaboutherkissesandshakes。ButonWednesdaynightcomesMrsBradshaw’ssonwithEsther’sbox，andpresentlyMrsBradshawfollowswiththekey；
andwhenwebegantotalk，wefoundEsthertoldhershewascomingbacktolivewithus，andwouldpayherweek’smoneyfornotgivingnotice；
andonTuesdaynightshecarriedoffalittlebundleherbestclotheswereonherback，asIsaidbefore，andtoldMrsBradshawnottohurryherselfaboutthebigbox，butbringitwhenshehadtime。So，ofcourse，shethoughtsheshouldfindEstherwithus；andwhenshetoldherstory，mymissussetupsuchascreech，andfelldowninadeadswoon。Maryranupwithwaterforhermother，andIthoughtsomuchaboutmywife，IdidnotseemtocareatallforEsther。ButthenextdayIaskedalltheneighboursbothourownandBradshaw’s，andthey’dnoneof’emheardorseennothingofher。Ievenwenttoapoliceman，agoodenoughsortofaman，butafellowI’dneverspokentobeforebecauseofhislivery，andIaskshimifhis’cutenesscouldfindanythingoutforus。SoIbelieveheasksotherpolicemen；andoneon’emhadseenawench，likeourEsther，walkingveryquicklywithabundleunderherarm，onTuesdaynight，towardeighto’clock，andgetintoahackneycoach，nearHulmeChurch，andwedon’tknow’th’number，andcan’ttraceitnofurther。I’msorryenoughforthegirl，forbad’scomeoverher，onewayoranother，butI’msorrierformywife。ShelovedhernexttomeandMary，andshe’sneverbeenthesamebodysincepoorTom’sdeath。However，let’sgobacktothem；youroldwomanmayhavedonehergood。“Astheywalkedhomewardswithabriskerpace，Wilsonexpressedawishthattheystillwerethenearneighbourstheyoncehadbeen。“StillourAlicelivesinthecellarunderNo。14，inBarberStreet，andifyou’donlyspeakthewordshe’dbewithyouinfiveminutestokeepyourwifecompanywhenshe’slonesome。ThoughI’mAlice’sbrother，andperhapsoughtnottosayit，Iwillsaythere’snonemorereadytohelpwithheartorhandthansheis。Thoughshemayhavedoneahardday’swash，there’snotachildillwithinthestreetbutAlicegoestooffertositup，anddoessituptoo，thoughmaybeshe’stobeatherworkbysixnextmorning。““She’sapoorwoman，andcanfeelforthepoor，Wilson，“wasBarton’sreply；
andthenheadded，“Thankyoukindlyforyouroffer，andmayhapImaytroublehertobeabitwithmywife，forwhileI’matwork，andMary’satschool，Iknowshefretsaboveabit。See，there’sMary!“andthefather’seyebrightened，asinthedistance，amongagroupofgirls，hespiedhisonlydaughter，abonnylassofthirteenorso，whocameboundingalongtomeetandtogreetherfather，inamannerthatshowedthatthestern-lookingmanhadatendernaturewithin。Thetwomenhadcrossedthelaststile，whileMaryloiteredbehindtogathersomebudsofthecominghawthorn，whenanovergrownladcamepasther，andsnatchedakiss，exclaiming，“
Foroldacquaintancesake，Mary。““Takethatforoldacquaintancesake，then，“saidthegirl，blushingrosyred，morewithangerthanshame，assheslappedhisface。Thetonesofhervoicecalledbackherfatherandhisfriend，andtheaggressorprovedtobetheeldestsonofthelatter，theseniorbyeighteenyearsofhislittlebrothers。“Here，children，insteado’kissingandquarrelling，doyeeachtakeababy，forifWilson’sarmsbelikeminetheyareheartilytired。“Marysprangforwardtotakeherfather’scharge，withagirl’sfondnessforinfants，andwithsomelittleforesightoftheeventsoontohappenathome；whileyoungWilsonseemedtolosehisrough，cubbishnatureashecrowedandcooedtohislittlebrother。“Twinsisagreattrialtoapoorman，bless’em，“saidthehalf-proud，half-wearyfather，ashebestowedasmackingkissonthebabeerehepartedwithit。
Polly，putthekettleon，Andlet’shavetea!Polly，putthekettleon，Andwe’llallhavetea。“Hereweare，wife；did’stthouthinkthou’dlostus？“quothhearty-voicedWilson，asthetwowomenroseandshookthemselvesinpreparationfortheirhomewardwalk。MrsBartonwasevidentlysoothed，ifnotcheered，bytheunburdeningofherfearsandthoughtstoherfriend；andherapprovinglookwentfartosecondherhusband’sinvitationthatthewholepartyshouldadjournfromGreenHeysFieldstotea，attheBartons’house。TheonlyfaintoppositionwasraisedbyMrsWilson，onaccountofthelatenessofthehouratwhichtheywouldprobablyreturn，whichshefearedonherbabies’
account。“Now，holdyourtongue，missis，willyou，“saidherhusband，good-temperedly。
“Don’tyouknowthembratsnevergoestosleeptilllongpastten？andhaven’tyouashawl，underwhichyoucantuckonelad’shead，assafeasabird’sunderitswing？Andasfort’otherone，I’llputitinmypocketratherthannotstay，nowwearethisfarawayfromAncoats。““OrIcanlendyouanothershawl，“suggestedMrsBarton。“Aye，anythingratherthannotstay。“Thematterbeingdecided，thepartyproceededhome，throughmanyhalf-finishedstreets，allsolikeoneanother，thatyoumighthaveeasilybeenbewilderedandlostyourway。Notastep，however，didourfriendslose；downthisentry，cuttingoffthatcorner，untiltheyturnedoutofoneoftheseinnumerablestreetsintoalittlepavedcourt，havingthebacksofhousesattheendoppositetotheopening，andagutterrunningthroughthemiddletocarryoffhouseholdslops，washingsuds，etc。Thewomenwholivedinthecourtwerebusytakinginstringsofcaps，frocks，andvariousarticlesoflinen，whichhungfromsidetoside，danglingsolow，thatifourfriendshadbeenafewminutessooner，theywouldhavehadtostoopverymuch，orelsethehalf-wetclotheswouldhaveflappedintheirfaces：butalthoughtheeveningseemedyetearlywhentheywereintheopenfields——amongthepent-uphouses，night，withitsmistsanditsdarkness，hadalreadybeguntofall。ManygreetingsweregivenandexchangedbetweentheWilsonsandthesewomen，fornotlongagotheyhadalsodweltinthiscourt。Tworudelads，standingatadisorderlylookinghouse-door，exclaimed，asMaryBartonthedaughterpassed，“Eh，look!PollyBarton’sgettenasweetheart。“OfcoursethisreferredtoyoungWilson，whostolealooktoseehowMarytooktheidea。Hesawherassumetheairofayoungfury，andtohisnextspeechsheanswerednotaword。MrsBartonproducedthekeyofthedoorfromherpocket；andonenteringthehouse-placeitseemedasiftheywereintotaldarkness，exceptonebrightspot，whichmightbeacat’seye，ormightbe，whatitwas，ared-hotfire，smoulderingunderalargepieceofcoal，whichJohnBartonimmediatelyappliedhimselftobreakup，andtheeffectinstantlyproducedwaswarmandglowinglightineverycorneroftheroom。Toaddtothisalthoughtilecoarseyellowglareseemedlostintheruddyglowfromthefire，MrsBartonlightedadipbystickingitinthefire，andhavingplaceditsatisfactorilyinatincandlestick，begantolookfurtherabouther，onhospitablethoughtsintent。Theroomwastolerablylarge，andpossessedmanyconveniences。Ontherightofthedoor，asyouentered，wasalongishwindow，withabroadledge。Oneachsideofthis，hungblue-and-whitecheckcurtains，whichwerenowdrawn，toshutinthefriendsmettoenjoythemselves。
Twogeraniums，unprunedandleafy，whichstoodonthesill，formedafurtherdefencefromout-doorpryers。Inthecornerbetweenthewindowandthefire-sidewasacupboard，apparentlyfullofplatesanddishes，cupsandsaucers，andsomemorenondescriptarticles，forwhichonewouldhavefanciedtheirpossessorscouldfindnouse——suchastriangularpiecesofglasstosavecarvingknivesandforksfromdirtyingtable-cloths。However，itwasevidentMrsBartonwasproudofhercrockeryandglass，forshelefthercupboarddooropen，withaglanceroundofsatisfactionandpleasure。
Ontheoppositesidetothedoorandwindowwasthestaircase，andtwodoors；oneofwhichthenearesttothefireledintoasortoflittlebackkitchen，wheredirtywork，suchaswashingupdishes，mightbedone，andwhoseshelvesservedaslarder，andpantry，andstore-room，andall。