IfyouwillrefertotheprefacetoSirJ。E。Smith’sLifeIhaveitnotbyme，orIwouldcopyyoutheexactpassage，youwillfindthathenamesalittlecircumstancecorroborativeofwhatIhavesaid。BeingonavisittoRoscoe，ofLiverpool，hemadesomeinquiriesfromhimastothehabitatofaveryrareplant，saidtobefoundincertainplacesinLancashire。
MrRoscoeknewnothingoftheplant；butstated，thatifanyonecouldgivehimthedesiredinformation，itwouldbeahand-loomweaverinManchester，whomhenamed。SirJ。E。SmithproceededbyboattoManchester，andonarrivingatthattown，heinquiredoftheporterwhowascarryinghisluggageifhecoulddirecthimtoSoandSo。“Oh，yes，“repliedtheman。“Hedoesabitinmyway；“and，onfurtherinvestigation，itturnedout，thatboththeporter，andhisfriendtheweaver，wereskilfulbotanists；andabletogiveSirJ。E。Smiththeveryinformationwhichhewanted。Sucharethetastesandpursuitsofsomeofthethoughtful，littleunderstood，workingmenofManchester。AndMargaret’sgrandfatherwasoneofthese。Hewasalittlewiry-lookingoldman，whomovedwithajerkingmotion，asifhislimbswereworkedbyastringlikeachild’stoy，withdun-colouredhairlyingthinandsoftatthebackandsidesofhishead；hisforeheadwassolargeitseemedtooverbalancetherestofhisface，whichhad，indeed，lostitsnaturalcontourbytheabsenceofalltheteeth。Theeyesabsolutelygleamedwithintelligence，sokeen，soobservant，youfeltasifthewerealmostwizard-like。
Indeed，thewholeroomlookednotunlikeawizard’sdwelling。Insteadofpictureswerehungrudewoodenframesofimpaledinsects；thelittletablewascoveredwithcabalisticbooks；andacaseofmysteriousinstrumentslaybeside，oneofwhichJobLeghwasusingwhenhisgrand-daughterentered。Onherappearancehepushedhisspectaclesupsoastorestmidwayonhisforehead，andgaveMaryashort，kindwelcome。ButMargarethecaressedasamothercaressesherfirst-born；strokingherwithtenderness，andalmostalteringhisvoiceashespoketoher。Marylookedroundontheodd，strangethingsshehadneverseenathome，andwhichseemedtohertohaveaveryuncannylook。“Isyourgrandfatherafortune-teller？“whisperedshetohernewfriend。“No，“repliedMargaret，inthesamevoice；“butyouarenotthefirstashastakenhimforsuch。Heisonlyfondofsuchthingsasmostfolksknownothingabout。““Anddoyouknowaughtaboutthem，too？““Iknowabitaboutsomeofthethingsgrandfatherisfondon；justbecausehe’sfondon’em，Itriedtolearnaboutthem。““Whatthingsarethese？“saidMary，struckwiththeweird-lookingcreaturesthatsprawledaroundtheroomintheirroughly-madeglasscases。ButshewasnotpreparedforthetechnicalnameswhichJobLeghpattereddownonherear，onwhichtheyfelllikehailonaskylight；andthestrangelanguageonlybewilderedhermorethanever。Margaretsawtheofthecase，andcametotherescue。“Look，Mary，atthishorridscorpion。Hegavemesuchafright：IamallofatwitteryetwhenIthinkofit。GrandfatherwenttoLiverpooloneWhitsunweektogostrollingaboutthedocksandpickupwhathecouldfromthesailors，whooftenbringsomequeerthingoranotherfromthehotcountriestheygoto；andsoheseesachapwithabottleinhishand，likeadruggist’sphysic-bottle；andsaysgrandfather，’Whathaveyegottenthere？’Sothesailorholdsitup，andgrandfatherknewitwasararekindo’scorpion，notcommonevenintheEastIndieswherethemancamefrom；andsayshe，’Howdidyoucatchthisfinefellow，forhewouldn’tbetakenfornothing，I’mthinking？’Andthemansaidashowwhentheywereunloadingtheshiphe’dfoundhimlyingbehindabagofrice，andhethoughtthecoldhadkilledhim，forhewasnotsquashednorinjuredabit。Hedidnotliketopartwithanyofthespiritoutofhisgrogtoputthescorpionin，butslippedhimintothebottle，knowingtherewerefolksenowwhowouldgivehimsomethingforhim。Sograndfathergiveshimashilling。““Twoshillings，“interruptedJobLegh；“andagoodbargainitwas。““Well!grandfathercamehomeasproudasPunch，andpulledthebottleoutofhispocket。Butyouseeth’scorpionweredoubledup，andgrandfatherthoughtIcouldn’tfairlyseehowbighewas。Soheshakeshimoutrightbeforethefire；andagoodwarmoneitwas，forIwasironing，Iremember。
Ileftoffironing，andstoopeddownoverhim，tolookathimbetter，andgrandfathergotabook，andbegantoreadhowthisverykindwerethemostpoisonousandviciousspecies，howtheirbitewereoftenfatal，andthenwentontoreadhowpeoplewhowerebittengotswelled，andscreamedwithpain。Iwaslisteninghard，butasitfellout，Inevertookmyeyeoffthecreature，thoughIcouldnotha’toldIwaswatchingit。Suddenlyitseemedtogiveajerk，andbeforeIcouldspeakitgaveanother，andinaminuteitwasaswildascouldbe，runningatmejustlikeamaddog。““Whatdidyoudo？“askedMary。“Me!why，Ijumpedfirstonachair，andthenonallthethingsI’dbeenironingonthedresser，andIscreamedforgrandfathertocomeupbyme，buthedidnothearkentome。““Why，ifI’dcomeupbythee，who’dha’caughtthecreature，Ishouldliketoknow。““Well，Ibeggedgrandfathertocrushit，andIhadtheironrightoveritonce，readytodrop，butgrand-fatherbeggedmenottohurtitinthatway。SoIcouldn’tthinkwhathe’dhave，forhehoppedroundtheroomasifheweresoreafraid，forallhebeggedmenottoinjureit。Atlasthegoestoth’kettle，andliftsupthelid，andpeepsin。Whatonearthishedoingthatfor，thinksI；he’llneverdrinkhisteawithascorpionrunningfreeandeasyabouttheroom。Thenhetakesthetongs，andhesettleshisspectaclesonhisnose，andinaminutehehadliftedthecreatureupbyth’leg，anddroppedhimintotheboilingwater。““Anddidthatkillhim？“saidMary。“Ay，sureenough；heboiledforlongertimethangrandfatherliked，though。
ButIwassoafeardofhiscomingroundagain。Irantothepublic-houseforsomegin，andgrandfatherfilledthebottle，andthenwepouredoffthewater，andpickedhimoutofthekettle，anddroppedhimintothebottle，andhewerethereaboveatwelvemonth。““Whatbroughthimtolifeatfirst？“askedMary。“Why，yousee，hewereneverreallydead，onlytorpid——thatis，deadasleepwiththecold，andourgoodfirebroughthimround。““I’mgladfatherdoesnotcareforsuchthings，“saidMary。“Areyou!Well，I’moftendownrightgladgrandfatherissofondofhisbooks，andhiscreatures，andhisplants。Itdoesmyheartgoodtoseehimsohappy，sortingthemallathome，andsoreadytogoinsearchofmore，wheneverhe’saspareday。Lookathimnow!he’sgonebacktohisbooks，andhe’llbeashappyasaking，workingawaytillImakehimgotobed。Itkeepshimsilent，tobesure；butsolongasIseehimearnest，andpleased，andeager，whatdoesthatmatter？Then，whenhehashistalkingbouts，youcan’tthinkhowmuchhehastosay。Deargrand-father!youdon’tknowhowhappyweare!“Marywonderedifthedeargrandfatherheardallthis，forMargaretdidnotspeakinanundertone；butno!hewasfartoodeepandeagerinsolvingaproblem。HedidnotevennoticeMary’sleave-taking，andshewenthomewiththefeelingthatshehadthatnightmadetheacquaintanceoftwoofthestrangestpeoplesheeversawinherlife。Margaret，soquiet，socommonplace，untilhersingingpowerswerecalledforth；sosilentfromhome，socheerfulandagreeableathome；andhergrandfathersoverydifferenttoeveryoneMaryhadeverseen。Margarethadsaidhewasnotafortune-teller，butshedidnotknowwhethertobelieveher。Toresolveherdoubts，shetoldthehistoryoftheeveningtoherfather，whowasinterestedbyheraccount，andcurioustoseeandjudgeforhimself。
Opportunitiesarenotoftenwantingwhereinclinationgoesbefore，anderetheendofthatwinterMarylookeduponMargaretalmostasanoldfriend。
ThelatterwouldbringherworkwhenMarywaslikelytobeathomeintheeveningsandsitwithher；andJobLeghwouldputabookandapipeinhispocketandjuststeproundthecornertofetchhisgrandchild，readyforatalkifhefoundBartonin；readytopulloutpipeandbookifthegirlswantedhimtowait，andJohnwasstillathisclub。Inshort，readytodowhateverwouldgivepleasuretohisdarlingMargaret。Idonotknowwhatpointsofresemblanceordissimilitude，fortheonejoinspeopleasoftenastheotherattractedthetwogirlstoeachother。
Margarethadthegreatcharmofpossessinggoodstrongcommonsense，anddoyounotperceivehowinvoluntarilythisisvalued？Itissopleasanttohaveafriendwhopossessesthepowerofsettingadifficultquestioninaclearlight；whosejudgmentcantellwhatisbesttobedone；andwhoissoconvincedofwhatis“wisest，best，“thatinconsiderationoftheend，alldifficultiesinthewaydiminish。Peopleadmiretalent，andtalkabouttheiradmiration。Buttheyvaluecommonsensewithouttalkingaboutit，andoftenwithoutknowingit。SoMaryandMargaretgrewinloveonetowardtheother；andMarytoldmanyofherfeelingsinawayshehadneverdonebeforetoanyone。MostofherfoiblesalsoweremadeknowntoMargaret，。butnotall。Therewasonecherishedweaknessstillconcealedfromeveryone。Itconcernedalover，notbeloved，butfavouredbyfancy。Agallant，handsomeyoungman；but——notbeloved。YetMaryhopedtomeethimeverydayinherwalks，blushedwhensheheardhisname，andtriedtothinkofhimasherfuturehusband，andaboveall，triedtothinkofherselfashisfuturewife。Alas!poorMary!
Bitterwoedidthyweaknessworkthee。Shehadotherlovers。Oneortwowouldgladlyhavekepthercompany，butsheheldherselftoohigh，theysaid。JemWilsonsaidnothing，butlovedonandon，evermorefondly；hehopedagainsthope；hewouldnotgiveup，foritseemedlikegivinguplifetogiveupthoughtofMary。Hedidnotdaretolooktoanyendofallthis；thepresent，sothathesawher，touchedthehemofhergarment，wasenough。Surely，intime，suchdeeplovewouldbegetlove。Hewouldnotrelinquishhope，andyethercoldnessofmannerwasenoughtodauntanyman；anditmadeJemmoredespairingthanhewouldacknowledgeforalongtimeeventohimself。ButoneeveninghecameroundbyBarton’shouse，awillingmessengerforhisfather，andopeningthedoorsawMargaretsittingasleepbeforethefire。ShehadcomeintospeaktoMary；andwornoutbyalong，working，watchingnight，shefellasleepinthegenialwarmth。AnoldfashionedsayingaboutapairofglovescameintoJem’smind，andsteppinggentlyup，hekissedMargaretwithafriendlykiss。Sheawoke，andperfectlyunderstandingthething，shesaid，“Forshameofyourself，Jem!WhatwouldMarysay？“Lightlysaid，lightlyanswered。“She’dnobbutsay，practicemakesperfect。“Andtheybothlaughed。ButthewordsMargarethadsaidrankledinJem’smind。WouldMarycare？Wouldshecareintheveryleast？Theyseemedtocallforananswerbynightandbyday；andJemfeltthathishearttoldhimMarywasquiteindifferenttoanyactionofhis。Stillheloved，onandon，evermorefondly。Mary’sfatherwasquitewellawareofthenatureofJemWilson’sfeelingsforhisdaughter，buthetooknonoticeofthemtoanyone，thinkingMaryfullyoungyetforthecaresofmarriedlife，andunwilling，too，toentertaintheideaofpartingwithheratanytime，howeverdistant。ButhewelcomedJemathishouse，ashewouldhavedonehisfather’sson，whateverwerehismotivesforcoming；andnowandthenadmittedthethought，thatMarymightdoworsewhenhertimecame，thanmarryJemWilson，asteadyworkmanatagoodtrade，agoodsontohisparents，andafinemanlyspiritedchap——atleastwhenMarywasnotforwhenshewaspresenthewatchedhertooclosely，andtooanxiously，tohavemuchofwhatJohnBartoncalled“spunk“inhim。ItwastowardstheendofFebruary，inthatyear，andabitterblackfrosthadlastedformanyweeks。Thekeeneastwindhadlongsincesweptthestreetsclean，thoughinagustydaythedustwouldriselikepoundedice，andmakepeople’sfacesquitesmartwiththecoldforcewithwhichitblewagainstthem。Houses，sky，people，andeverythinglookedasifagiganticbrushhadwashedthemalloverwithadarkshadeofIndianink。Therewassomereasonforthisgrimyappearanceonhumanbeings，whatevertheremightbeforthedunlooksofthelandscape；forsoftwaterhadbecomeanarticlenoteventobepurchased；andthepoorwasherwomenmightbeseenvainlytryingtoprocurealittlebybreakingthethickgreyicethatcoatedtheditchesandpondsintheneighbourhood。Peopleprophesiedalongcontinuancetothisalreadylengthenedfrost；saidthespringwouldbeverylate；nospringfashionsrequired；nosummerclothingpurchasedforashortuncertainsummer。Indeed，therewasnoendtotheevilprophesiedduringthecontinuanceofthatbleakeastwild。Maryhurriedhomeoneevening，justasdaylightwasfading，fromMissSimmonds’，withhershawlhelduptohermouth，andherheadbentasifindeprecationofthemeetingwind。SoshedidnotperceiveMargarettillshewascloseuponherattheveryturningintothecourt。“Blessme，Margaret!isthatyou？Whereareyouboundto？““Tonowherebutyourownhousethatis，ifyou’lltakemein。I’veajobofworktofinishto-night；mourning，asmustbeintimeforthefuneralto-morrow；andgrandfatherhasbeenoutmoss-hunting，andwillnotbehometilllate。““Oh，howcharmingitwillbe!I’llhelpyouifyou’re