Wegettenacrossatlastthough，andmyeyesIthegrandstreetswewereinthen!They’resadlypuzzledhowtobuildhousesthoughinLondon；there’dbeanopeningforagoodsteadymasterbuilderthere，asknow’dhisbusiness。
Foryoseethehousesaremanyon’embuiltwithoutanypropershapeforabodytolivein；someonemthey’veafterthoughtwouldfalldown，sothey’vestuckgreatuglypillarsoutbefore’em。Andsomeon’emwethoughttheymustbeth’tailors’signhadgettenstonemenandwomenaswantedclothesstuckon’em。Iwerelikeachild，Iforgotamyerrandinlookingaboutme。Bythisitweredinner-time，orbetter，aswecouldtellbythesun，rightaboveourheads，andweweredustyandtired，goingastepflowandastepthen。Well，atlastwegettenintoastreetgrandernorall，leadingtoth’Queen’spalace，andthereitwereIthoughtIsawth’Queen。
Yo’veseenth’hearseswi’whiteplumes，Job？“Jobassented。“Well，themundertakerfolkaredrivingaprettytradeinLondon。Wellnigheveryladywesawinacarriagehadhiredoneo’themplumesfortheday，andhaditniddlenoddlingonherhead。itwereth’Queen’sdrawing-room，theysaid，andth’carriageswentbowlingalongtowardherhouse，somewi’dressedupgentlemenlikecircusfolkin’em，andruckso’ladiesinothers。Carriagesthemselvesweregreatshakestoo。Someo’th’gentlemenascouldn’tgetinsidehungonbehind，wi’nosegaystosmellat，andstickstokeepofffolkasmightsplashtheirsilkstockings。Iwonderedwhytheydidn’thireacabratherthanhangonlikeawhip-behindboy；butIsupposetheywishedtokeepwi’theirwives，DarbyandJoanlike。Coachmenwerelittlesquatmen，wi’wigsliketh’oud-fashionedparsons’。Well，wecouldnagetonforthesecarriages，thoughwewaitedandwaited。Th’horsesweretoofattoneverknownwanto’food，onemighttelltheirsleekcoats；
andpolicepushedusbackwhenwetriedtocross。Oneortwoof’emstruckwi’theirsticks，andcoachmenlaughed，andsomeofficersasstoodnighputtheirspy-glassesintheireye，andleft’emstickingtherelikemountebanks。
Oneo’th’policestruckme。’Whattenbusinesshaveyotodothat？’saidI。“’You’refrighteningthemhorses，’sayshe，inhismincingwayforLondonersaremostlyalltongue-tied，andcan’tsaytheira’sandi’sproperly，’andit’sourbusinesstokeepyoufrommolestingtheladiesandgentlemengoingtoherMajesty’sdrawing-room。’“’Andwhyarewetobemolested，“’askedI，“’goingdecentlyaboutourbusiness，whichislifeanddeathtous，andmanyalittleoneclemmingathomeinLancashire？Whichbusinessisofmostconsequencei’thesighto’God，thinkyo，our’northemgran’ladiesandgentlemenasyothinksomuchon？’“ButImightaswellha’heldmypeace，forheonlylaughed。“Johnceased。Afterwaitingalittle，toseeifhewouldgoonhimself，Jobsaid，“Well，butthat’snota’yourstory，man。Telluswhathappenedwhenyogottoth’ParliamentHouse。“Afteralittlepause，Johnanswered，“Ifyouplease，neighbour，I’drathersaynoughtaboutthat。It’snottobeforgotten，orforgiveneither，bymeormanyanother；butIcannatellofourdown-castingjustasapieceofLondonnews。AslongasIlive，ourrejectionthatdaywillbideinmyheart；andaslongasIliveIshallcursethemassocruellyrefusedtohearus；butI’llnotspeakofitnomore。So，dauntedintheirinquiries，theysatsilentforafewminutes。OldJob，however，feltthatsomeonemustspeak，elseallthegoodtheybaddoneindispellingJohnBarton’sgloomwaslost。Soafterawhilehethoughtofasubject，neithersufficientlydissonantfromthelasttojaronthefullheart，nortoomuchthesametocherishthecontinuanceofthegloomytrainofthought。“Didyoueverheartell，“saidhetoMary，“thatIwereinLondononce？““No!“saidshe，withsurprise，andlookingatJobwithincreasedrespect。“Aye，butIwerethough，andPegtheretoo，thoughshemindsnoughtaboutit，poorwench!YoumustknowIhadbutonechild，andshewereMargaret’smother。Ilovedheraboveabit，andonedaywhenshecamestandingbehindmeforthatIshouldnotseeherblushes，andstrokingmycheeksinherowncoaxingway，andtoldmesheandFrankJenningsaswasajoinerlodgingnearusshouldbesohappyiftheyweremarried，Icouldnotfindinmyheartt’sayhernay，thoughIwentsickatthethoughtoflosingherawayfrommyhome。However，shewasmyonlychild，andIneversaidnoughtofwhatIfelt，forfearo’grievingheryoungheart。ButItriedtothinko’thetimewhenI’dbeenyoungmysel’，andhadlovedherblessedmother，andhowwe’dleftfatherandmother，andgoneoutintoth’worldtogether，andI’mnowrightthankfulIheldmypeace，anddidnafretherwi’tellingherhowsoreIwasatpartingwi’herthatwerethelighto’myeyes。““But，“saidMary，“yousaidtheyoungmanwereaneighbour。““Aye，sohewere，andhisfatheraforehim。ButworkwereratherslackinManchester，andFrank’sunclesenthimwordo’LondonworkandLondonwages，soheweretogothere，anditwerethereMargaretwastofollowhim。Well，myheartachesyetatthoughtofthosedays。Shesohappy，andhesohappy；onlythepoorfatherasfrettedsadlybehindtheirbacks。
Theyweremarriedandstayedsomedayswi’meaforesettingoff；andI’veoftenthoughtsin’，Margaret’sheartfailedhermanyatimethosefewdays，andshewouldfainha’spoken；butIknewfra’myselitwerebettertokeepitpentup，andIneverletonwhatIwerefeeling；Iknewwhatshemeantwhenshecamekissing，andholdingmyhand，andallheroldchildishwayso’lovingme。Well，theywentatlastYouknowthemtwoletters，Margaret？““Yes，sure，“repliedhisgranddaughter。“Well，themtwoweretheonlylettersIeverhadfra’her，poorlass。Shesaidinthemshewereveryhappy，andIbelieveshewere。AndFrank’sfamilyheardhewereingoodwork。Inoneo’herletters，poorthing，sheendswi’saying，’Farewell，Grandad!’wi’alinedrawnundergrandad，andfra’
thatan’otherhintsIknewshewereinth’familyway；andIsaidnought，butIscrewedupalittlemoney，thinkingcomeWhitsuntideI’dtakeaholidayandgoandseeheran’th’littleone。ButonedaytowardsWhitsun-tide，cornedJenningswi’agraveface，andsayshe，’IhearourFrankandyourMargaret’sbothgettenthefever。’Youmightha’knockedmedownwiastraw，foritseemedasifGodtoldmewhatth’upshotwouldbe。OldJenningshadgottenaletter，yosee，fra’thelandladytheylodgedwi’；awell-pennedletter，askingifthey’dnofriendstocomeandnursethem。She’dcaughtitfirst，andFrank，whowasastendero’erherasherownmothercouldha’been，hadnursedhertillhe’dcaughtithimsel’；andsheexpectingherdown-lyingeveryday。Well，t’makealongstoryshort，oldJenningsandIwentupbythatnight’scoach。Soyousee，Mary，thatwasthewayIgottoLondon。““Buthowwasyourdaughterwhenyougotthere？“askedMary，anxiously。“Shewereatrest，poorwench，andsowereFrank。IguessedasmuchwhenIsee’dth’landlady’sface，allswelledwi’crying，whensheopenedth’
doortous。Wesaid，’Wherearethey？’andIknewtheyweredead；fra’
herlook；butJenningsdidn’t，asItakeit；forwhensheshowedusintoaroomwi’awhitesheetonth’bed，andunderneathit，plaintobeseen，twostillfigures，hescreechedoutasifhe’dbeenawoman。“Yethe’dotherchilderandI’dnone。Therelaymydarling，myonlyone。
Sheweredead，andtherewerenoonetoloveme，nonotone。IdisrememberrightlywhatIdid；butIknowIwereveryquiet，whilemyheartwerecrushedwithinme。“Jenningscouldna’standbeingintheroomatall，sothelandladytookhimdown，andIweregladtobealone。ItgrewdarkwhileIsatthere；
andatlastth’landladycomeupagain，andsaid，’Comehere。’SoIgotup，andwalkedintoth’light，butIhadtoholdbyth’stair-rails，I
weresoweakanddizzy。Sheledmeintoaroom，whereJenningslayonasofafastasleep，wi’hispockethandkerchiefoverhisheadforanight-cap。
Shesaidhe’dcriedhimselffairlyofftosleep。Therewereteaonth’
tableallready；forshewereakind-heartedbody。Butshestillsaid，’Comehere，’andtookholdo’myarm。SoIwentroundthetable，andtherewereaclothes-basketbyth’fire，wi’ashawlputo’erit。’Liftthatup，’saysshe，andIdid；andtherelayalittleweebabbyfastasleep。
Myheartgavealeap，andth’tearscomedrushingintomyeyesfirsttimethatday。’Isithers？’saidI，thoughIknewitwere。’Yes，’saidshe。
’Sheweregettingabitbettero’thefever，andth’babbywereborn；andthenthepooryoungmantookworseanddied，andshewerenotmanyhoursbehind。’“LittlemiteofathingIandyetitseemedherangelcomebacktocomfortme。Iwerequitejealouso’Jennings，wheneverhewentnearthebabby。
Ithoughtitweremoremyfleshandbloodthanhis’n，andyetIwereafraidhewouldclaimit。However，thatwerefarenoughfra’histhoughts；he’dplentyotherchilder，and，asIfoundoutafter，he’dallalongbeenwishingmetotakeit。Well，weburiedMargaretandherhusbandinabig，crowded，lonelychurchyardinLondon。Iwereloathtoleavethemthere，asIthought，whentheyroseagain，they’dfeelsostrangeatfirstawayfra’Manchester，andalloldfriends；butitcouldnabehelped。Well，Godwatcheso’ertheirgravesthereaswellashere。Thatfuneralcostaminto’money，butJenningsandIwishedtodoth’thingdecent。Thenwe’dthestoutlittlebabbytobringhome。We’dnotovermuchmoneyleft；butitwerefineweather，andwethoughtwe’dtaketh’coachtoBrummagem，andwalkon。ItwereabrightMaymorningwhenIlastsawLondontown，lookingbackfromabighillamileortwooff。Andinthatbigmasso’aplaceIwereleavingmyblessedchildasleep——inherlastsleep。Well，God’swillbedone!She’sgottentoheavenaforeme；butIshallgetthereatlast，pleaseGod，thoughit’salongwhilefirst。“Thebabbyhadbeenfedaforewesetout，andth’coachmovingkeptitasleep，blessit’slittleheart!Butwhenth’coachstoppedfordinneritwereawake，andcryingforitspobbies。SoweaskedforSomebreadandmilk，andJenningstookitfirstfortofeedit；butitmadeitsmouthlikeasquare，andletitrunoutateacho’thefourcorners。’Shakeit，Jennings，’saysI；’that’sthewaytheymakewaterrunthroughafunnel，whenit’so’erfull；andachild’smouthisbroadendo’th’funnel，andth’gulletthenarrowone。’Soheshookit，butitonlycriedth’more。
’Letmehaveit，’saysI，thinkinghewereanawkwardoudchap。Butitwerejustasbadwi’me。Byshakingth’babbywegotbetternoragillintoitsmouth，butmorenorthatcameupagain，wettinga’th’nicedryclotheslandladyhadputon。Well，justaswe’dgottentoth’dinner-table，andhelpedoursels，andeatentwomouthfuls，cameinth’guard，andafinechapwi’asampleo’calicoflourishinginhishand。’Coachisready!’
saysone；’Half-a-crownyourdinner!’saystheother。Well，wethoughtitadealforbothourdinners，whenwe’dhardlytasted’em；but，blessyourlife，itwerehalf-a-crownapiece，andashillingforth’breadandmilkaswerepossettedalloverbabby’sclothes。Wespokeupagainit；
buteverybodysaiditweretherule，sowhatcouldtwopooroudchapslikeusdoagainit？Well，poorbabbycriedwithoutstoppingtotakebreath，fra’thattimetillwegottoBrummagemforthenight。Myheartachedforth’littlething。Itcaughtwi’itsweemouthatourcoatsleevesandatourmouths，whenwetriedt’comfortitbytalkingtoit，Poorlittlewench!
itwanteditsmammy，aswerelyingcoldinth’grave。’Well，’saysI，’it’llbeclemmedtodeath，ifitletsoutitssupperasitdiditsdinner。Let’sgetsomewomantofeedit；itcomesnaturaltowomentodoforbabbies。’
Soweaskedth’chambermaidattheinn，andshetookquitekindlytoit；
andwegotagoodsupper，andgrewrareandsleepy，whatwi’th’warmthandwi’ourlongridei’th’openair。Th’chambermaidsaidshewouldliket’haveitt’sleepwi’her，onlymissiswouldscoldso；butitlookedsoquietandsmilinglike，asitlayinherarms，thatwethought’twouldbenotroubletohaveitwi’us。Isays：’See，Jennings，howwomenfolkdoquietenbabbies；itsjustasIsaid。’Helookedgrave；hewerealwaysthoughtful-looking，thoughIneverheardhimsayanythingverydeep。Atlastsayshe——“’Youngwoman!haveyougottenasparenightcap？’“’Missisalwayskeepsnightcapsforgentlemenasdoesnotliketounpack，’