Eighto’clockwasthehourfixedforthemeeting；andatitwerereadletters，filledwithdetailsofwoe，fromallpartsofthecountry。Fierce，heavygloombroodedovertheassembly；andfiercelyandheavilydidthemenseparate，towardseleveno’clock，someirritatedbytheoppositionofotherstotheirdesperateplans。Itwasnotanighttocheerthem，astheyquittedtheglareofthegas-lightedroom，andcameoutintothestreet。Unceasing，soakingrainwasfalling；
theverylampsseemedobscuredbythedampupontheglass，andtheirlightreachedbuttoalittledistancefromtheposts。Thestreetswereclearedofpassers-by；notacreatureseemedstirring，excepthereandthereadrenchedpolicemaninhisoil-skincape。Bartonwishedtheothersgoodnight，andsetoffhome。Hehadgonethroughastreetortwo，whenheheardastepbehindhim；buthedidnotcaretolookandseewhoitwas。Alittlefurther，andthepersonquickenedstep，andtouchedhisarmverylightly。
Heturned，andsaw，evenbythedarknessvisibleofthatbadly-lightedstreet，thatthewomanwhostoodbyhimwasofnodoubtfulprofession。
Itwastoldbyherfadedfinery，allunfittomeetthepeltingofthatpitilessstorm；thegauzebonnet，oncepink，nowdirtywhite，themuslingown，alldraggled，andsoakingwetuptotheveryknees；thegay-colouredbaregeshawl，closelywrappedroundtheform，whichyetshiveredandshook，asthewomanwhispered：“Iwanttospeaktoyou。“Hesworeanoath，andbadeherbegone。“Ireallydo。Don’tsendmeaway。I’msooutofbreath，IcannotsaywhatIwouldallatonce。“Sheputherhandtoherside，andcaughtherbreathwithevidentpain。“ItelltheeI’mnotthemanforthee，“addinganopprobriousname。“Stay，“
saidhe，asathoughtsuggestedbyhervoiceflashedacrosshim。Hegrippedherarm——thearmhehadjustbeforeshakenoff，anddraggedher，faintlyresisting，tothenearestlamp-post。Hepushedthebonnetback，androughlyheldthefaceshewouldfainhaveaverted，tothelight，andinherlarge，unnaturallybrightgreyeyes，herlovelymouth，halfopen，asifimploringtheforbearanceshecouldnotaskforinwords，hesawatoncethelong-lostEsther；shewhohadcausedhiswife’sdeath。Muchwaslikethegaycreatureofformeryears；buttheglaringpaint，thesharpfeatures，thechangedexpressionofthewhole!Butmostofall，heloathedthedress；andyetthepoorthing，outofherlittlechoiceofattire，hadputontheplainestshehad，tocomeonthatnight’serrand。“Soit’sthee，isit？It’sthee!“exclaimedJohn，ashegroundhisteeth，andshookherwithpassion。“I’velookedfortheelongatcornerso’streets，andsuchlikeplaces。IknewIshouldfindtheeatlast。Thee’llmaybebethinktheeo’somewordsIspoke，whichputtheeupatth’time；summutaboutstreet-walkers；butohno!thouartnoneo’themnaughts；noonethinksthouart，whoseesthyfinedraggletaileddress，andthyprettypinkcheeks!“stoppingforverywantofbreath。“Oh，mercy!John，mercy!listentomeforMary’ssake!“Shemeanthisdaughter，butthenameonlyfellonhisearasbelongingtohiswife；anditwasaddingfueltothefire。Invaindidherfacegrowdeadlypalearoundthevividcircleofpaint，invaindidshegaspformercy，——heburstforthagain。“Andthounamesthatnametome!andthouthinksthethoughtofherwillbringtheemercy!Dostthouknowitwastheewhokilledher，assureasCainkilledAbel。She’dlovedtheeasherown，andshetrustedtheeasherown，andwhenthouwertgonesheneverheldupheadagain，butdiedinlessthanathreeweek；andatthejudgement-dayshe’llrise，andpointtotheeashermurderer；orifshedon’t，Iwill。“Heflungher，trembling，sinking，fainting，fromhim，andstrodeaway。
Shefellwithafeeblescreamagainstthelamp-post，andlaythereinherweakness，unabletorise。Apolicemancameupintimetoseethecloseoftheseoccurrences，andconcludingfromEsther’sunsteady，reelingfall，thatshewastipsy，hetookherinherhalf-unconsciousstatetothelock-upsforthenight。Thesuperintendentofthatabodeofviceandmiserywasrousedfromhisdozingwatchthroughthedarkhours，byhalf-deliriouswailsandmoanings，whichhereportedasarisingfromintoxication。Ifhehadlistened，hewouldhaveheardthesewords，repeatedinvariousforms，butalwaysinthesameanxious，mutteringway：“Hewouldnotlistentome；whatcanIdo？Hewouldnotlistentome，andIwantedtowarnhim!Oh，whatshallIdotosaveMary’schild!WhatshallIdo？HowcanIkeepherfrombeingsuchaoneasIam；suchawretchedloathsomecreature!ShewaslisteningjustasIlistened，andlovingjustasIloved，andtheendwillbejustlikemyend。HowshallIsaveher？
Shewon’thearkentowarning，orheeditmorethanIdid；andwholovesherwellenoughtowatchoverherassheshouldbewatched？Godkeepherfromharm!AndyetIwon’tprayforher；sinnerthatIam!Canmyprayersbeheard？No!they’llonlydoharm。HowshallIsaveher？Hewouldnotlistentome。“Sothenightworeaway。ThenextmorningshewastakenuptotheNewBailey。
Itwasaclearcaseofdisorderlyvagrancy，andshewascommittedtoprisonforamonth。Howmuchmighthappeninthattime!
OhMary，canstthouwreckhispeace，Whaforthysakewadgladlydie？Orcanstthoubreakthatheartofhis，Whaseonlyfaultislovingthee？BURNS。Icanlikeofthewealth，Imustconfess，YetmoreIprizetheman，thoughmoneyless；IamnotoftheirhumouryetthatcanFortitleorestateaffectaman；OrofmyselfonebodydeigntomakeWithhimIloath，forhispossessions’sake。WITHER’SFidelia。BartonreturnedhomeafterhisencounterwithEsther，uneasyanddissatisfied。
Hehadsaidnomorethanhehadbeenplanningtosayforyears，incaseshewaseverthrowninhisway，inthecharacterinwhichhefeltcertainheshouldmeether。Hebelievedshedeserveditall，andyethenowwishedhehadnotsaidit。Herlook，assheaskedformercy，hauntedhimthroughhisbrokenanddisorderedsleep；herform，ashelastsawher，lyingprostrateinhelplessness，wouldnotbebanishedfromhisdreams。Hesatupinbedtotryanddispelthevision。Now，toolate，hisconsciencesmotehimforhisharshness。Itwouldhavebeenallverywell，hethought，tohavesaidwhathedid，ifhehadaddedsomekindwords，atlast。HeWonderedifhisdeadwifewasconsciousofthatnight’soccurrence；andhehopednot，forwithherloveforEstherhebelieveditwouldembitterHeaventohaveseenhersodegradedandrepulsed。Forhenowrecalledherhumility，hertacitacknowledgmentofherlostcharacter；andhebegantomarveliftherewaspowerinthereligionhehadoftenheardof，toturnherfromherways。
Hefeltthatnoearthlypowerthatheknewofcoulddoit，butthereglimmeredonhisdarknesstheideathatreligionmightsaveher。Still，wheretofindheragain？Inthewildernessofalargetown，wheretomeetwithanindividualofsolittlevalueornotetoany？Andeveningaftereveninghepacedthesamestreetsinwhichhehadheardthosefootstepsfollowinghim，peeringundereveryfantastic，discreditablebonnet，inthehopesofoncemoremeetingEsther，andaddressingherinafardifferentmannerfromwhathehaddonebefore。Buthereturned，nightafternight，disappointedinhissearch，andatlastgaveitupindespair，andtriedtorecallhisangryfeelingstowardsher，inordertofindrelieffromhispresentself-reproach。HeoftenlookedatMary，andwishedshewerenotsolikeheraunt，fortheverybodilylikenessseemedtosuggestthepossibilityofasimilarlikenessintheirfateandthenthisideausedtoenragehisirritablemind，andhebecamesuspiciousandanxiousaboutMary’sconduct。Nowhithertoshehadbeensoremarkablyfreefromallcontrol，andalmostfromallinquiryconcerningheractions，thatshedidnotbrookthischangeinherfather’sbehaviourverywell。JustwhenshewasyieldingmorethanevertoMrCarson’sdesireoffrequentmeetings，itwashardtobesoquestionedconcerningherhoursofleavingoffwork，whethershehadcomestraighthome，etc。
Shecouldnottelllies；thoughshecouldconcealmuchifshewerenotquestioned。Soshetookrefugeinobstinatesilence，allegingasareasonforitherindignationatbeingsocross-examined。Thisdidnotaddtothegoodfeelingbetweenfatheranddaughter，andyettheydearlylovedeachother；andinthemindsofeach，oneprincipalreasonformaintainingsuchbehaviourasdispleasedtheother，wasthebelievingthatthisconductwouldinsurethatperson’shappiness。HerfathernowbegantowishMarywasmarried。ThenthisterriblesuperstitiousfearsuggestedbyherlikenesstoEstherwouldbedoneawaywith。Hefeltthathecouldnotresumethereinshehadonceslackened。Butwithahusbanditwouldbedifferent。IfJemWilsonwouldbutmarryher!Withhischaracterforsteadinessandtalent!ButhewasafraidMaryhadslightedhim，hecamesoseldomnowtothehouse。Hewouldaskher。“Mary，what’scomeo’ertheeandJemWilson？Yoweregreatfriendsatonetime。““Oh，folksayheisgoingtobemarriedtoMollyGibson，andofcoursecourtingtakesupadealo’time，answeredMaryasindifferentlyasshecould。“Thou’stplayedthycardsbadly，then，“repliedherfather，inasurlytone。“Atonetimeheweredesperatefondo’thee，orI’mmuchmistaken。
Muchfonderoftheethanthoudeservedst。““That’saspeoplethink，“saidMary，pertly，forsherememberedthattheverymorningbeforeshehadmetMrCarson，whohadsighed，andswore，andprotestedallmanneroftendervowsthatshewastheloveliest，sweetest，best，etc。Andwhenshehadseenhimafterwardsridingwithoneofhisbeautifulsisters，hadhenotevidentlypointedheroutasinsomewayorotheranobjectworthyofattentionandinterest，andthenlingeredbehindhissister’shorseforamomenttokisshishandrepeatedly。So，asforJemWilson，shecouldwhistlehimdownthewind。Butherfatherwasnotinthemoodtoputupwithpertness，andheupbraidedherwiththelossofJemWilsontillshehadtobiteherlipstillthebloodcame，inordertokeepdowntheangrywordsthatwouldriseinherheart。Atlastherfatherleftthehouse，andthenshemightgivewaytoherpassionatetears。ItsohappenedthatJem，aftermuchanxiousthought，haddeterminedthatdayto“puthisfatetothetouch，towinorloseitall。“Hewasinaconditiontomaintainawifeincomfort。Itwastruehismotherandauntmustformpartofthehousehold：butsuchisnotanuncommoncaseamongthepoor，andifthereweretheadvantagesofpreviousfriendshipbetweentheparties，it。wasnot，hethought，anobstacletomatrimony。Bothmotherandaunt，hebelieved，wouldwelcomeMary。Andoh!whatacertaintyofhappinesstheideaofthatwelcomeimplied。Hehadbeenabsentandabstractedalldaylongwiththethoughtofthecomingeventoftheevening。HealmostsmiledathimselfforhiscareinwashinganddressinginpreparationforhisvisittoMary；asifonewaistcoatoranothercoulddecidehisfateinsopassionatelyamomentousthing。
Hebelievedheonlydelayedbeforehislittlelooking-glassforcowardice，forabsolutefearofagirl。Hewouldtrynottothinksomuchabouttheaffair，andhethoughtthemore。PoorJem!itisnotanauspiciousmomentforthee!“Comein，“saidMary，assomeoneknockedatthedoor，whileshesatsadlyathersewing，tryingtoearnafewpencebyworkingoverhoursatsomemourning。Jementered，lookingmoreawkwardandabashedthanhehadeverdonebefore。
YetherewasMaryallalone，justashehadhopedtofindher。Shedidnotaskhimtotakeachair，butafterstandingaminuteortwohesatdownnearher。“Isyourfatherathome，Mary？“saidhe，bywayofmakinganopening，forsheseemeddeterminedtokeepsilence，andwentonstitchingaway。“No，he’sgonetohisunion，Isuppose。“Anothersilence。Itwasnousewaiting，thoughtJem。Thesubjectwouldneverbeledtobyanytalkhecouldthinkofinhisanxious，flutteredstate。Hehadbetterbeginatonce。“Mary!“saidhe，andtheunusualtoneofhisvoicemadeherlookupforaninstant，butinthattimesheunderstoodfromhiscountenancewhatwascoming，andherheartbeatsosuddenlyandviolentlyshecouldhardlysitstill。Yetonethingshewassureof；nothinghecouldsayshouldmakeherhavehim。Shewouldshowthemallwhowouldbegladtohaveher。Shewasnotyetcalmafterherfather’sirritatingspeeches。Yethereyesfellveiledbeforethatpassionatelookfixeduponher。“DearMary!forhowdearyouare，Icannotrightlytellyouinwords。
It’snonewstoryI’mgoingtospeakabout。Youmustha’seenandknownitlong；forsincewewereboyandgirl，Iha’lovedyouabovefatherandmotherandall；andallI’vethoughtonbydayanddreamtonbynight，hasbeensomethinginwhichyou’vehadashare。I’dnowayofkeepingyouforlong，andIscornedtotryandtieyoudown；andIlivedinterrorlestsomeoneelseshouldtakeyoutohimself。Butnow，Mary，I’mforemaninth’works，and，dearMary!listen，“asshe，inherunbearableagitation，stoodupandturnedawayfromhim。Herosetoo，andcamenearer，tryingtotakeholdofherhand；butthisshewouldnotallow。Shewasbracingherselfuptorefusehim，foronceandforall。“Andnow，Mary，I’veahometoofferyou，andaheartastrueasevermanhadtoloveyouandcherishyou；weshallneverberichfolk，Idaresay；
butifalovingheartandastrongrightarmcanshieldyoufromsorrow，orfromwant，mineshalldoit。IcannotspeakasIwouldlike；mylovewon’tletitselfbeputinwords。ButohIdarling，sayyou’llbelieveme，andthatyou’llbemine。“Shecouldnotspeakatonce；herwordswouldnotcome。“Mary，theysaysilencegivesconsent；isitso？“hewhispered。Nowornevertheeffortmustbemade。“No!itdoesnotwithme。“Hervoicewascalm，althoughshetrembledfromheadtofoot。“Iwillalwaysbeyourfriend，Jem，butIpanneverbeyourwife。““Notmywife，“saidhe，mournfully。“Oh，Mary，thinkawhile!youcannotbemyfriendifyouwillnotbemywife。AtleastIcanneverbecontenttobeonlyyourfriend。Dothinkawhile!IfyousayNo，youwillmakemehopeless，desperate。It’snoloveofyesterday。Ithasmadetheverygroundworkofallthatpeoplecallgoodinme。Idon’tknowwhatIshallbeifyouwon’thaveme。And，MaryIthinkhowgladyourfatherwouldbe!Itmaysoundvain，buthe’stoldmemorethanoncehowmuchheshouldliketoseeustwomarried!“Jemintendedthisforapowerfulargument，butinMary’spresentmoodittoldagainsthimmorethananything；foritsuggestedthefalseandfoolishidea，thatherfather，inhisevidentanxietytopromotehermarriagewithJem，hadbeenspeakingtohimonthesubjectwithsomedegreeofsolicitation。“Itellyou，Jem，itcannotbe。Onceforall，Iwillnevermarryyou。““Andisthistheendofallmyhopesandfears？theendofmylife，Imaysay，foritistheendofallworthlivingfor!“Hisagitationroseandcarriedhimintopassion。