intheverycottagewhereshewasborn，ifwecouldgetit。Dear!andhowdifferentitis!Hereisshestillinabackstreeto’Manchester，neverlikelytoseeherownhomeagain；andI，asailor，offforAmericanextweek。IwishshehadbeenabletogotoBurtononceaforeshedied。““Shewouldmaybehavefoundallsadlychanged，“saidMary，thoughherheartechoedWill’sfeeling。“Aye!aye!Idaresayit’sbest。OnethingIdowishthough，andIhaveoftenwisheditwhenoutaloneonthedeepsea，wheneventhemostthoughtlesscan’tchoosebutthinkonth’pastandth’future；andthatis，thatI’dnevergrievedher。OhMary!manyahastywordcomessorelybackontheheart，whenonethinksoneshallneverseethepersonwhomonehasgrievedagain!“Theybothstoodthinking。SuddenlyMarystarted。“That’sfather’sstep。Andhisshirtisnotready!“Shehurriedtoherirons，andtriedtomakeupforlosttime。JohnBartoncamein。Suchahaggardandwildlyanxious-lookingman，Willthoughthehadneverseen。HelookedatWill，butspokenowordofgreetingorwelcome。“I’mcometobidyougood-bye，“saidthesailor，andwouldinhissociablefriendlyhumourhavegoneonspeaking。ButJohnansweredabruptly，“Good-byetoye，then。“Therewasthatinhismannerwhichleftnodoubtofhisdesiretogetridofthevisitor，andWillaccordinglyshookhandswithMary，andlookedatJohn，asifdoubtinghowfartooffertoshakehandswithhim。Buthemetwithnoansweringglanceorgesture，sohewenthisway，stoppingforaninstantatthedoortosay，“You’llthinkonmeonTuesday，Mary。That’sthedayweshallhoistourBluePeter，JackHarrissays。“Marywasheartilysorrywhenthedoorclosed；itseemedlikeshuttingoutafriendlysunbeam。Andherfather!whatcouldbethematterwithhim？
Hewassorestless；notspeakingshewishedhewould，butstartingupandthensittingdown，andmeddlingwithherirons；heseemedsofierce，too，tojudgefromhisface。ShewonderedifhedislikedWillbeingthere；
orifhewerevexedtofindthatshehadnotgotfurtheronwithherwork。
Atlastshecouldbearhisnervouswaynolonger，itmadeherequallynervousandfidgety。Shewouldspeak。“Whenareyougoing，father？Idon’tknowthetimeo’thetrains。““Andwhyshouldstthouknow？“repliedhe，gruffly。“Meddlewiththyironing，butdonnotbeaskingquestionsaboutwhatdoesn’tconcernthee。““Iwantedtogetyousomethingtoeatfirst，“answeredshe，gently。“ThoudostnotknowthatI’mlamingtodowithoutfood，“saidhe。Marylookedathimtoseeifhespokejestingly。No!helookedsavagelygrave。Shefinishedherbitofironing，andbeganpreparingthefoodshewassureherfatherneeded；forbythistimeherexperienceinthedegreesofhungerhadtaughtherthathispresentirritabilitywasincreased，ifnotcaused，bywantoffood。HehadhadasovereigngivenhimtopayhisexpensesasdelegatetoGlasgow，andoutofthishehadgivenMaryafewshillingsinthemorning；soshebadbeenabletobuyasufficientmeal，andnowhercarewastocookitsoasmosttotempthim。“Ifthou’rtdoingthatforme，Mary，thoumay’stsparethylabour。ItelledtheeIwerenotforeating。““Justalittlebit，father，beforestarting，“coaxedMary，perseveringly。AtthatinstantwhoshouldcomeinbutJobLegh。Itwasnotoftenhecame，butwhenhedidpayvisits，Maryknewfrompastexperiencetheywereanythingbutshort。Herfather’scountenancefellbackintothedeepgloomfromwhichitwasbutjustemergingatthesoundofMary’ssweetvoice，andprettypleading。Hebecameagainrestlessandfidgety，scarcelygivingJobLeghthegreetingnecessaryforahostinhisownhouse。Job，however，didnotstanduponceremony。Hehadcometopayavisit，andwasnottobedauntedfromhispurpose。HewasinterestedinJohnBarton’smissiontoGlasgow，andwantedtohearallaboutit；sohesatdown，andmadehimselfcomfortable，inamannerthatMarysawwasmeanttobestationary。“Sothou’rtofftoGlasgow，artthou？“hebeganhiscatechism。“Aye。““Whenartstarting？““To-night。““ThatIknowed。Butbywhattrain？“ThatwasjustwhatMarywantedtoknow；butwhatapparentlyherfatherwasinnomoodtotell。Hegotupwithoutspeaking，andwentup-stairs。
Maryknewfromhisstep，andhisway，howmuchhewasputout，andfearedJobwouldseeit，too。Butno!Jobseemedimperturbable。Somuchthebetter，andperhapsshecouldcoverherfather’srudenessbyherowncivilitytosokindafriend。So，halflisteningtoherfather’smovementsup-stairspassionate，violent，restlessmotionstheywere，andhalfattendingtoJobLegh，shetriedtopayhimalldueregard。“Whendoesthyfatherstart，Mary？“Thatplaguingquestionagain。“Oh!verysoon。I’mjustgettinghimabitofsupper。IsMargaretverywell？““Yes，she’swellenough。She’smeaningtogoandkeepAliceWilsoncompanyforanhourorsothisevening；assoonasshethinkshernephewwillhavestartedforLiverpool；forshefanciestheoldwomanwillfeelabitlonesome。
Th’Unionispayingforyourfather，Isuppose？““Yes，they’vegiv’nhimasovereign。You’reoneofth’Union，Job？““Aye!I’mone，sureenough；butI’mbutasleepingpartnerintheconcern。
Iwereobligedtobecomeamemberforpeace，elseIdon’tgoalongwith’em。Yoseetheythinkthemselveswise，andmesilly，fordifferingwiththem!Well!there’snoharminthat。Butthentheywon’tletmebesillyinpeaceandquietness，butwillforcemetobeaswiseastheyare；nowthat’snotBritishliberty，Isay。I’mforcedtobewiseaccordingtotheirnotions，elsetheypersecuteme，andstarvemeout。“Whatcouldherfatherbedoingup-stairs？Trampingandbangingabout。Whydidhenotcomedown？OrwhydidnotJobgo？Thesupperwouldbespoilt。ButJobhadnonotionofgoing。“Youseemyfollyisthis，Mary。IwouldtakewhatIcouldget；Ithinkhalfaloafisbetterthannobread。Iwouldworkforlowwagesratherthansitidleandstarve。But，comestheTrades’Union，andsays，’Well，ifyoutakethehalf-loaf；we’llworryyououtofyourlife。Willyoubeclemmed，orwillyoubeworried？’Nowclemmingisaquietdeath，andworryingisn’t，soIchooseclemming，andcomeintoth’Union。ButI’dwishthey’dleavemefree，ifIamafool。“Creak，creak，wentthestairs。Herfatherwascomingdownatlast。Yes，hecamedown，butmoredoggedlyfiercethanbefore，andmadeupforthejourney，too；withhislittlebundleonhisarm。HewentuptoJob，and，morecivillythanMaryexpected，wishedhimgood-bye。Hethenturnedtoher，andinashortcoldmanner，badeherfarewell。“Oh!father，don’tgoyet。Yoursupperisallready。Stayonemoment。“Buthepushedheraway，andwasgone。Shefollowedhimtothedoor，hereyesblindedbysuddentears；shestoodtherelookingafterhim。Hewassostrange，socold，sohard。Suddenly，attheendofthecourt，heturned，andsawherstandingthere；hecamebackquickly，andtookherinhisarms。“Godblessthee，Mary!——Godinheavenblessthee，poorchild!“Shethrewherarmsroundhisneck。“Don’tgoyet，father；Ican’tbearyoutogoyet。Comein，andeatsomesupper；youlooksoghastly；dearfather，do!““No，“hesaid，faintlyandmournfully。“It’sbestasitis。Icouldn’teat，andit’sbesttobeoff。Icannotbestillathome。Imustbemoving。“Sosaying，heunlacedhersofttwiningarms，andkissingheroncemore，setoffonhisfierceerrand。Andhewasoutofsight!Shedidnotknowwhy，butshehadneverbeforefeltsodepressed，sodesolate。SheturnedintoJob，whosattherestill。
Herfather，assoonashewasoutofsight，slackenedhispace，andfellintothatheavylistlessstep，whichtoldaswellaswordscoulddo，ofhopelessnessandweakness。Itwasgettingdark，butheloiteredon，returningnogreetingtoanyone。Achild’scrycaughthisear。HisthoughtswererunningonlittleTom；
onthedeadandburiedchildofhappieryears。Hefollowedthesoundofwail，thatmighthavebeenhis，andfoundapoorlittlemortal，whohadlosthisway，andwhosegriefchokeduphisthoughtstothesinglewant，“Mammy，mammy。“Withtenderaddress，JohnBartonsoothedthelittleladdie，andwithbeautifulpatiencehegatheredfragmentsofmeaningfromthehalf-spokenwordswhichcamemingledwithsobsfromtheterrifiedlittleheart。So，aidedbyinquirieshereandtherefromapasser-by，heledandcarriedthelittlefellowhome，wherehismotherhadbeentoobusytomisshim，butnowreceivedhimwiththankfulness，andwithaneloquentIrishblessing。WhenJohnheardthewordsofblessing，heshookhisheadmournfully，andturnedawaytoretracehissteps。Letusleavehim。Marytookhersewingafterhewasgone，andsaton，andsaton，tryingtolistentoJob，whowasmoreinclinedtotalkthanusual。Shehadconqueredherfeelingofimpatiencetowardshimsofarastobeabletoofferhimherfather’srejectedsupper；andsheeventriedtoeatherself。Butherheartfailedher。Aleadenweightseemedtobangoverher；asortofpresentimentofevil，orperhapsonlyanexcessoflow-spiritedfeelinginconsequenceofthetwodepartureswhichhadtakenplacethatafternoon。ShewonderedhowlongJobLeghwouldsit。Shedidnotlikeputtingdownherwork，andcryingbeforehim，andyetshehadneverinherlifelongedsomuchtobealoneinordertoindulgeagoodheartyburstoftears。“Well，Mary，“shesuddenlycaughthimsaying，“Ithoughtyou’dbeabitlonelyto-night；andasMargaretweregoingtocheerth’oldwoman，IsaidI’dgoandkeeptheyoung’uncompany；andaverypleasantchattyeveningwe’vehad；very。OnlyIwonderasMargaretisnotcomeback。““Butperhapssheis，“suggestedMary。“No，no，Itookcareo’that。Lookyehere!“andhepulledoutthegreathouse-key。“She’llhavetostandwaitingi’th’street，andthatI’msureshewouldn’tdo，whensheknewwheretofindme。““Willshecomebackbyhersel？“askedMary。“Aye。AtfirstIwereafraido’trustingher，andIusedtofollowherabitbehind；neverlettingon，ofcourse。But，blessyou!shegoesalongassteadilyascanbe；ratherslowtobesure，andherheadabitononeside，asifshewerelistening。Andit’srealbeautifultoseehercrosstheroad。She’llwaitaboveabittohearthatallisstill；notthatshe’ssodarkasnottoseeacoachoracartlikeabigblackthing，butshecan’trightlyjudgehowfaroffitisbysight，soshelistens。Hark!that’sher!“Yes；inshecamewithherusuallycalmface，alltear-stainedandsorrow-marked。“What’sthematter，mywench？“saidJob，hastily。“Oh，grandfather!AliceWilson’ssobad!“Shecouldsaynomoreforherbreathlessagitation。Theafternoon，andthepartingwithWill，hadweakenedhernervesforanyafter-shock。“Whatisit？DotellusMargaret!“saidMary，placingherinachair，andlooseningherbonnet-strings。“Ithinkit’sastrokeo’thepalsy。Anyrateshehaslosttheuseofoneside。““WasitaforeWillhadsetoff？“askedMary。“No，heweregonebeforeIgotthere，“saidMargaret；“andsheweremuchaboutaswellasshehasbeenformanyaday。Shespokeabit，butnotmuch；butthatwereonlynatural，forMrsWilsonlikestohavethetalktohersel，youknow。Shegotuptogoacrosstheroom，andthenIheardadragwi’herleg，andpresentlyafall，andMrsWilsoncamerunning，andsetupsuchacry!Istoppedwi’Alice，whileshefetchedadoctor；
butshecouldnotspeak，toanswerme，thoughshetried，Ithink。““WherewasJem？Whydidn’thegoforthedoctor？““HewereoutwhenIgotthere，andhenevercamehomewhileIstopped。““Thou’stneverleftMrsWilsonalonewi’poorAlice？“askedJob，hastily。“No，no，“saidMargaret。“Butoh!grandfather，it’snowIfeelhowharditistohavelostmysight。IshouldhavesolovedtonurseherandI
didtry，untilIfoundIdidmoreharmthangood。Oh，grandfather；ifI
couldbutsee!“Shesobbedalittle；andtheylethergivethateasetoherheart。Thenshewenton——“No!IwentroundbyMrsDavenport’s，andshewerehardatwork；but，theminuteItoldmyerrand，shewerereadyandwillingtogotoJaneWilson，andstopupallnightwithAlice。““Andwhatdoesthedoctorsay？“askedMary。“Oh!muchwhatalldoctorssayheputsafenceonthisside，andafenceonthat，forfearheshouldbecaughttrippinginhisjudgement。Onemomenthedoesnotthinkthere’smuchhope——butwhilethereislifethereishope；
th’nexthesaysheshouldthinkshemightrecoverpartial——butherageisagain’her。He’sorderedherleechestoherhead。“Margarethavingtoldhertale，leantbackwithweariness，bothofbodyandmind。Maryhastenedtomakeheracupoftea；whileJob，latelysotalkative，satquietandmournfullysilent。“I’llgofirstthingto-morrowmorning，andlearnhowsheis；andI’llbringwordbackbeforeIgotowork，“saidMary。“It’sabadjobWill’sgone，“saidJob。Janedoesnotthinksheknowsanyone，“repliedMargaret。“It’sperhapsaswellheshouldn’tseehernow，fortheysayherfaceissadlydrawn。
He’llrememberherwithherownfacebetter，ifhedoesnotseeheragain。“Withafewmoresorrowfulremarkstheyseparatedforthenight，andMarywasleftaloneinherhouse，tomeditateontheheavydaythathadpassedoverherhead。Everythingseemedgoingwrong。Willgone；herfathergone——andsostrangelytoo!AndtoaplacesomysteriouslydistantasGlasgowseemedtobetoher!ShehadfelthispresenceasaprotectionagainstHarryCarsonandhisthreats；andnowshedreadedlestheshouldlearnshewasalone。
Herheartbegantodespair，too，aboutJem。Shefearedhehadceasedtoloveher；andshe——sheonlylovedhimmoreandmoreforhisseemingneglect。
And，asifallthisaggregateofsorrowfulthoughtswasnotenough，herewasthisnewwoe，ofpoorAlice’sparalyticstroke。