Myrestisgone，MyheartissorePeacefindInever，Andnevermore。Margaret’sSongin’Faust。’ImustgobackalittletoexplainthemotiveswhichcausedEsthertoseekaninterviewwithherniece。ThemurderhadbeencommittedearlyonThursdaynight，andbetweenthenandthedawnofthefollowingdaytherewasampletimeforthenewstospreadfarandwideamongallthosewhoseduty，orwhosewant，orwhoseerrors，causedthemtobeabroadinthestreetsofManchester。AmongthosewholistenedtothetaleofviolencewasEsther。Acravingdesiretoknowmoretookpossessionofhermind。FarawayasshewasfromTurnerStreet，sheimmediatelysetofftothesceneofthemurder，whichwasfaintlylightedbythegreydawnasshereachedthespot。
Itwassoquietandstillthatshecouldhardlybelieveittobetheplace。
Theonlyvestigeofanyscuffleorviolencewasatrailonthedustasifsomebodybadbeenlyingthere，andthenbeenraisedbyextraneousforce。
Thelittlebirdswerebeginningtohopandtwitterintheleaflesshedge，makingtheonlysoundthatwasnearanddistinct。Shecrossedintothefieldwheresheguessedthemurderertohavestood；itwaseasyofaccess，fortheworn，stuntedhawthorn-hedgehadmanygapsinit。Thenight-smellofbruisedgrasscameupfromunderherfeet，asshewenttowardsthesaw-pitandcarpenter’sshed，which，asIhavesaidbefore，wereinacornerofthefieldneartheroad，andwhereoneofherinformantshadtoldheritwassupposedbythepolicethatthemurdererhadlurkedwhilewaitingforhisvictim。Therewasnosign，however，thatanyonehadbeenabouttheplace。Ifthegrasshadbeenbruisedorbentwherehehadtrod，ithadhadenoughoftheelasticityoflifetoraiseitselfunderthedewyinfluencesofnight。Shehushedherbreathininvoluntaryawe，butnothingelsetoldoftheviolentdeedbywhichafellow-creaturehadpassedaway。Shestoodstillforaminute，imaginingtoherselfthepositionoftheparties，guidedbytheonlycircumstancewhichaffordedanyevidence，thetrailingmarkonthedustintheroad。Suddenlyitwasbeforethesunhadrisenabovethehorizonshebecameawareofsomethingwhiteinthehedge。Allothercoloursworethesamemurkyhue，thoughtheformsofobjectswereperfectlydistinct。Whatwasit？Itcouldnotbeaflower；——that，thetimeofyearmadeclear。Afrozenlumpofsnow，lingeringlateinoneofthegnarledtuftsofthehedge？
Shesteppedforwardtoexamine。Itprovedtobealittlepieceofstiffwriting-papercompressedintoaroundshape。Sheunderstooditinstantly；
itwasthepaperthathadservedaswaddingforthemurderer’sgun。Thenshehadbeenstandingjustwherethemurderermusthavebeenbutafewhoursbefore；probablyastherumourhadspreadthroughthetown，reachingherearsoneofthepoormaddenedturn-outs，whohungabouteverywhere，withblack，fiercelooks，asifcontemplatingsomedeedofviolence。Hersympathywasallwiththem，forshehadknownwhattheysuffered；andbesidesthis，therewasherownindividualdislikeofMrCarson，anddreadofhimforMary’ssake。Yet，poorMary!Deathwasaterrible，thoughsure，remedyfortheevilEstherhaddreadedforher；andhowwouldshestandtheshock，lovingasherauntbelievedhertodo!PoorMarywhowouldcomforther？
Esther’sthoughtsbegantopicturehersorrow，herdespair，whenthenewsofherlover’sdeathshouldreachher；andshelongedtotellhertheremighthavebeenakeenergriefyet，hadhelived。Bright，beautifulcametheslantingraysofthemorningsun。Itwastimeforsuchasshetohidethemselves，withtheotherobscenethingsofnight，fromthegloriouslightofday，whichwasonlyforthehappy。Sosheturnedherstepstowardstown，stillholdingthepaper。Butingettingoverthehedgeitencumberedtoholditinherclaspedhand，andshethrewitdown。
Shepassedonafewsteps，herthoughtsstillofMary，tilltheideacrossedhermind，coulditblankasitappearedtobegiveanycluetothemurderer？
AsIsaidbefore，hersympathieswereallonthatside，sosheturnedbackandpickeditup；andthenfeelingasifinsomemeasureanaccessory，shehiditunexaminedinherhand，andhastilypassedoutofthestreetattheoppositeendtothatbywhichshehadenteredit。Andwhatdoyouthinkshefelt，when，havingwalkedsomedistancefromthespot，shedaredtoopenthecrushedpaper，andsawwrittenonitMaryBarton’sname，andnotonlythat，butthestreetinwhichshelived!True，aletterortwowastornoff，but，nevertheless，therewasthenamecleartoherecognised。Andoh!whatterriblethoughtflashedintohermind，orwasitonlyfancy？Butitlookedverylikethewritingwhichshehadonceknownwell——thewritingofJemWilson，who，whenshelivedatherbrother-in-law’s，andhewasanearneighbour，hadoftenbeenemployedbyhertowriteherletterstopeople，towhomshewasashamedofsendingherownmisspeltscrawl。Sherememberedthewonderfulflourishesshehadsomuchadmiredinthosedays，whileshesatbydictating，andJem，inalltheprideofnewly-acquiredpenmanship，usedtodazzlehereyesbyextraordinarygracesandtwirls。Ifitwerehis!Oh!perhapsitwasmerelythatherheadwasrunningsoonMary，thatshewasassociatingeverytriflewithher。Asifonlyonepersonwroteillthatflourishingmeanderingstyle!ItwasenoughtofillhermindtothinkfromwhatshemighthavesavedMarybysecuringthepaper。Shewouldlookatitjustoncemore，andseeif。someverydenseandstupidpolicemancouldhavemistakenthename，orifMarywouldcertainlyhavebeendraggedintonoticeintheaffair。No!noonecouldhavemistakenthe“ryBarton，anditwasJem’shandwriting？Oh!ifitwasso，sheunderstooditall，andshehadbeenthecause!Withherviolentandunregulatednature，renderedmorbidbythecourseoflifesheled，andherconsciousnessofherdegradation，shecursedherselffortheinterferencewhichshebelievedhadledtothis；fortheinformationandthewarningshehadgiventoJem，whichhadrousedhimtothismurderousaction。Howcouldshe，theabandonedandpollutedoutcast，everhavedaredtohopeforablessing，evenonhereffortstodogood？TheblackcurseofHeavenrestedonallherdoings，weretheyforgoodorforevil。Poor，diseasedmind!andtherewerenonetoministertothee!Soshewanderedabout，toorestlesstotakeherusualheavymorning’ssleep，upanddownthestreets，greedilylisteningtoeverywordofthepassers-by，andloiteringneareachgroupoftalkers，anxioustoscrapetogethereverymorselofinformation，orconjecture，orsuspicion，thoughwithoutpossessinganydefinitepurposeinallthis。Andeverandalwayssheclenchedthescrapofpaperwhichmightbetraysomuch，untilhernailshaddeeplyindentedthepalmofherhand；sofearfulwassheinhernervousdread，lestunawaressheshouldletitdrop。Towardsthemiddleofthedayshecouldnolongerevadethebody’scravingwantofrestandrefreshment，buttherestwastakeninaspiritvault，andtherefreshmentwasaglassofgin。Thenshestartedupfromthestuporshehadtakenforrepose；andsuddenlydrivenbeforethegustyimpulsesofhermind，shepushedherwaytotheplacewhereatthatverytimethepolicewerebringingtheinformationtheyhadgatheredwithregardtotheall-engrossingmurder。Shelistenedwithpainfulacutenessofcomprehensiontodroppedwords，andunconnectedsentences，themeaningofwhichbecameclearer，andyet，morecleartoher。Jemwassuspected。Jemwasascertainedtobethemurderer。Shesawhimalthoughhe，absorbedindeepsadthought，sawhernot，shesawhimbroughthandcuffed，andguardedoutofthecoach。Shesawhimenterthestation，——shegaspedforbreathtillhecameout，stillhandcuffed，andstillguarded，tobeconveyedtotheNewBailey。Hewastheonlyonewhohadspokentoherwithhopethatshemightwinherwaybacktovirtue。HiswordshadlingeredinherheartwithasortofcalltoHeaven，likedistantSabbathbells，althoughinherdespairshehadturnedawayfromhisvoice。Hewastheonlyonewhohadspokentoherkindly。Themurder，shockingthoughitwas，wasanabsent，abstractthing，onwhichherthoughtscouldnot，andwouldnotdwellallthatwaspresentinhermindwasJem’sdanger，andhiskindness。ThenMarycametoremembrance。Estherwonderedtillshewassickofwondering，inwhatwayshewastakingtheaffair。Insomemanneritwouldbeaterribleblowforthepoor，motherlessgirl；withherdreadfulfather，too，whowastoEstherasortofaccusingangel。ShesetofftowardsthecourtwhereMarylived，topickupwhatshecouldthereofinformation。Butshewasashamedtoenterinwhereonceshehadbeeninnocent，andhungabouttheneighbouringstreets，notdaringtoquestion，soshelearntbutlittle；nothing，infact，buttheknowledgeofJohnBarton’sabsencefromhome。Shewentupadarkentrytorestherwearylimbsonadoorstepandthink。
Herelbowsonherknees，herfacehiddeninherhands，shetriedtogathertogetherandarrangeherthoughts。Butstilleverynowandthensheopenedherhandtoseeifthepaperwereyetthere。Shegotupatlast。Shehadformedaplan，andhadacourseofactiontolookforwardtothatwouldsatisfyonecravingdesireatleast。Thetimewaslonggonebywhentherewasmuchwisdomorconsistencyinherprojects。Itwasgettinglate，andthatwassomuchthebetter。Shewenttoapawnshop，andtookoffherfineryinabackroom。Shewasknownbythepeople，andhadacharacterforhonesty，soshehadnoverygreatdifficultyininducingthemtoletherhaveasuitofouterclothes，befittingthewifeofaworkingman，ablacksilkbonnet，aprintedgown，aplaidshawl，dirtyandratherworntobesure，butwhichhadasortofsanctitytotheeyesofthestreet-walker，asbeingtheappropriategarbofthathappyclasstowhichshecouldnever，nevermorebelong。Shelookedatherselfinthelittleglasswhichhungagainstthewall，andsadlyshakingherhead，thoughthoweasywerethedutiesofthatEdenofinnocencefromwhichshewasshutout；howshewouldwork，andtoil，andstarve，anddie，ifnecessary，forahusband，ahome，——forchildren，——butthatthoughtshecouldnotbear；alittleformroseup，sterninitsinnocence，fromthewitches’cauldronofherimagination，andsherushedintoactionagain。YouknownowhowshecametostandbythethresholdofMary’sdoor，waiting，trembling，untilthelatchwaslifted，andherniece，withwordsthatspokeofsuchdesolationamongtheliving，fellintoherarms。ShehadfeltasifsomeholyspellwouldpreventherevenastheunholyLadyGeraldinewasprevented，intheabodeofChristabelfromcrossingthethresholdofthathomeofherearlyinnocence；andshehadmeanttowaitforaninvitation。ButMary’shelplessactiondidawaywithallreluctantfeeling，andsheboreordraggedhertoherseat，andlookedonherbewilderedeyes，as，puzzledwiththelikeness，whichwasnotidentity，shegazedonheraunt’sfeatures。Inpursuanceofherplan，Esthermeanttoassumethemannersandcharacter，asshehaddonethedress，ofamechanic’swife；butthen，toaccountforherlongabsence，andherlongsilencetowardsallthatoughttohavebeendeartoher，itwasnecessarythatsheshouldputonanindifferencefardistantfromherheart，whichwaslovingandyearning，inspiteofallitsfaults。And，perhaps，sheover-actedherpart，forcertainlyMaryfeltakindofrepugnancetothechangedandalteredaunt，whososuddenlyreappearedonthescene；anditwouldhavecutEsthertotheverycore，couldshehaveknownhowherlittledarlingofformerdayswasfeelingtowardsher。“Youdon’trememberme，Isee，Mary!“shebegan。“It’salongwhilesinceIleftyouall，tobesure；andI，manyatime，thoughtofcomingtoseeyou，and——andyourfather。ButIlivesofaroff，andamalwayssobusy，IcannotdojustwhatIwish。YourecollectauntEsther，don’tyou，Mary？““AreyouauntHetty？“askedMary，faintly，stilllookingatthefacewhichwassodifferentfromtheoldrecollectionsofheraunt’sfreshdazzlingbeauty。“Yes!IamauntHetty。Oh!it’ssolongsinceIheardthatname，“sighingforththethoughtsitsuggested；then，recoveringherself；andstrivingafterthehardcharactershewishedtoassume，shecontinued：andto-dayIheardafriendofyours，andofminetoo，longago，wasintrouble，andIguessedyouwouldbeinsorrow，soIthoughtIwouldjuststepthisfarandseeyou。“Mary’stearsflowedafresh，butshehadnodesiretoopenherhearttothestrangely-foundaunt，whohad，byherownconfession，keptalooffromandneglectedthemforsomanyyears。Yetshetriedtofeelgratefulforkindnesshoweverlatefromanyone，andwishedtobecivil。Moreover，shehadastrongdisinclinationtospeakontheterriblesubjectuppermostinhermind。So，afterapause，shesaid，“Thankyou。Idaresayyoumeanverykind。Haveyoubadalongwalk？I’msosorry，“saidshe，risingwithasuddenthought，whichwasassuddenlycheckedbyrecollection，“butI’venothingtoeatinthehouse，andI’msureyoumustbehungry，afteryourwalk。“ForMaryconcludedthatcertainlyheraunt’sresidencemustbefarawayontheothersideofthetown，outofsightorhearing。But，afterall，shedidnotthinkmuchabouther；herheartwassoaching-fullofotherthings，thatallbesidesseemedlikeadream。Shereceivedfeelingsandimpressionsfromherconversationwithheraunt，butdidnot，couldnot，putthemtogether，orthinkorargueaboutthem。AndEsther!Howscantyhadbeenherfoodfordaysandweeks，herthinly-coveredbonesandpalelipsmighttell，butherwords