shouldneverreveal!So，withalittleunreallaugh，shereplied，“Oh!Mary，mydear!don’ttalkabouteating。We’vethebestofeverything，andplentyofit，formyhusbandisingoodwork。I’dsuchasupperbeforeIcameout。Icouldn’ttouchamorselifyouhadit。“HerwordsshotastrangepangthroughMary’sheart。Shehadalwaysrememberedheraunt’slovingandunselfishdisposition；howwasitchanged，if，livinginplenty，shehadneverthoughtitworthwhiletoaskafterrelationswhowereallbutstarving!Sheshutupherheartinstinctivelyagainstheraunt。AndallthetimepoorEstherwasswallowinghersobs，andover-actingherpart，andcontrollingherselfmorethanshehaddoneformanyalongday，inorderthatherniecemightnotbeshockedandrevolted，bytheknowledgeofwhatheraunthadbecome：——aprostitute；anoutcast。Shehadlongedtoopenherwretched，wretchedheart，sohopeless，soabandonedbyalllivingthings，toonewhohadlovedheronce；andyetsherefrained，fromdreadoftheavertedeye，thealteredvoice，theinternalloathing，whichshefearedsuchdisclosuremightcreate。Shewouldgostraighttothesubjectoftheday。Shecouldnottarrylong，forshefeltunabletosupportthecharactershehadassumedforanylengthoftime。Theysatbythelittleroundtable，facingeachother。Thecandlewasplacedrightbetweenthem，andEsthermoveditinordertohaveaclearerviewofMary’sface，sothatshemightreadheremotions，andascertainherinterests。Thenshebegan：“It’sabadbusiness，I’mafraid，thisofMrCarson’smurder。“Marywincedalittle。“IhearJemWilsonistakenupforit。“Marycoveredhereyeswithherhands，asiftoshadethemfromthelight，andEstherherself；lessaccustomedtoself-command，wasgettingtoomuchagitatedforcalmobservationofanother。“IwastakingawalknearTurnerStreet，andIwenttoseethespot，“continuedEsther，“and，asluckwouldhaveit，Ispiedthisbitofpaperinthehedge，“
producingthepreciouspiecestillfoldedinherhand。“Itbasbeenusedaswaddingforthegun，Ireckon，indeed，that’sclearenough，fromtheshapeit’scrammedinto。Iwassorryforthemurderer，whoeverhemightbeIdidn’tthenknowofJem’sbeingsuspected，andIthoughtIwouldneverleaveathingabout，asmighthelp，eversolittle，toconvicthim；
thepoliceareso’cuteaboutstraws。SoIcarrieditalittleway，andthenIopenedit，andsawyourname，Mary。Marytookherhandsawayfromhereyes，andlookedwithsurpriseatheraunt’sface，assheutteredthesewords。Shewaskindafterall，forwasshenotsavingherfrombeingsummoned，andfrombeingquestionedandexamined；athingtobedreadedaboveallothers，asshefeltsurethatherunwillinganswers，framethemhowshemight，wouldaddtothesuspicionsagainstJem；herauntwasindeedkind，tothinkofwhatwouldspareherthis。Estherwenton，withoutnoticingMary’slook。Theveryactionofspeakingwassopainfultoher，andsomuchinterruptedbythehard，rakingcough，whichhadbeenherconstantannoyanceformonths，thatshewastoomuchengrossedbythephysicaldifficultyofutterance，tobeaverycloseobserver。“Therecouldbenomistakeiftheyhadfoundit。Lookatyourname，togetherwiththeverynameofthiscourt!AndinJem’shandwritingtoo，orI’mmuchmistaken。Look，Mary!“Andnowshedidwatchher。Marytookthepaperandflattenedit：thensuddenlystoodstiffup，withirrepressiblemovement，asifpetrifiedbysomehorrorabruptlydisclosed；
herface，strungandrigid；herlipscompressedtight，tokeepdownsomerisingexclamation。Shedroppedonherseat，assuddenlyasifthebracedmuscleshadinaninstantgivenway。Butshespokenoword。“Itishishandwriting——isn’tit？“askedEsther，thoughMary’smannerwasalmostconfirmationenough。“Youwillnottell。Youneverwilltell，“demandedMary，inatonesosternlyearnest，asalmosttobethreatening。“Nay，Mary，“saidEsther，ratherreproachfully，“Iamnotsobadasthat。
Oh!Mary，youcannotthinkIwoulddothat，whateverImaybe。“Thetearssprangtohereyesattheideathatshewassuspectedofbeingonewhowouldhelptoinformagainstanoldfriend。Marycaughthersadandupbraidinglook。“No!Iknowyouwouldnottell，aunt。Idon’tknowwhatIsay，Iamsoshocked。Butsayyouwillnottell。Do。““No，indeedIwillnottell，comewhatmay。“Marysatstilllookingatthewriting，andturningthepaperroundwithcarefulexamination，tryingtohope，butherveryfearsbelyingherhopes。“Ithoughtyoucaredfortheyoungmanthat’smurdered，“observedEsther，half-aloud；butfeelingthatshecouldnotmistakethisstrangeinterestinthesuspectedmurderer，impliedbyMary’seagernesstoscreenhimfromanythingwhichmightstrengthensuspicionagainsthim。Shehadcome，desiroustoknowtheextentofMary’sgriefforMrCarson，andgladoftheexcuseaffordedherbytheimportantscrapofpaper。HerremarkaboutitsbeingJem’shand-writing，shehad，withthisviewofascertainingMary’sstateoffeeling，felttobemostimprudenttheinstantaftershehadutteredit；butMary’sanxietythatsheshouldnottell，wastoogreat，andtoodecided，toleaveadoubtastoherinterestforJem。Shegrewmoreandmorebewildered，andherdizzyheadrefusedtoreason。Maryneverspoke。
Sheheldthebitofpaperfirmly，determinedtoretainpossessionofit，comewhatmight；andanxious，andimpatientforheraunttogo。Asshesat，herfaceborealikenesstoEsther’sdeadchild。“Youaresolikemylittlegirl，Mary!“saidEsther，wearyoftheonesubjectonwhichshecouldgetnosatisfaction，andrecurring，withfullheart，tothethoughtofthedead。Marylookedup。Heraunthadchildren，then。Thatwasalltheideashereceived。Nofaintimaginationoftheloveandthewoeofthatpoorcreaturecrossedhermind，orshewouldhavetakenher，allguiltyanderring，toherbosom，andtriedtobindupthebrokenheart。No!itwasnottobe。
Heraunthadchildren，then；andshewasonthepointofputtingsomequestionaboutthem，butbeforeitcouldbespokenanotherthoughtturneditaside，andshewentbacktohertaskofunravellingthemysteryofthepaper，andthehandwriting。Oh!howshewishedherauntwouldgo’。Asif，accordingtothebelieversinmesmerism，theintensenessofherwishgaveherpoweroveranother，althoughthewishwasunexpressed，Estherfeltherselfunwelcome，andthatherabsencewasdesired。Shefeltthissometimebeforeshecouldsummonupresolutiontogo。Shewassomuchdisappointedinthislonged-for，dreadedinterviewwithMary；
shehadwishedtoimposeuponherwithhertaleofmarriedrespectability，andyetshehadyearnedandcravedforsympathyinherreallot。Andshehadimposeduponherwell。Sheshouldperhapsbegladofitafterwards；
butherdesolationofhoeseemedforthetimeredoubled。Andshemustleavetheolddwelling-place，whoseverywalls，andflags，dingyandsordidastheywere，hadacharmforher。Mustleavetheabodeofpoverty，forthemoreterribleabodesofvice。Shemust-shewouldgo。“Well，goodnight，Mary。Thatbit9fpaperissafeenoughwithyou，Isee。
ButyoumademepromiseIwouldnottellaboutit，andyoumustpromisemetodestroyitbeforeyousleep。““Ipromise，“saidMary，hoarsely，butfirmly。“Thenyouaregoing？““Yes。Notifyouwishmetostay。NotifIcouldbeofanycomforttoyou，Mary；“catchingatsomeglimmeringhope。“Oh，no，“saidMary，anxioustobealone。“Yourhusbandwillbewonderingwhereyouare。Somedayyoumusttellmeallaboutyourself。Iforgetwhatyournameis？““Fergusson，“saidEsther，sadly。“MrsFergusson，repeatedMary，halfunconsciously。“Andwheredidyousayyoulived？““Ineverdidsay，“mutteredEsther；thenaloud，“InAngel’sMeadow，145
NicholasStreet。““145NicholasStreet，Angel’sMeadow。Ishallremember。“AsEstherdrewhershawlaroundher，andpreparedtodepart，athoughtcrossedMary’smindthatshehadbeencoldandhardinhermannertowardsone，whohadcertainlymeanttoactkindlyinbringingherthepaperthatdread，terriblepieceofpaper!，andthussavingherfrom——shecouldnotrightlythinkhowmuch，orhowlittleshewasspared。So，desirousofmakingupforherpreviousindifferentmanner，sheadvancedtokissherauntbeforeherdeparture。But，tohersurprise，herauntpushedheroffwithafrantickindofgesture，andsayingthewords，“Notme。Youmustneverkissme。You!“Sherushedintotheouterdarknessofthestreet，andthereweptlongandbitterly。
Therewasalisteningfearinherregard，Asifcalamityhadbutbegun；AsifthevanwardcloudsofevildaysHadspenttheirmalice，andthesullenroarWas，withitsstoredthunder；labouringup。KEATS’Hyperion。NosoonerwasMaryalonethanshefastenedthedoor，andputtheshuttersupagainstthewindow，whichhadallthistimeremainedshadedonlybythecurtainshastilydrawntogetheronEsther’sentrance，andthelightingofthecandle。Shedidallthiswiththesamecompressedlips，andthesamestonylookthatherfacehadassumedonthefirstexaminationofthepaper。Thenshesatdownforaninstanttothink；and，risingdirectly，went，withasteprenderedfirmbyinwardresolutionofpurpose，upthestairs；passedherowndoor，twosteps，intoherfather’sroom。Whatdidshewantthere？Imusttellyou；Imustputintowordsthedreadfulsecretwhichshebelievedthatbitofpaperhadrevealedtoher。Herfatherwasthemurderer!Thatcornerofstiff，shining，thick，writingpaper，sherecognisedasapartofthesheetonwhichshehadcopiedSamuelBamford’sbeautifullinessomanymonthsago——copiedasyouperhapsrememberontheblankpartofavalentinesenttoherbyJemWilson，inthosedayswhenshedidnottreasureandhoardeverythinghehadtouched，asshewoulddonow。Thatcopyhadbeengiventoherfatherforwhomitwasmade，andshehadoccasionallyseenhimreadingitover，notafortnightagoshewassure。
Butsheresolvedtoascertainiftheotherpartstillremainedinhispossession。
Hemight，——itwasjustpossiblehemight，havegivenitawaytosomefriend；andifso，thatpersonwastheguiltyone，forshecouldsweartothepaperanywhere。Firstofallshepulledouteveryarticlefromthelittleoldchestofdrawers。Amongstthemweresomethingswhichhadbelongedtohermother，butshehadnotimenowtoexamineandtryandrememberthem。Allthereverenceshecouldpaythemwastocarrythemandlaythemonthebedcarefully，whiletheotherthingsweretossedimpatientlyoutuponthefloor。ThecopyofBamford’slineswasnotthere。Oh!perhapshemighthavegivenitaway；butthenmustitnothavebeentoJem？Itwashisgun。Andshesettowithredoubledvigourtoexaminethedealboxwhichservedaschair，andwhichhadoncecontainedherfather’sSundayclothes，inthedayswhenhecouldaffordtohaveSundayclothes。Hehadredeemedhisbettercoatfromthepawnshopbeforeheleft，thatshehadnoticed。Herewashisoldone。Whatrustledunderherhandinthepocket。Thepaper!“Oh!Father!“Yes，itfitted；jaggedendtojaggedend，lettertoletter；andeventhepartwhichEstherhadconsideredblankhaditstallyingmarkwiththelargerpiece，itstailsofysandgs。Andthen，asifthatwerenotdamningevidenceenough，shefeltagain，andfoundsomelittlebulletsorshotIdon’tknowwhichyouwouldcalltheminthatsamepocket，alongwithasmallpaperparcelofgunpowder。Asshewasgoingtoreplacethejacket，havingabstractedthepaper，andbullets，etc。，shesawawoollengun-case，madeofthatsortofstripedhorse-clothyoumusthaveseenathousandtimesappropriatedtosuchapurpose。Thesightofitmadeherexaminestillfurther，buttherewasnothingelsethatcouldaffordanyevidence，soshelockedthebox，andsatdownonthefloortocontemplatethearticles；nowwithasickeningdespair，nowwithakindofwonderingcuriosity，howherfatherhadmanagedtoevadeobservation。Afterallitwaseasyenough。HehadevidentlygotpossessionofsomegunwasitreallyJem’s？washeanaccomplice？No!shedidnotbelieveit；henever，neverwoulddeliberatelyplanamurderwithanother，howeverhemightbewroughtuptoitbypassionatefeelingatthetime。Leastofallwouldheaccusehertoherfather，withoutpreviouslywarningher；itwasoutofhisnature。Thenhavingobtainedpossessionofthegun，herfatherhadloadeditathome，andmighthavecarrieditawaywithhimsometimewhentheneighbourswerenotnoticing，andshewasout，orasleep；andthenhemighthavehiddenitsomewheretobeinreadinesswhenheshouldwantit。Shewassurehehadnosuchthingwithhimwhenhewentawaythelasttime。Shefeltitwasofnousetoconjecturehismotives。Hisactionshadbecomesowildandirregularoflate，thatshecouldnotreasonuponthem。Besides，wasitnotenoughtoknowthathewasguiltyofthisterribleoffence？