Likeabarkuponthesea，Lifeisfloatingoverdeath；Above，below，encirclingthee，Dangerlurksineverybreath。PartedartthoufromthegraveOnlybyaplankmostfrail；Tossedupontherestlesswave，Sportofeveryficklegale。Lettheskiesbee’ersoclear，Andsocalmandstillthesea，ShipwreckyethashetofearWholife’svoyagerwillbe。RUCKERT。TheearlytrainsforLiverpool，onMondaymorning，werecrowdedbyattorneys，attorneys’clerks，plaintiffs，defendants，andwitnesses，allgoingtotheAssizes。Theywereamotleyassembly，eachwithsomecauseforanxietystirringathisheart；though，afterall，thatissayinglittleornothing，forweareallofusinthesamepredicamentthroughlife；eachwithafearandahopefromchildhoodanddeath。AmongthepassengerstherewasMaryBarton，dressedinthebluegownandobnoxiousplaidshawl。Commonasrailroadsarenowinallplacesasameansoftransit，andespeciallyinManchester，Maryhadneverbeenononebefore；andshefeltbewilderedbythehurry，thenoiseofpeople，andbells，andhorns；thewhizandthescreamofthearrivingtrains。Theveryjourneyitselfseemedtoheramatterofwonder。Shehadabackseat，andlookedtowardsthefactory-chimneys，andthecloudorsmokewhichhoversoverManchester，withafeelingakintothe“Heimweh。“Shewaslosingsightofthefamiliarobjectsofherchildhoodforthefirsttime；andunpleasantastheseobjectsaretomost，sheyearnedafterthemwithsomeofthesamesentimentwhichgivespathostothethoughtsoftheemigrant。Thecloud-shadowswhichgivebeautytoChat-Moss，thepicturesqueoldhousesofNewton，whatweretheytoMary，whoseheartwasfullofmanythings？
Yetsheseemedtolookatthemearnestlyastheyglidedpast；butsheneithersawnorheard。Sheneithersawnorheardtillsomewell-knownnamesfelluponherear。Twolawyers’clerkswerediscussingthecasestocomeonthatAssizes；
ofcourse，“themurdercase，“asithadcometobetermed，heldaconspicuousplaceintheirconversation。Theyhadnodoubtoftheresult。“Juriesareveryunwillingtoconvictoncircumstantialevidence，itistrue，“saidone，“buttherecanhardlybeanydoubt。““Ifithadnotbeensoclearacase，“repliedtheother，“Ishouldhavesaidtheywereinjudiciousinhurryingonthetrialsomuch。Stillmoreevidencemighthavebeencollected。““Theytellme，“saidthefirstspeaker——“thepeopleinGardener’soffice，Imean——thatitwasreallyfearedtheoldgentlemanwouldhavegoneoutofhismindifthetrialhadbeendelayed。HewaswithMrGardenerasmanyasseventimesonSaturday，andcalledhimupatnighttosuggestthatsomelettershouldbewritten，orsomethingdonetosecuretheverdict。““Pooroldman，“answeredhiscompanion，whocanwonder？——anonlyson，——suchadeath，——thedisagreeablecircumstancesattendingit；IhadnottimetoreadtheGuardianonSaturday，butIunderstanditwassomedisputeaboutafactorygirl？““Yes，somesuchperson。Ofcourseshe’llbeexamined，andWilliamswilldoitinstyle。IshallslipoutfromourcourttohearhimifIcanhitthenickoftime。“Andifyoucangetaplace，youmean，fordependuponitthecourtwillbecrowded。““Aye，aye，theladiessweetsoulswillcomeinshoalstohearatrialformurder，andseethemurderer，andwatchthejudgeputonhisblackcap。““AndthengohomeandgroanovertheSpanishladieswhotakedelightinbull-fights——’suchunfemininecreatures!“Thentheywentontoothersubjects。ItwasbutanotherdroptoMary’scup；butshewasnearlyinthatstatewhichCrabbedescribes：Forwhensofullthecupofsorrowflows，Addbutadropitinstantlyo’erflows。Andnowtheywereinthetunnel!——andnowtheywereinLiverpool；andshemustrouseherselffromthetorporofmindandbodywhichwascreepingoverher；theresultofmuchanxietyandfatigue，andseveralsleeplessnights。SheaskedapolicemanthewaytoMilk-HouseYard，andfollowinghisdirectionswiththesavoirfaireofatown-bredgirl，shereachedalittlecourtleadingoutofabusy，throngedstreet，notfarfromtheDocks。Whensheenteredthequietlittleyard，shestopdtoregainherbreath，andtogatherstrength，forherlimbstrembled，andherheartbeatviolently。Alltheunfavourablecontingenciesshehad，untilnow，forbiddenherselftodwellupon，cameforwardtohermind——thepossibility，thebarepossibility，ofJembeinganaccompliceinthemurder——thestillgreaterpossibilitythathehadnotfulfilledhisintentionofgoingpartofthewaywithWill，buthadbeenledoffbysomelittleaccidentaloccurrencefromhisoriginalintention；andthathehadspenttheeveningwithIthosewhomitwasnowtoolatetobringforwardaswitnesses。Butsoonerorlatershemustknowthetruth；so，takingcourage，sheknockedatthedoorofahouse。“IsthisMrsJones’s？“sheinquired。“Nextdoorbutone，“wasthecurtanswer。Andeventhisextraminutewasareprieve。MrsJoneswasbusywashing，andwouldhavespokenangrilytothepersonwhoknockedsogentlyatthedoor，ifangerhadbeeninhernature；butshewasasoft，helplesskindofwoman，andonlysighedoverthemanyinterruptionsshehadhadtoherbusinessthatunluckyMondaymorning。Butthefeelingwhichwouldhavebeenangerinamoreimpatienttemper，tooktheformofprejudiceagainstthedisturber，whoeverheorshemightbe。Mary’sflutteredandexcitedappearancestrengthenedthisprejudiceinMrsJones’smind，asshestood，strip-pingthesoap-sudsoffherarms，whilesheeyedhervisitor，andwaitedtobetoldwhatherbusinesswas。Butnowordswouldcome。Mary’svoiceseemedchokedupinherthroat。“Praywhatdoyouwant，youngwoman？“coldlyaskedMrsJonesatlast。“Iwant——Oh!isWillWilsonhere？““No，heisnot，“repliedMrsJones，incliningtoshutthedoorinherface。“IshenotbackfromtheIsleofMan？“askedMary，sickening。“Heneverwent；hestayedinManchestertoolong；asperhapsyouknow，already。“Andagainthedoorseemedclosing。ButMarybentforwardswithsuppliantactionassomeyoungtreebends，whenblownbytherough，autumnalwind，andgaspedout，“Tellme——tellme——whereishe？“MrsJonessuspectedsomeloveaffair，and，perhaps，oneofnotthemostcreditablekind；butthedistressofthepaleyoungcreaturebeforeherwassoobviousandsopitiable，thatweresheeversosinful，MrsJonescouldnolongerupholdhershort，reservedmanner。“He’sgonethisverymorning，mypoorgirl。Stepin，andI’lltellyouaboutit。““Gone!“criedMary。“Howgone？Imustseehim——it’samatteroflifeanddeath：hecansavetheinnocentfrombeinghanged，——hecannotbegone，——howgone？““Sailed，mydear!SailedintheJohnCropperthisveryblessedmorning。““Sailed!“
Yonisourquay!Harktotheclamourinthatmiryroad，Boundedandnarrowedbyyonvessel’sload；Thelumberingwealthsheemptiesroundtheplace，Packageandparcel，hogshead，chest，andcase；Whiletheloudseamenandtheangryhind，Minglinginbusiness，bellowtothewind。CRABBE。Marystaggeredintothehouse。MrsJonesplacedhertenderlyinachair；
andtherestoodbewilderedbyherside。“Oh，father!father!“mutteredshe，“whathaveyoudone!——WhatmustIdo？
musttheinnocentdie？——orhe——whomIfear——Ifear——oh!whatamIsaying？“
saidshe，lookingroundaffrighted，and，seeminglyreassuredbyMrsJones’scountenance，“Iamsohelpless，soweak，——butapoorgirlafterall。Howcanwhatisright？Father!youhavealwaysbeensokindtome，——andyoutobe——nevermind——nevermind，allwillcomerightinthegrave。““Saveus，andblessus!“exclaimedMrsJones，“ifIdon’tthinkshe’sgoneoutofherwits!““No，Iamnot!“saidMary，catchingatthewords，andwithastrongeffortcontrollingthemindshefelttobewandering，whiletheredbloodflushedtoscarlettheheretoforewhitecheek，——I’mnotoutofmysenses；thereissomuchtobedone——somuch——andnoonebutmetodoit，youknow，——thoughIcan’trightlytellwhatitis，“lookingupwithbewildermentintoMrsJones’sface。“Imustnotgomadwhatevercomes——atleastnotyet。No!“
bracingherselfup“somethingmayyetbedone，andImustdoit。Sailed!
didyousay？TheJohnCropper？Sailed？““Aye!shewentoutofdocklastnight，tobereadyforthemorning’stide。““Ithoughtshewasnottosailtillto-morrow，“murmuredMary。“SodidWillhe’slodgedherelong，soweallcallhim’Will’“repliedMrsJones。Thematehadtoldhimso，Ibelieve，andheneverknewdifferenttillhegottoLiverpoolonFridaymorning；butassoonasheheard，hegaveupgoingtotheIsleo’Man，andjustranovertoRhylwiththemate，oneJohnHarris，ashasfriendsabitbeyondAbergele；youmayhaveheardhimspeakonhim，fortheyaregreatchums，thoughI’vemyownopinionofHarris。““Andhe’ssailed？“repeatedMary，tryingbyrepetitiontorealisethefacttoherself。“Aye，hewentonboardlastnighttobereadyforthemorning’stide，asIsaidafore，andmyboywenttoseetheshipgodowntheriver，andcamebackallagogwiththesight。HereCharley，Charley!“Shecalledoutloudlyforherson；butCharleywasoneofthoseboyswhoarenever“fartoseek，“
astheLancashirepeoplesay，whenanythingisgoingon；amysteriousconversation，anunusualevent，afire，orariot，anythinginshort；suchboysarethelittleomnipresentpeopleofthisworld。Charleyhad，infact，beenspectatorandauditorallthistime；thoughforalittlewhilehehadbeenengagedin“dollying“andafewothermischievousfeatsinthewashingline，whichhadpreventedhisattentionfrombeingfullygiventohismother’sconversationwiththestrangegirlwhohadentered。“Oh，Charley!thereyouare!DidyounotseetheJohnCroppersaildowntheriverthismorning？Telltheyoungwomanaboutit，forIthinkshehardlycreditsme。““Isawhertuggeddowntheriverbyasteam-boat，whichcomestosamething，“
repliedhe。“Oh!ifIhadbutcomelastnight!“moanedMary。“ButIneverthoughtofit。IneverthoughtbutwhatheknewrightwhenhesaidhewouldbebackfromtheIsleofManonMondaymorning，andnotafore——andnowsomeonemustdieformynegligence!““Die!“exclaimedthelad。“How？““Oh!Willwouldhaveprovedanalibi，——buthe’sgone，——andwhatamItodo？““Don’tgiveitupyet，“criedtheenergeticboy，interestedatonceinthecase；“let’shaveatryforhim。Wearebutwherewewere，ifwefail。“Maryrousedherself。Thesympathetic“we“gaveherheartandhope。“Butwhatcanbedone？Yousayhe’ssailed；whatcanbedone？“Butshespokelouder，andinamorelife-liketone。“No!Ididnotsayhe’dsailed；mothersaidthat，andwomenknownoughtaboutsuchmatters。Yousee“proudofhisofficeofinstructor，andinsensiblyinfluenced，asallaboutherwere，byMary’ssweet，earnest，lovelycountenance，“there’ssand-banksatthemouthoftheriver，andshipscan’tgetoverthembutathighwater；especiallyshipsofheavyburden，liketheJohnCropper。Nowshewastuggeddowntheriveratlowwater，orprettynear，andwillhavetoliesometimebeforethewaterwillbehighenoughtofloatheroverthebanks。Soholdupyourhead，——you’veachanceyet，though，maybe，butapoorone。“ButwhatmustIdo？“askedMary，towhomallthisexplanationhadbeenavaguemystery。“Do!“saidtheboy，impatiently，“why，havenotItoldyou？Onlywomenbeggingyourpardonaresostupidatunderstandingaboutanythingbelongingtothesea；——youmustgetaboat，andmakeallhaste，andsailafterhim，——aftertheJohnCropper。Youmayovertakeher，oryoumaynot。It’sjustachance；butshe’sheavilyladen，andthat’sin。yourfavour。She’lldrawmanyfeetofwater。“Maryhadhumblyandeagerlyoh，howeagerly!listenedtothisyoungSirOracle’sspeech；buttryasshewould，shecouldonlyunderstandthatshemustmakehaste，andsail——somewhere。“Ibegyourpardon“andherlittleacknowledgmentofinferiorityinthisspeechpleasedthelad，andmadehimherstillmorezealousfriend。“I
begyourpardon，“saidshe，“butIdon’tknowwheretogetaboat。Arethereboat-stands？“Theladlaughedoutright。“You’renotlonginLiverpool，Iguess。Boat-stands!No；godowntothepier，——anypierwilldo，andhireaboat，——you’llbeatnolosswhenonceyouarethere。Onlymakehaste。““Oh，youneednottellmethat，ifIbutknewhow，“saidMary，tremblingwitheagerness。“Butyousayright，——Ineverwasherebefore，andIdon’tknowmywaytotheplaceyouspeakon；onlytellme，andI’llnotloseaminute。““Mother!“saidthewilfullad，“I’mgoingtoshowherthewaytothepier；
I’llbebackinanhour，——orso，“headdedinalowertone。AndbeforethegentleMrsJonescouldcollectherscatteredwitssufficientlytounderstandhalfofthehastilyformedplan，hersonwasscuddingdownthestreet，closelyfollowedbyMary’shalf-runningsteps。PresentlyheslackenedhispacesufficientlytoenablehimtoenterintoconversationwithMary，foronceescapedfromthereachofhismother’srecallingvoice，hethoughthemightventuretoindulgehiscuriosity。“Ahem!——What’syourname？It’ssoawkwardtobecallingyouyoungwoman。’““MynameisMary，——MaryBarton，“answeredshe，anxioustopropitiateonewhoseemedsowillingtoexerthimselfinherbehalf，orelseshegrudgedeverywordwhichcausedtheslightestrelaxationinherspeed，althoughherchestseemedtightened，andherheadthrobbing，fromtherateatwhichtheywerewalking。“AndyouwantWillWilsontoproveanalibi——isthatit？““Yes——oh，yes——canwenotcrossnow？““No，waitaminute；it’stheteaglehoistingaboveyourbeadI’mafraidof；——andwhoisitthat’stobetried？““Jem；oh，lad!can’twegetpast？“Theyrushedunderthegreatalesquiveringintheairabovetheirheadsandpressedonwardsforafewminutes，tillMasterCharleysawfittowalkalittleslower，andaskafewmorequestions。“Mary，isJemyourbrother，oryoursweetheart，thatyou’resosetuponsavinghim？““No——no，“repliedshe，butwithsomethingofhesitation，thatmadetheshrewdboyyetmoreanxioustoclearupthemystery。“Perhapshe’syourcousin，then？Manyagirlhasacousinwhohasnotasweetheart。““No，he’sneitherkithnorkintome。What’sthematter？Whatareyoustoppingfor？“saidshe，withnervousterror，asCharleyturnedbackafewsteps，andpeeredupasidestreet。“Oh，nothingtoflurryyouso，Mary。IheardyousaytomotheryouhadneverbeeninLiverpoolbefore，andifyou’llonlylookupthisstreetyoumayseethebackwindowsofourExchange。Suchabuildingasyonis!