“We’recomeforoneWilliamWilson，whoiswantedtoproveanalibiinLiverpoolAssizeCourtto-morrow。JamesWilsonistobetriedforamurderdoneonThursdaynightwhenhewaswithWilliamWilson。Anythingmore，missus？“askedtheboatmanofMary，inalowervoice，andtakinghishandsdownfromhismouth。“SayI’mMaryBarton。Oh，theshipisgoingon!Oh，fortheloveofHeaven，askthemtostop。“Theboatmanwasangryatthelittleregardpaidtohissummons，andcalledoutagain；repeatingthemessagewiththenameoftheyoungwomanwhosentit，andinterlardingitwithsailors’oaths。Theshipflewalong——away，——theboatstruggledafter。Theycouldseethecaptaintakehisspeaking-trumpet。Andoh!andalas!
theyheardhiswords。Hesworeadreadfuloath；hecalledMaryadisgracefulname；andhesaidhewouldnotstophisshipforanyone，norcouldhepartwithasinglehand，whoeverswungforit。Thewordscameinunpityingclearnesswiththeirtrumpet-sound。Marysatdownlookinglikeonewhopraysinthedeathagony。ForhereyeswereturneduptothatHeaven，wheremercydwelleth，whileherbluelipsquivered，thoughnosoundcame。Thenshebowedherheadandhiditinherhands。“Hark!yonsailorhailsus。“Shelookedup。Andherheartstoppeditsbeatingtolisten。WilliamWilsonstoodasnearthesternofthevesselashecouldget；andunabletoobtainthetrumpetfromtheangrycaptain，madeatubeofhisownhands。“SohelpmeGod，MaryBarton，I’llcomebackinthepilot-boat，timeenoughtosavethelifeoftheinnocent。““Whatdoeshesay？“askedMary，wildly，asthevoicediedawayintheincreasingdistance，whiletheboatmencheered，intheirkindledsympathywiththeirpassenger。“Whatdoeshesay？“repeatedshe。“Tellme。Icouldnothear。“Shehadheardwithherears，butherbrainrefusedtorecognisethesense。Theyrepeatedhisspeech，allthreespeakingatonce，withmanycomments；
whileMarylookedatthemandthenatthevesselfaraway。“Idon’trightlyknowaboutit，“saidshe，sorrowfully。“Whatisthepilot-boat？“Theytoldher，andshegatheredthemeaningoutofthesailors’slangwhichenvelopedit。Therewasahopestill，althoughsoslightanfaint。“Howfardoesthepilotgowiththeship？“Todifferentdistancestheysaid。SomepilotswouldgoasfarasHolyheadforthechanceofthehomewardboundvessels；othersonlytooktheshipsovertheBanks。Somecaptainsweremorecautiousthanothers，andthepilotshaddifferentways。Thewindwasagainstthehomeward-boundvessels，soperhapsthepilotaboardtheJohnCropperwouldnotcaretogofarout。“Howsoonwouldhecomeback？“Therewerethreeboatmen，andthreevaryingfromtwelvehourstotwodays。
Nay，themanwhogavehisvoteforthelongesttime，onhavinghisjudgmentdisputed，grewstubborn，anddoubledthetime，andthoughtitmightbetheendoftheweekbeforethepilot-boatcamehome。Theybegandisputing，andurgingreasons；andMarytriedtounderstandthem；butindependentlyoftheirnauticallanguage，aveilseemeddrawnoverhermind，andshehadnoclearperceptionofanythingthatpassed。
Herverywordsseemednotherown，andbeyondherpowerofcontrol，forshefoundherselfspeakingquitedifferentlytowhatshemeant。Onebyoneherhopeshadfallenaway，andleftherdesolate；andthoughachanceyetremained，shecouldnolongerhope。Shefeltcertainit，too，wouldfadeandvanish。Shesankintoakindofstupor。Alloutwardobjectsharmonizedwithherdespair，——thegloomyleadensky，——thedeep，darkwatersbelow，ofastillheaviershadeofcolour，——thecold，flat，yellowshoreinthedistance，whichnoraylightenedup，——thenippingcuttingwind。Sheshiveredwithherdepressionofmindandbody。Thesailsweretakendown，ofcourse，onthereturntoLiverpool，andtheprogresstheymade，rowingandtacking，wasveryslow。Thementalkedtogether，disputingaboutthepilotsatfirst，andthenaboutmattersoflocalimportance，inwhichMarywouldhavetakennointerestatanytime，andshegraduallybecamedrowsy；irrepressiblyso，indeed，forinspiteofherjerkingeffortstokeepawakeshesankawaytothebottomoftheboat，andtherelaycouchedonaroughheapofsails，ropes，andtackleofvariouskinds。Themeasuredbeatofthewatersagainstthesidesoftheboat，andthemusicalboomoftilemoredistantwaves，weremorelullingthansilence，andshesleptsound。Oncesheopenedhereyesheavily，anddimlysawtheoldgray，roughboatmanwhohadstoodoutthemostobstinatelyforthefullfarecoveringherwithhisthickpea-jacket。Hehadtakenitoffonpurpose，andwasdoingittenderlyinhisway，butbeforeshecouldrouseherselfuptothankhimshehaddroppedofftosleepagain。Atlast，intheduskortheevening，theyarrivedatthelanding-placefromwhichtheyhadstartedsomehoursbefore。ThemenspoketoMary，butthoughshemechanicallyreplied，shedidnotstir；so，atlength，theywereobligedtoshakeher。Shestoodup，shiveringandpuzzledastoherwhereabouts。“Nowtellmewhereyouareboundto，missus，“saidthegrayoldman，“andmaybeIcanputyouintheway。“Sheslowlycomprehendedwhathesaid，andwentthroughtheprocessofrecollection；
butverydimly，andwithmuchlabour。Sheputherhandintoherpocketandpulledoutherpurse，andshookitscontentsintotheman’shand；andthenbeganmeeklytounpinhershawl，althoughtheyhadturnedawaywithoutaskingforit。“No，no!“saidtheoldman，wholingeredonthestepbeforespringingintotheboat，andtowhomshemutelyofferedtheshawl。“Keepit!wedonnotwantit。Itwereonlyfortotryyou，——somefolkssaythey’venomoreblunt，whenthey’vegettenamint。““Thankyou，“saidshe，inadull，lowtone。“Whereareyouboundto？Iaxedthatquestionafore，“saidthegruffoldfellow。“Idon’tknow。I’mastranger，“repliedshe，quietly，withastrangeabsenceofanxietyunderthecircumstances。“Butyoumunfindout，then，“saidhe，sharply；“pier-head’snoplaceforayoungwomantobestandingon，gape-saying。““I’veacardsomewhereaswilltellme，“sheanswered，andthemanpartlyrelieved，jumpedintotheboat，whichwasnowpushingofftomakewayforthearrivalsfromsomesteamer。Maryfeltinherpocketforthecard，onwhichwaswrittenthenameofthestreetwhereshewastohavemetMrBridgenorthattwoo’clock；whereJobandMrsWilsonweretohavebeen，andwhereshewastohavelearntfromtheformertheparticularsofsomerespectablelodging。Itwasnottobefound。Shetriedtobrightenherperceptions，andfeltagain，andtookoutthelittlearticlesherpocketcontained，heremptypurse，herpocket-handkerchief，andsuchlittlethings，butitwasnotthere。Infactshehaddroppeditwhen，soeagertoembark，shehadpulledoutherpursetoreckonuphermoney。Shedidnotknowthis，ofcourse。Sheonlyknewitwasgone。Itaddedbutlittletothedespairthatwascreepingoverher。Butshetriedalittlemoretohelpherself，thougheveryminutehermindbecamemorecloudy。ShestrovetorememberwhereWillhadlodged，butshecouldnot；name，street，everythinghadpassedaway，anditdidnotsignify；
bettershewerelostthanfound。Shesatdownquietlyonthetopstepofthelanding，andgazeddownintothedark，dankwaterbelow。Onceortwiceaspectralthoughtloomedamongtheshadowsofherbrain；awonderwhetherbeneaththatcolddismalsurfacetherewouldnotberestfromthetroublesofearth。Butshecouldnotholdanideabeforeherfortwoconsecutivemoments；andsheforgotwhatshethoughtaboutbeforeshecouldactuponit。Soshecontinuedsittingmotionless，withoutlookingup，orregardinginanywaytheinsultstowhichshewassubjected。Throughthedarkeninglighttheoldboatmanhadwatchedher；interestedinherinspiteofhimself，andhisscoldingsofhimself。Whenthelanding-placewasoncemorecomparativelyclear，hemadehiswaytowardsit，acrossboats，andalongplanks，swearingathimselfwhilehedidsoforanoldfool。HeshookMary’sshoulderviolently。“D——you，Iaskyouagainwhereyou’reboundto？Don’tsitthere，stupid。
Whereareyougoingto？““Idon’tknow，“sighedMary。“Come，come；avastwiththatstory。Yousaidabitagoyou’dacard，whichwastotellyouwheretogo。““Ihad，butI’velostitNevermind。“Shelookedagaindownupontheblackmirrorbelow。Hestoodbyher，strivingtoputdownhisbetterself；buthecouldnot。
Heshookheragain。Shelookedup，asifshehadforgottenhim。“Whatdoyouwant？“askedshe，wearily。“Comewithme，andbed——dtoyou!“repliedhe，clutchingherarmtopullherup。Shearoseandfollowedhim，withtheunquestioningdocilityofalittlechild。
Therearewho，livingbythelegalpen，Areheldinhonour——honourablemen。CRABBE。Atfiveminutesbeforetwo，JobLeghstooduponthedoor-stepofthehousewhereMrBridgenorthlodgedatAssizetime。HehadleftMrsWilsonatthedwellingofafriendofhis，whohadofferedhimaroomfortheoldwomanandMary：aroomwhichhadfrequentlybeenhis，onhisoccasionalvisitstoLiverpool，butwhichhewasthankfulnowtohaveobtainedforthem，ashisownsleepingplacewasamatterofindifferencetohim，andthetownappearedcrowdedanddisorderlyontheeveoftheAssizes。HewasshownintoMrBridgenorthwhowaswritingMaryandWillWilsonhadnotarrived，being，asyouknow，farawayonthebroadsea；butofcourse，ofthisJobknewnothing，andhedidnotasyetfeelmuchanxietyabouttheirnon-appearance；hewasmorecurioustoknowtheresultofMrBridgenorth’sinterviewthatmorningwithJem。“Why，yes，“saidMrBridgenorth，puttingdownhispen，“Ihaveseenhim，buttolittlepurpose，I’mafraid。He’sveryimpracticable——very。Itoldhim，ofcourse，thathemustbeperfectlyopenwithme，orelseIcouldnotbepreparedfortheweakpoints。Inamedyournamewiththeviewofunlockinghisconfidence，but——““Whatdidhesay？“askedJob，breathlessly。“Why，verylittle。Hebarelyansweredme。Indeed，herefusedtoanswersomequestions——positivelyrefused。Idon’tknowwhatIcandoforhim。““Thenyouthinkhimguilty，sir，“saidJob，despondingly。“No，Idon’t，“repliedMrBridgenorth，quicklyanddecisively。“MuchlessthanIdidbeforeIsawhim。Theimpressionmind，’tisonlyimpression；
Irelyuponyourcaution，nottotakeitforfact——theimpression，“withanemphasisontheword，“hegaveweis，thatheknowssomethingabouttheaffair，butwhat，hewillnotsay；andso，thechancesare，ifhepersistsinhisobstinacy，he’llbehung。That’sall。“Hebegantowriteagain，forhehadnotimetolose。“Buthemustnotbehung，“saidJob，withvehemence。MrBridgenorthlookedup，smiledalittle，butshookhishead。“Whatdidhesay，sir，ifImaybesoboldastoask？“continuedJob。“Hiswordswerefewenough，andhewassoreservedandshort，that，asIsaidbefore，Icanonlygiveyoutheimpressiontheyconveyedtome。
Itoldhim，ofcourse，whoIwas，andforwhatIwassent。Helookedpleased，Ithought，——atleasthisfacesadenoughwhenIwentin，Iassureye
brightenedalittle；buthesaidhehadnothingtosay，nodefencetomake。
Iaskedhimifhewasguilty，then；and，bywayofopeninghisheart，I
saidIunderstoodhehadhadprovocationenough，inasmuchasIheardthatthegirlwasverylovely，andhadjiltedhimtofalldesperatelyinlovewiththathandsomeyoungCarsonpoorfellow!。ButJamesWilsondidnotspeakonewayoranother。Ithenwenttoparticulars。Iaskedhimifthegunwashis，ashismotherhaddeclared。Hehadnotheardofheradmission，itwasevident，fromhisquickwayoflookingup，andtheglanceofhiseye；butwhenhesawIwasobservinghim，hehungdownhisheadagain，andmerelysaidshewasright；itwashisgun。““Well!“saidJob，impatiently，asMrBridgenorthpaused。“Nay!Ihavelittlemoretotellyou，“continuedthatgentleman。’Iaskedhimtoinformme，inallconfidence，howitcametobefoundthere。Hewassilentforatime，andthenrefused。Notonlyrefusedtoanswerthatquestion，butcandidlytoldmehewouldnotsayanotherwordonthesubject，and，thankingmeformytroubleandinterestinhisbehalf，heallbutdismissedme。Ungraciousenoughonthewhole，wasitnot，MrLegh？Andyet，Iassureye，IamtwentytimesmoreinclinedtothinkhiminnocentthanbeforeIhadtheinterview。““IwishMaryBartonwouldcome，“saidJob，anxiously。“SheandWillarealongtimeaboutit。““Aye，that’souronlychance，Ibelieve，“answeredMrBridgenorth，whowaswritingagain。“IsentJohnsonoffbeforetwelvetoservehimwithhissubpoena，andtosayIwantedtospeakwithhim；he’llbeheresoon，I’venodoubt。“Therewasapause。MrBridgenorthlookedupagain，andspoke。“MrDuncombepromisedtobeheretospeaktohischaracter。IsenthimasubpoenaonSaturdaynight。Though，afterall，juriesgoverylittlebysuchgeneralandvaguetestimonyasthattocharacter。Itisveryrightthattheyshouldnotoften；butinthisinstanceIunfortunateforus，aswemustrestourcaseonthealibi。“Thepenwentagain，scratch，scratchoverthepaper。Jobgrewveryfidgety。Hesatontheedgeofhischair，themorereadilytostartupwhenWillandMaryshouldappear。Helistenedintentlytoeverynoiseandeverysteponthestair。Onceheheardaman’sfootstep，andhisoldheartgavealeapofdelight。
ButitwasonlyMrBridgenorth’sclerk，bringinghimalistofthosecasesinwhichthegrandjuryhadfoundtruebills。HeglanceditoverandpushedittoJob，merelysaying，“Ofcourseweexpectedthis，“andwentonwithhiswriting。TherewasatruebillagainstJamesWilson。Ofcourse。AndyetJobfeltnowdoublyanxiousandsad。Itseemedthebeginningoftheend。HehadgottothinkJeminnocentbyimperceptibledegrees。Littlebylittlethispersuasionhadcomeuponhim。Marytossingaboutinthelittleboatonthebroadriverdidnotcome，nordidWill。Jobgrewveryrestless。Helongedtogoandwatchforthemoutofthewindow，butfearedtointerruptMrBridgenorth。Atlengthhisdesiretolookoutwasirresistible，andhegotupandwalkedcarefullyandgentlyacrosstheroom，hisbootscreakingateverycautiousstep。Thegloomwhichhadoverspreadthesky，andtheinfluenceofwhichhadbeenfeltbyMaryontheopenwater，wasyetmoreperceptibleinthestreet。Jobgrewmoreandmorefidgety。Hewasobligedtowalkabouttheroom，forhecouldnotkeepstill；andhedidso，regardlessofMrBridgenorth’simpatientlittlemotionsandnoises，astheslow，stealthy，creakingmovementswereheard，backwardsandforwards，behindhischair。HereallylikedJob，andwasinterestedforJem，elsehisnervousnesswouldhaveovercomehissympathylongbeforeitdid。Buthecouldholdoutnolongeragainstthemonotonous，gratingsound；soatlasthethrewdownhispen，lockedhisportfolio，andtakinguphishatandgloves，toldJobhemustgotothecourts。“ButWillWilsonisnotcome，“saidJob，indismay。’JustwaitwhileI