Hecouldnotdwellonanythingbutherwords，tellingofherpassionatelove；allelsewasindistinct，norcouldhestrivetomakeitotherwise。
Shelovedhim。AndLife，nowfulloftenderimages，suddenlybrightwithallexquisitepromises，hungonabreath，theslenderestgossamerchance。Hetriedtothinkthattheknowledgeofherlovewouldsoothehimeveninhisdyinghours；butthephantomsofwhatlifewithhermightbe，wouldobtrude，andmadehimalmostgasandreelundertheuncertaintyhewasenduring。
Will’sappearancehadonlyaddedtotheintensityofthissuspense。Thefullmeaningoftheverdictcouldnotatoncepenetratehisbrain。
Hestooddizzyandmotionless。Someonepulledhiscoat。Heturned，andsawJobLegh，thetearsstealingdownhisbrownfurrowedcheeks，whilehetriedinvaintocommandvoiceenoughtospeak。HekeptshakingJembythehand，asthebestandnecessaryexpressionofhisfeeling。“Here，makeyourselfscarce!Ishouldthinkyou’dbegladtogetoutofthat!“exclaimedthegaoler，ashebroughtupanotherlividprisoner，fromoutwhoseeyescametheanxietywhichhewouldnotallowanyotherfeaturetodisplay。JobLeghpressedoutofcourt，andJemfollowedunreasoningly。Thecrowdmadeway，andkepttheirgarmentstightaboutthem，asJempassed，forabouthimtherestillhungthetaintofthemurderer。Hewasintheopenair，andfreeoncemore!Althoughmanylookedonhimwithsuspicion，faithfulfriendsclosedroundhim；hisarmwasunresistinglypumpedupanddownbyhiscousinandJob；whenonewastired，theothertookupthewholesomeexercise，whenBenSturgiswasworkingoffhisinterestinthescenebyscoldingCharleyforwalkingonhisheadroundandroundMary’ssweetheart，forasweethearthewasnowsatisfactorilyascertainedtobe，inspiteofherassertiontothecontrary。AndallthistimeJemhimselffeltbewilderedanddazzled；hewouldhavegivenanythingforanhour’suninterruptedthoughtontheoccurrencesofthepastweek，andthenewvisionsraisedupduringthemorning；aye，eventhoughthattranquilhourweretobepassedinthehermitageofhisquietprisoncell。Thefirstquestionsobbedoutbyhischokingvoice，oppressedwithemotion，was，“Whereisshe？“Theyledhimtotheroomwherehismothersat。Theyhadtoldherofherson’sacquittal，andnowshewaslaughing，andcrying，andtalking，andgivingwaytoallthosefeelingswhichshehadrestrainedwithsucheffortduringthelastfewdays。Theybroughthersontoher，andshethrewherselfuponhisneck，weepingthere。Hereturnedherembrace，butlookedaround，beyond。Exceptinghismother，therewasnooneintheroombutthefriendswhohadenteredwithhim。“Eh，lad!“shesaid，whenshefoundvoicetospeak。“Seewhatitistohavebehavedthysel!Icouldputinagoodwordforthee，andthejurycouldnagoandhangtheeinthefaceofth’characterIgavethee。WasnaitagoodthingtheydidnakeepmefromLiverpool？ButIwouldcome；
IknewIcoulddotheegood，blessthee，mylad。Butthou’rtverywhite，andallofatremble。“Hekissedheragainandagain，butlookingroundasifsearchingforsomeonehecouldnotfind，thefirstwordsheutteredwerestill——“Whereisshe？“
Fearnomorethebeato’th’sun，Northefuriouswinter’srages；Thouthyworldlytaskhastdone，Homeartgoneandta’enthywages。Cymbeline。Whiledayandnightcanbringdelight，Ornatureaughtofpleasuregive；Whilejoysabovemymindcanmove，Forthee，andtheealoneIlive：WhenthatgrimfoeofjoybelowComesinbetweentomakeuspart，Theironhandthatbreaksourband，Itbreaksmybliss——itbreaksmyheart。BURNS。Shewaswherenowordsofpeace，nosoothinghopefultidingscouldreachher；intheghastlyspectralworldofdelirium。Hourafterhour，dayafterday，shestartedupwithpassionatecriesonherfathertosaveJem；orrosewildly，imploringthewindsandwaves，thepitilesswindsandwaves，tohavemercy；andoverandoveragainsheexhaustedherfeverishfitfulstrengthintheseagonisedentreaties，andfellbackpowerless，utteringonlythewailingmoansofdespair。TheytoldherJemwassafe，theybroughthimbeforehereyes；butsightandhearingwerenolongerchannelsofinformationtothatpoordistractedbrain，norcouldhumanvoicepenetratetoherunderstanding。Jemalonegatheredthefullmeaningofsomeofherstrangesentences，andperceivedthat，bysomemeansorother，she，likehimself，haddivinedthetruthofherfatherbeingthemurderer。Longagoreckoningtimebyeventsandthoughts，andnotbyclockordial-plate，JemhadfeltcertainthatMary’sfatherwasHarryCarson’smurderer；andalthoughthemotivewasinsomemeasureamystery，yetawholetrainofcircumstancestheprincipalofwhichwasthatJohnBartonhadborrowedthefatalgunonlytwodaysbeforehadleftnodoubtinJem’smind。SometimeshethoughtthatJohnhaddiscovered，andthusbloodilyresented，theattentionswhichMrCarsonhadpaidtohisdaughter；atothers，hebelievedthemotivetoexistinthebitterfeudsbetweenthemastersandtheirworkpeople，inwhichBartonwasknowntotakesokeenaninterest。Butifhehadfelthimselfpledgedtopreservethissecret，evenwhenhisownlifewastheprobablepenalty，andhebelievedheshouldfallexecratedbyMaryastheguiltydestroyerofherlover，howmuchmorewasheboundnowtolabourtopreventanywordofhersfrominculpatingherfather，nowthatshewashisownnowthatshehadbravedsomuchtorescuehim；andnowthatherpoorbrainhadlostallguidingandcontrollingpoweroverherwords。AllthatnightlongJemwanderedupanddownthenarrowprecinctsofBenSturgis’shouse。InthelittlebedroomwhereMrsSturgisalternatelytendedMary，andweptovertheviolenceofherillness，helistenedtoherravings；
eachsentenceofwhichhaditsownpeculiarmeaningandreference，intelligibletohismind，tillherwordsrosetothewildpitchofagony，thatnoonecouldalleviate，andhecouldbearitnolonger，andstole，sickandmiserable，down-stairs，whereBenSturgisthoughtithisdutytosnoreawayinanarm-chairinsteadofhisbed，undertheideathatheshouldthusbemorereadyforactiveservice，suchasfetchingthedoctortorevisithispatient。Beforeitwasfairlylight，Jemwideawake，andlisteningwithanearnestattentionhecouldnotdeaden，howeverpainfulitsresultsprovedheardagentlesubduedknockatthehousedoor；itwasnobusinessofhis，tobesure，toopenit，butasBenslepton，hethoughthewouldseewhotheearlyvisitormightbe，andascertainiftherewasanyoccasionfordisturbingeitherhostorhostess。ItwasJobLeghwhostoodthere，distinctagainsttheouterlightofthestreet。“Howisshe？Eh!poorsoul!isthather？Noneedtoask!Howstrangehervoicesounds!Screech!screech!andshesolow，sweet-spoken，whenshe’swell!Thoumustkeepupheart，oldboy，andnotlooksodismal，thysel。““Ican’thelpit，Job；it’spastaman’sbearingtobearsuchaoneassheis，goingonassheisdoing；evenifIdidnotcareforher，itwouldcutmesoretoseeonesoyoung，and——Ican’tspeakofit，Job，asamanshoulddo，“saidJem，hissobschokinghim。“Letmein，willyou？“saidJob，pushingpasthim，forallthistimeJemhadstoodholdingthedoor，unwillingtoadmitJobwherehemighthearsomuchthatwouldbesuggestivetooneacquaintedwiththepartiesthatMarynamed。“I’dmorethanonereasonforcomingbetimes。Iwantedtohearhowyonpoorwenchwas；——thatstoodfirst。LatelastnightIgotaletterfromMargaretveryanxious-like。Thedoctorsaystheoldladyyondercan’tlastmanydayslonger，anditseemssolonesomeforhertodiewithnoonebutMargaretandMrsDavenportabouther。SoIthoughtI’djustcomeandstaywithMaryBarton，andseeasshe’swelldoneto，andyouandyourmotherandWillgoandtakeleaveofoldAlice。“Jem’scountenance，sadatbestjustnow，felllowerandlower。ButJobwentonwithhisspeech。“Shestillwanders，Margaretsays，andthinksshe’swithhermotherathome；butforallthat，sheshouldhavesomekithandkinnearhertoclosehereyes，tomythinking。““CouldnotyouandWilltakemotherhome？I’dfollowwhen——“Jemfalteredoutthusfar，whenJobinterrupted，“Lad!ifthouknewwhatthymotherhassufferedforthee，thou’dnotspeakofleavingherjustwhenshe’sgottheefromthegraveasitwere。Why，thisverynightsherousedmeup，and’Job，’saysshe，’Iaskyourpardonforwakeningyou，buttellme，amIawakeordreaming？IsJemprovedinnocent？
Oh，JobLegh!GodsendI’venotbeendreamingit!’Forthousee’stshecan’trightlyunderstandwhythou’rtwithMary，andnotwithher。Aye，aye!Iknowwhy；butamotheronlygivesupherson’sheartinchbyinchtohiswife，andthenshegivesitupwithagrudge。No，Jem!thoumustgowiththymotherjustnow，ifeverthouhopestforGod’sblessing。She’sawidow，andhasnonebutthee。NeverfearforMary!She’syoung，andwillstrugglethrough。Theyaredecentpeople，thesefolksheiswith，andI’llwatcho’erherasthoughshewasmyownpoorgirl，thatliescoldenoughinLondontown。Igrantye，it’shardenoughforhertobeleftamongstrangers。
Tomymind，JohnBartonwouldbemoreinthewayofhisduty，lookingafterhisdaughter，thandelegatingitupanddownthecountry，lookingaftereveryone’sbusinessbuthisown。AnewideaandanewfearcameintoJem’smind。WhatifMaryshouldimplicateherfather？“Sheravesterribly，“saidhe。“Allnightlongshe’sbeenspeakingofherfather，andmixingupthoughtsofhimwiththetrialshesawyesterday。
Ishouldnotwonderifshe’llspeakofhimasbeingincourtnextthing。““Ishouldnawonder，either，“answeredJob。“Folkinherwaysaymanyandmanyastrangething；andth’bestwayisnevertomindthem。Nowyoutakeyourmotherhome，Jem，andstaybyhertilloldAliceisgone，andtrustmeforseeingafterMary。“JemfelthowrightJobwas，andcouldnotresistwhatheknewtobehisduty，butIcannottellyouhowheavyandsickathearthewasashestoodatthedoortotakealastfond，lingeringlookatMary。Hesawhersittingupinbed，hergoldenhair，dimmedwithheroneday’sillness，floatingbehindher，herheadboundroundwithwettedcloths，herfeaturesallagitated，eventodistortion，withthepangsofheranxiety。Herlover’seyesfilledwithtears。Hecouldnothope。Theelasticityofhishearthadbeencrushedoutofhimbyearlysorrows；andnow，especially，thedarksideofeverythingseemedtobepresentedtohim。Whatifshedied，justwhenheknewthetreasure，theuntoldtreasurehepossessedinherlove!Whatifworsethandeathsheremainedapoorgibberingmaniacallherlifelongandmadpeopledolivetobeoldsometimes，evenunderallthepressureoftheirburden，terror-distractedasshewasnow，andnooneabletocomforther!“Jem!“saidJob，partlyguessingtheother’sfeelingsbyhisown。“Jem!“
repeatedhe，arrestinghisattentionbeforehespoke。Jemturnedround，thelittlemotioncausingthetearstooverflowandtrickledownhischeeks。
“ThoumusttrustinGod，andleaveherinHishands。“Hespokehushed，andlow；butthewordssankallthemoreintoJem’sheart，andgavehimstrengthtotearhimselfaway。HefoundhismothernotwithstandingthatshehadbutjustregainedherchildthroughMary’sinstrumentalityhalfinclinedtoresenthishavingpassedthenightinanxiousdevotiontothepoorinvalid。Shedweltonthedutiesofchildrentotheirparentsaboveallothers，tillJemcouldhardlybelievetherelativepositionstheyhadheldonlyyesterday，whenshewasstrugglingwithandcontrollingeveryinstinctofhernature，onlybecausehewishedit。However，therecollectionofthatyesterday，withitshair’sbreadthbetweenhimandafelon’sdeath，andthelovethathadlightenedthedarkshadowmadehimbearwiththemeeknessandpatienceofatrue-heartedmanalltheworryinglittleacerbitiesofto-day；andhehadnosmallmeritindoingso；forinhim，asinhismother，thereactionafterintenseexcitementhadproduceditsusualeffectinincreasedirritabilityofthenervoussystem。TheyfoundAlicealive，andwithoutpain。Andthatwasall。Achildofafewweeksoldwouldhavehadmorebodilystrength；achildofaveryfewmonthsold，moreconsciousnessofwhatwaspassingbeforeher。Buteveninthisstateshediffusedanatmosphereofpeacearoundher。True，Will，atfirst，weptpassionatetearsatthesightofher，whohadbeenasamothertohim，sostandingontheconfinesoflife。Butevennow，asalways，loudpassionatefeelingcouldnotlongendureinthecalmofherpresence。Thefirmfaithwhichhermindhadnolongerpowertograsp，hadleftitstrailofglory；forbynootherwordcanIcallthebrightlookwhichilluminatedtheoldearth-wornface。Hertalk，itistrue，borenomorethatconstantearnestreferencetoGodandHisholywordwhichithaddoneinhealth，andtherewerenodeathbedwordsofexhortationfromthelipsofonesohabituallypious。Forstillsheimaginedherselfonceagaininthehappy，happyrealmsofchildhood；andagaindwellinginthelovelynorthernhauntswhereshehadsooftenlongedtobe。Thoughearthlysightwasgoneaway，shebeheldagainthescenesshehadlovedfromlongyearsago!shesawthemwithoutachangetodimtheoldradianthues。Thelongdeadwerewithher，freshandbloomingasinthosebygonedays。Anddeathcametoherasawelcomeblessing，likeaseveningcomestothewearychild。Herworkherewasfinished，andfaithfullydone。Whatbettersentencecananemperorwishtohavesaidoverhisbier？Insecondchildhoodthatblessingcloudedbyaname，shesaidher“NuncDimittis，“——thesweetestcanticletotheholy。“Mother，goodnight!Dearmother!blessmeoncemore!