I’mverytired，andwouldfaingotosleep。“Sheneverspokeagainonthissideheaven。ShediedthedayaftertheirreturnfromLiverpool。Fromthattime，JembecameawarethathismotherwasjealouslywatchingforsomewordorsignwhichshouldbetokenhiswishtoreturntoMary。AndyetgotoLiverpoolhemustandwould，assoonasthefuneralwasover，ifbutforasimpleglimpseofhisdarling。ForJobhadneverwritten；indeed，anynecessityforhissodoinghadneverenteredhishead。IfMarydied，hewouldannounceitpersonally；ifsherecovered，hemeanttobringherhomewithhim。Writingwastohimlittlemorethananauxiliarytonaturalhistory；awayofticketingspecimens，notofexpressingthoughts。TheconsequenceofthiswantofintelligenceastoMary’sstatewas，thatJemwasconstantlyanticipatingthateverypersonandeveryscrapofpaperwastoconveytohimthenewsofherdeath。Hecouldnotendurethisstatelong；butheresolvednottodisturbthehousebyannouncingtohismotherhispurposedintentionofreturningtoLiverpool，untilthedeadhadbeenburiedforth。OnSundayafternoontheylaidherlowwithmanytears。Willweptasonewhowouldnotbecomforted。Theoldchildishfeelingcameoverhim，thefeelingoflonelinessatbeingleftamongstrangers。Byandby，Margarettimidlystolenearhim，asifwaitingtoconsole；andsoonhispassionsankdowntogrief，andgriefgavewaytomelancholy，andthoughhefeltasifhenevercouldbejoyfulagain，hewasallthewhileunconsciouslyapproachingnearertothefullhappinessofcallingMargarethisown，andagoldenthreadwasinterwovenevennowwiththedarknessofhissorrow。YetitwasonhisarmthatJaneWilsonleantonherreturnhomewards。JemtookchargeofMargaret。“Margaret，I’mboundforLiverpoolbythefirsttrainto-morrow；Imustsetyourgrandfatheratliberty。““I’msurehelikesnothingbetterthanwatchingoverpoorMary；heloveshernearlyaswellasme。Butletmego!IhavebeensofullofpoorAlice，I’veneverthoughtofitbefore；Ican’tdosomuchasmanyaone，butMarywillliketohaveawomanaboutherthatsheknows。I’msorryIwaitedtobereminded，Jem，“repliedMargaret，withsomelittleself-reproach。ButMargaret’spropositiondidnotatallagreewithhercompanion’swishes。
Hefoundhehadbetterspeakout，andputhisintentionatoncetotherightmotive；thesubterfugeaboutsettingJobLeghatlibertyhaddonehimharminsteadofgood。“Totelltruth，Margaret，it’sIthatmustgo，andthatformyownsake，notyourgrandfather’s。IcanrestneitherbynightnordayforthinkingonMary。Whethershelivesordies，IlookonherasmywifebeforeGod，assurelyandsolemnlyasifweweremarried。Sobeing，Ihavethegreatestrighttolookafterher，andIcannotyielditevento——““Herfather，“saidMargaret，finishinghisinterruptedsentence。“Itseemsstrangethatagirllikehershouldbethrownonthebareworldtostrugglethroughsobadanillness。NooneseemstoknowwhereJohnBartonis，elseIthoughtofgettingMorristowritehimalettertellinghimaboutMary。
Iwishhewashome，thatIdo!“Johncouldnotechothiswish。“Mary’snotbadoffforfriendswheresheis，“saidhe。“Icallthemfriends，thoughaweekagowenoneofusknewthereweresuchfolksintheworld。
Butbeinganxiousandsorrowfulaboutthesamethingmakespeoplequickerthananything，Ithink。She’slikeamothertoMaryinherways；andhebearsagoodcharacter，asfarasIcouldlearnjustinthathurry。We’redrawingnearhome，andI’venotsaidmysay，Margaret。Iwantyoutolookaftermotherabit。She’llnotlikemygoing，andI’vegottobreakittoheryet。Ifshetakesitverybadly，I’llcomebackto-morrownight；
butifshe’snotagainstitverymuch，Imeantostaytillit’ssettledaboutMary，onewayortheother。Will，youknow，willbethere，Margaret，tohelpabitindoingformother。“Will’sbeingtheremadetheonlyobjectionMargaretsawtothisplan。Shedislikedtheideaofseemingtothrowherselfinhisway，andyetshedidnotliketosayanythingofthisfeelingtoJem，whohadallalongseemedperfectlyunconsciousofanylove-affair，besideshisown，inprogress。SoMargaretgaveareluctantconsent。“Ifyoucanjuststepuptoourhouseto-night，Jem，I’llputupafewthingsasmaybeusefultoMary，andthenyoucansaywhenyou’lllikelybeback。Ifyoucomehometo-morrownight，andWill’sthere，perhapsI
neednotstepup？““Yes，Margaret，do!Ishan’tleaveeasyunlessyougosometimeinthedaytoseemother。I’llcometo-night，though；andnowgood-bye。StayI
doyouthinkyoucouldjustcoaxpoorWilltowalkabithomewithyou，thatImightspeaktomotherbymyself？“No!thatMargaretcouldnotdo。Thatwasexpectingtoogreatasacrificeofbashfulfeeling。ButtheobjectwasaccomplishedbyWill’sgoingup-stairsimmediatelyontheirreturntothehouse，toindulgehismournfulthoughtsalone。AssoonasJemandhismotherwereleftbythemselves，hebeganonthesubjectuppermostinhismind。“Mother!“Sheputherhandkerchieffromhereyes，andturnedquicklyround，soastofacehimwherehestood，thinkingwhatbesttosay。Thelittleactionannoyedhim，andherushedatonceintothesubject。“Mother!IamgoingbacktoLiverpoolto-morrowmorningtoseehowMaryBartonis。““Andwhat’sMaryBartontothee，thatthoushouldstberunningafterherinthat-a-way？““Ifshelives，sheshallbemyweddedwife。Ifshedies——mother，Ican’tspeakofwhatIshallfeelifshedies。“Hisvoicewaschokedinhisthroat。Foraninstanthismotherwasinterestedbyhiswords；andthencamebacktheoldjealousyofbeingsupplantedintheaffectionsofthatson，whohadbeen，asitwere，newlyborntoher，bytheescapehehadsolatelyexperiencedfromdanger。Soshehardenedherheartagainstentertaininganyfeelingofsympathy；andturnedawayfromtheface，whichrecalledtheearnestlookofhischildhood，whenhehadcometoherinsometrouble，sureofhelpandcomfort。Andcoldlyshespoke，inthosetoneswhichJemknewanddreaded，evenbeforethemeaningtheyexpressedwasfullyshaped。“Thou’rtoldenoughtopleasethysel。Oldmothersarecastaside，andwhatthey’veborneforgottenassoonasaprettyfacecomesacross。ImighthavethoughtofthatlastTuesday，whenIfeltasifthouwertallmyown，andthejudgeweresomewildanimaltryingtorendtheefromme。Ispokeupfortheethen，butit’sallforgottennow，Isuppose。“Mother!youknowallthiswhile，youknowIcanneverforgetanykindnessyou’veeverdoneforme；andthey’vebeenmany。WhyshouldyouthinkI’veonlyroomforoneloveinmyheart？Icanloveyouasdearlyasever，andMarytoo，asmuchasmaneverlovedwoman。“Hewaitedareply。Nonewasvouchsafed。“Mother，answerme!“saidhe，atlast。“WhatmunIanswer？Youaskedmenoquestion。““Well!Iaskyouthisnow。To-morrowmorningIgotoLiverpooltoseeherwhoisasmywife。Dearmother!willyoublessmeonmyerrand？IfitpleaseGodsherecovers，willyoutakehertoyouasyouwouldadaughter？“Shecouldneitherrefusenorassent。“Whyneedyougo？“saidshequerulously，atgettinginsomemischieforanotheragain。Can’tyoustopathomequietwithme？“Jemgotup，andwalkedabouttheroomindespairingimpatience。Shewouldnotunderstandhisfeelings。Atlasthestopdrightbeforetheplacewhereshewassitting，witanairofinjuredmeeknessonherface。“Mother!Ioftenthinkwhatagoodmanfatherwas!I’veoftenheardyoutellofyourcourtingdays；andoftheaccidentthatbefellyou，andhowillyouwere。Howlongisitago？““Nearuponfive-and-twentyyears，“saidshe，withasigh。“YoulittlethoughtwhenyouweresoillyoushouldlivetohavesuchafinestrappingsonasIam，didyounow？“Shesmiledalittle，andlookedupathim，whichwasjustwhathewanted。“Thou’rtnotsofineamanasthyfatherwas，byadeal；“saidshe，lookingathimwithmuchfondness，notwithstandingherdepreciatorywords。Hetookanotherturnortwoupanddowntheroom。Hewantedtobendthesubjectroundtohisowncase。“Thosewerehappydayswhenfatherwasalive!““Youmaysayso，lad!Suchdaysaswillnevercomeagaintome，atanyrate。“Shesighedsorrow-fully。“Mother!“saidhe，atlast，stoppingshort，andtakingherhandinhiswithtenderaffection，“you’dlikemetobeashappyamanasmyfatherwasbeforeme，wouldnotyou？You’dlikemetohavesomeonetomakemeashappyasyoumadefather？Now，wouldnotyou，dearmother？““IdidnotmakehimashappyasImightha’done，murmuredshe，inalow，sadvoiceofself-reproach。“Th’accidentgaveajartomytemperit’snevergotthebetterof；andnowhe’sgone，wherehecanneverknowhowIgrieveforhavingfrabbedhimas。Idid。““Nay，mother，wedon’tknowthat!“saidJem，withgentlesoothing。“Anyhow，youandfathergotalongwithasfewrubsasmostpeople。Butforhissake，dearmother，don’tsaymenay，nowthatIcometoyoutoaskyourblessingbeforesettingouttoseeher，whoistobemywife，ifeverwomanis；forhissake，ifnotformine，loveherwhoI
shallbringhometobetomeallyouweretohimand，mother!Idonotaskforatrueroratendererheartthanyoursis，inthelongrun。“Thehardlookleftherface；thoughhereyeswerestillavertedfromJem’sgaze，itwasmorebecausetheywerebrimmingoverwithtears，calledforthbyhiswords，thanbecauseanyangryfeelingyetremained。Andwhenhismanlyvoicediedawayinlowpleadings，sheliftedupherhands，andbentdownherson’sheadbelowthelevelofherown；andthenshesolemnlyutteredablessing。“Godblessthee，Jem，myowndearlad。AndmayHeblessMaryBartonforthysake。“Jem’sheartleaptup，andfromthistimehopetooktheplaceoffearinhisanticipationswithregardtoMary。“Mother!youshowyourowntrueselftoMary，andshe’llloveyouasdearlyasIdo。“Sowithsomefewsmiles，andsomefewtears，andmuchearnesttalking，theeveningworeaway。“ImustbeofftoseeMargaret。Why，it’snearteno’clock!Couldyouhavethoughtit？Nowdon’tyoustopupforme，mother。YouandWillgotobed，foryou’vebothneedofit。Ishallbehomeinanhour。“Margarethadfelttheeveninglongandlonely；andwasallbutgivingupthethoughtsofJem’scomingthatnight，whensheheardhisstepatthedoor。Hetoldherofhisprogresswithhismother；hetoldherhishopes，andwassilentonthesubjectofhisfears。“Tothinkhowsorrowandjoyaremixeduptogether。You’lldateyourstartinlifeasMary’sacknowledgedloverfrompoorAliceWilson’sburialday。
Well!thedeadaresoonforgotten!““DearMargaret!Butyou’rewornoutwithyourlongeveningwaitingforme。Idon’twonder。Butneveryou，noranyoneelse，thinkbecauseGodseesfittocallupnewinterestsperhapsrightoutofthegrave，thatthereforethedeadareforgotten。Margaret，youyourselfcanrememberourlooks，andfancywhatwe’relike。““Yes!butwhathasthattodowithrememberingAlice？““Why，justthis。You’renotalwaystryingtothinkonourfaces，andmakingalabourofremembering；butoften，I’llbebound，whenyou’resinkingofftosleep，orwhenyou’reveryquietandstill，thefacesyouknewsowellwhenyoucouldsee，comesmilingbeforeyouwithlovinglooks。Oryourememberthem，withoutstrivingafterit，andwithoutthinkingit’syourdutytokeeprecallingthem。Andsoitiswiththemthatarehiddenfromoursight。Ifthey’vebeenworthytobeheartilylovedwhilealive，they’llnotbeforgottenwhendead；it’sagainstnature。AndweneednomorebeupbraidingourselvesforlettinginGod’sraysoflightuponoursorrow，andnomorebefearfulofforgettingthem，becausetheirmemoryisnotalwayshauntingandtakingupourminds，thanyouneedtotroubleyourselfaboutrememberingyourgrandfather’sface，orwhatthestarswerelike，——youcan’tforgetifyouwould，whatit’ssuchapleasuretothinkabout。Don’tfearmyforgettingauntAlice。““I’mnot，Jem；notnow，atleast；onlyyouseemedsofullaboutMary。““I’vekeptitdownsolong，remember。HowgladauntAlicewouldhavebeentoknowthatImighthopetohaveherformywife!that’stosayifGodsparesher!““Shewouldnothaveknownit，evenifyoucouldhavetoldherthislastfortnight，——eversinceyouwentawayshe’sbeenthinkingalwaysthatshewasalittlechildathermother’sapron-string。Shemusthavebeenahappylittlething；itwassuchapleasuretohertothinkaboutthoseearlydays，whenshelayoldandgrayonherdeathbed。““Ineverknewanyoneseemmorehappyallherlifelong。““Aye!andhowgentleandeasyherdeathwas!Shethoughthermotherwasnearher。“Theyfellintocalmthoughtaboutthoselastpeaceful，happyhours。Itstruckeleven。Jemstartedup。“Ishouldhavebeengonelongago。Givemethebundle。You’llnotforgetmymother。Goodnight，Margaret。“Shelethimoutandboltedthedoorbehindhim。Hestoodonthestepstoadjustsomefasteningaboutthebundle。Thecourt，thestreet，wasdeeplystill。LongagoallhadretiredtorestonthatquietSabbathevening。
Thestarsshonedownonthesilentdesertedstreets，andtheclearsoftmoonlightfellinbrightmasses，leavingthestepsonwhichJemstoodinshadow。Afoot-fallwasheardalongthepavement；slowandheavywasthesound。