BeforeJemhadendedhislittlepieceofbusiness，aformhadglidedintosight；awan，feeblefigure，bearingwithevidentandpainfullabourajugofwaterfromtheneighbouringpump。ItwentbeforeJem，turnedupthecourtatthecornerofwhichhewasstanding，passedintothebroad，calmlight；andthere，withbowedhead，sinkingandshrunkbody，JemrecognizedJohnBarton。Nohauntingghostcouldhavehadlessoftheenergyoflifeinitsinvoluntarymotionsthanhe，who，nevertheless，wentonwiththesamemeasuredclockworktreaduntilthedoorofhisownhousewasreached。Andthenhedisappeared，andthelatchfellfeeblyto，andmadeafaintandwaveringsound，breakingthesolemnsilenceofthenight。Thenallagainwasstill。ForaminuteortwoJemstoodmotionless，stunnedbythethoughtswhichthesightofMary’sfatherhadcalledup。Margaretdidnotknowhewasathome：hadhestolenlikeathiefbydeadofnightintohisowndwelling？DepressedasJemhadoftenandlongseenhim，thisnighttherewassomethingdifferentabouthimstill；beatendownbysomeinwardstorm，heseemedtogrovelalong，allself-respectlostandgone。MusthebetoldofMary’sstate？Jemfelthemustnot；andthisformanyreasons。Hecouldnotbeinformedofherillnesswithoutmanyotherparticularsbeingcommunicatedatthesametime，ofwhichitwerebetterheshouldbekeptinignorance；indeed，ofwhichMaryherselfcouldalonegivethefullexplanation。Nosuspicionthathewasthecriminalseemedhithertotohavebeenexcitedinthemindofanyone。AddedtothesereasonswasJem’sextremeunwillingnesstofacehim，withthebeliefinhisbreastthathe，andnoneother，haddonethefearfuldeed。ItwastruethathewasMary’sfather，andassuchhadeveryrighttobetoldofaconcerningher；butsupposinghewere，andthathefollowedtheimpulsesonaturaltoafather，andwishedtogotoher，whatmightbetheconsequences？Amongthemingledfeelingsshehadrevealedinherdelirium，aye，mingledevenwiththemosttenderexpressionsofloveforherfather，wasasortofhorrorofhim；adreadofhimasablood-shedder，whichseemedtoseparatehimintotwopersons，——one，thefatherwhohaddandledheronhisknee，andlovedherallherlifelong；theother，theassassin，thecauseofallhertroubleandwoe。Ifheresentedhimselfbeforeherwhilethisideaofhischaracterwasuppermost，whomighttelltheconsequence？Jemcouldnot，andwouldnot，exposehertoanysuchfearfulchance：andtotellthetruth，Ibelievehelookeduponherasmorehisown，toguardfromallshadowofinjurywithmostlovingcare，thanasbelongingtoanyoneelseinthisworld，thoughgirtwiththereverendnameofFather，andguiltlessofaughtthatmighthavelessenedsuchreverence。Ifyouthinkthisaccountofmineconfused，ofthehalf-feelings，half-reasons，whichpassedthroughJem’smind，ashestoodgazingontheemptyspace，wherethatcrushedformhadsolatelybeenseen，——ifyouareperplexedtodisentangletherealmotives，IdoassureyouitwasfromjustsuchaninvolvedsetofthoughtsthatJemdrewtheresolutiontoactasifhehadnotseenthatphantomlikenessofJohnBarton；himself，yetnothimself。
Dixwell。Forgiveness!Oh，forgiveness，andagrave!Mary。Godknowsthyheart，myfather!andIshudderTothinkwhatthouperchancehastacted。Dixwell。Oh!Mary。Nocommonloadofwoeisthine，myfather。ELLIOT’SKerhonah。MarystillhoveredbetweenlifeanddeathwhenJemarrivedatthehousewhereshelay；andthedoctorswereasyetunwillingtocompromisetheirwisdombyallowingtoomuchhopetobeentertained。Butthestateofthings，ifnotlessanxious，waslessdistressingthanwhenJemhadquittedher。
Shelaynowinastupor，whichwaspartlydisease，andpartlyexhaustionafterthepreviousexcitement。AndnowJemfoundthedifficultywhicheveryonewhohaswatchedbyasickbedknowsfullwell；andwhichisperhapsmoreinsurmountabletomenthanitistowomen，——thedifficultyofbeingpatient，andtryingnottoexpectanyvisiblechangeforlong，longhoursofsadmonotony。Butafterawhiletherewardcame。Thelabouredbreathingbecamelowerandsofter，theheavylookofoppressivepainmeltedawayfromtheface，andalanguorthatwasalmostpeacetooktheplaceofsuffering。Shesleptanaturalsleep；andtheystoleaboutontip-toe，andspokelow，andsoftly，andhardlydaredtobreathe，howevermuchtheylongedtosighouttheirthankfulrelief。Sheopenedhereyes。Hermindwasinthetenderstateofalately-borninfant’s。Shewaspleasedwiththegaybutnotdazzlingcoloursofthepaper；soothedbythesubduedlight；andquitesufficientlyamusedbylookingatalltheobjectsintheroom——thedrawingoftheships，thefestoonsofthecurtain，thebrightflowersonthepaintedbacksofthechairs——tocareforanystrongerexcitement。Shewonderedattheballofglass，containingvarious-colouredsandsfromtheIsleofWight，orsomeotherplace，whichhungsuspendedfromthemiddleofthelittlevalanceoverthewindow。Butshedidnotcaretoexertherselftoaskanyquestions，althoughshesawMrsSturgisstandingatthebedsidewithsometea，readytodropitintohermouthbyspoonfuls。Shedidnotseethefaceofhonestjoy，ofearnestthankfulness，——theclaspedhands，——thebeamingeyes，——thetremblingeagernessofgesture，ofonewhohadlongawaitedherwakening，andwhonowstoodbehindthecurtainswatchingthroughsomelittlechinkhereveryfaintmotion；orifshehadcaughtaglimpseofthatloving，peepingface，shewasintooexhaustedastatetohavetakenmuchnotice，orhavelongretainedtheimpressionthatheshelovedsowellwashangingabouther，andblessingGodforeveryconsciouslookwhichstoleoverhercountenance。Shefellsoftlyintoslumber，withoutawordhavingbeenspokenbyanyoneduringthathalfhourofinexpressiblejoy。Andagainthestillnesswasenforcedbysignandwhisperedword，butwitheyesthatbeamedouttheirbrightthoughtsofhope。Jemsatbythesideofthebed，holdingbackthelittlecurtain，andgazingasifhecouldnevergazehisfillatthepale，wastedface，somarbledandsochiselledinitswanoutline。Shewakenedoncemore；hersofteyesopened，andmethisover-bendinglook。
Shesmiledgently，asababydoeswhenitseesitsmothertendingitslittlecot；andcontinuedherinnocent，infantinegazeintohisface，asifthesightgavehermuchunconsciouspleasure。Butbyandbyadifferentexpressioncameintohersweeteyes；alookofmemoryandintelligence；herwhitefleshflushedthebrightestrosyred，andwithfeeblemotionshetriedtohideherheadinthepillow。ItrequiredallJem’sself-controltodowhatheknewandfelttobenecessary，tocallMrsSturgis，whowasquietlydozingbythefireside；andthatdone，hefeltalmostobligedtoleavetheroomtokeepdownthehappyagitationwhichwouldgushoutineveryfeature，everygesture，andeverytone。Fromthattimeforward，Mary’sprogresstowardshealthwasrapid。Therewaseveryreason，butone，infavourofherspeedyremovalhome。
AllJem’sdutieslayinManchester。Itwashismother’sdwelling-place，andtherehisplansforlifehadbeentobeworkedoutplans，whichthesuspicionandimprisonmenthehadfalleninto，hadthrownforatimeintoachaos，whichhispresencewasrequiredtoarrangeintoform。Forhemightfind，inspiteofajury’sverdict，thattoostrongataintwasonhischaracterforhimevertolabourinManchesteragain。Herememberedthemannerinwhichsomeonesuspectedofhavingbeenaconvictwasshunnedbymastersandmen，whenhehadaccidentallymetwithworkintheirfoundry；
therecollectionsmotehimnow，howhehimselfhadthoughtitdidnotbecomeanhonestuprightmantoassociatewithonewhohadbeenaprisoner。Hecouldnotchoosebutthinkonthatpoorhumblebeing，withhisdowncastconsciouslook；huntedoutoftheworkshop，wherehehadsoughttoearnanhonestlivelihood，bythelooks，andhalf-spokenwords，andtheblacksilenceofrepugnanceworsethanwordstobear，thatmethimonallsides。Jemfeltthathisowncharacterhadbeenattainted；andthattomanyitmightstillappearsuspicious。Heknewthathecouldconvincetheworld，byafutureasblamelessashispasthadbeen，thathewasinnocent。Butatthesametimehesawthathemusthavepatience，andnervehimselfforsometrials；andthesoonerthesewereundergone，thesoonerhewasawareoftheplaceheheldinmen’sestimation，thebetter。Helongedtohavepresentedhimselfoncemoreatthefoundry；andthentherealitywoulddriveawaythepicturesthatwouldunbiddencome，ofashunnedman，eyedaskancebyall，anddrivenforthtoshapeoutsomenewcareer。Isaideveryreason“butone“inclinedJemtohastenMary’sreturnassoonasshewassufficientlyconvalescent。Thatonewasthemeetingwhichawaitedherathome。TurnitoverasJemwould，hecouldnotdecidewhatwasthebestcoursetopursue。Hecouldcompelhimselftoanylineofconductthathisreasonandhissenseofrighttoldhimtobedesirable；buttheydidnottellhimitwasdesirabletospeaktoMary，inhertenderstateofmindandbody，ofherfather。Howmuchwouldbeimpliedbythemerementionofhisname!Speakitascalmly，andasindifferentlyashemight，hecouldnotavoidexpressingsomeconsciousnessoftheterribleknowledgeshepossessed。She，forherpart，wassofterandgentlerthanshehadeverbeeninhergentlestmood；sinceherillnesshermotions，herglances，hervoicewerealltenderintheirlanguor。Itseemedalmostatroubletohertobreakthesilencewiththelowsoundsofherownsweetvoice，andherwordsfellsparinglyonJem’sgreedy，listeningear。Herfacewas，however，sofullofloveandconfidencethatJemfeltnouneasinessatthestateofsilentabstractionintowhichsheoftenfell。
Ifshedidbutlovehim，allwouldyetgoright；anditwasbetternottopressforconfidenceonthatonesubjectwhichmustbepainfultoboth。Therecameafine，bright，balmyday。AndMarytotteredoncemoreoutintotheopenair，leaningonJem’sarm，andclosetohisbeatingheart。AndMrsSturgiswatchedthemfromherdoor，withablessingonherlips，astheywentslowlyupthestreet。Theycameinsightoftheriver。Maryshuddered。“OhJem!takemehome。Yonriverseemsallmadeofglittering，dazzlingmetal，justasitdidwhenIbegantobeill。“Jemledherhomewards。Shedroppedherheadassearchingforsomethingontheground……“Jem!“Hewasaattention。Shepausedforaninstant“WhenmayIgohome？
ToManchester，Imean。Iamsowearyofthisplace；andIwouldfainbeathome。“Shespokeinafeeblevoice；notatallimpatiently，asthewordsthemselveswouldseemtointimate，butinamournfulway，asifanticipatingsorrow，evenintheveryfulfilmentofherwishes。“Darling!wewillgowheneveryouwish；wheneveryoufeelstrongenough。
IaskedJobtotellMargarettogetallinreadinessforyoutogothereatfirst。She’lltendyouandnurseyou。Youmustnotgohome。Jobprofferedforyoutogothere。““Ah!butImustgohome，Jem。I’lltryandnotfailnowinwhat’sright。
Therearethingswemustnotspeakon“loweringhervoice，“butyou’llbereallykindifyou’llnotspeakagainstmygoinghome。Letussaynomoreaboutit，dearJem。Imustgohome，andImustgoalone。““Notalone，Mary!““Yes，alone!IcannottellyouwhyIaskit。Andifyouguess，Iknowyouwellenoughtobesureyou’llunderstandwhyIaskyounevertospeakonthatagaintome，tillIbegin。Promise，dearJem，promise!“Hepromised；togratifythatbeseechingface，hepromised。Andthenherepented，andfeltasifhehaddoneill。Thenagainhefeltasifshewerethebestjudge，andknowingallperhapsmorethanevenhedid，mightbeformingplanswhichhisinterferencewouldmar。Onethingwascertain!itwasamiserablethingtohavethisawfulforbiddengroundofdiscourse；toguessateachother’sthoughts，wheneyeswereaverted，andcheeksblanched，andwordsstoodstill，arrestedintheirflowbysomecasualallusion。Atlastaday，fineenoughforMarytotravelon，arrived。Shehadwishedtogo，butnowhercouragefailedher。Howcouldshehavesaidshewaswearyofthatquiethouse，whereevenBenSturgis’sgrumblingsonlymadeakindofharmoniousbassintheconcordbetweenhimandhiswife，sothoroughlydidtheyknoweachotherwiththeknowledgeofmanyyears!Howcouldshehavelongedtoquitthatlittlepeacefulroomwhereshehadexperiencedsuchlovingtendence!Eventheverycheckbed-curtainsbecamedeartoher，undertheideaofseeingthemnomore。Ifitwassowithinanimateobjects，iftheyhadsuchpowerofexcitingregret，whatwereherfeelingswithregardtothekindoldcouple，whohadtakenthestrangerin，andcaredforher，andnursedher，asthoughshehadbeenadaughter？Eachwilfulsentencespokeninthehalf-unconsciousirritationoffeeblenesscamenowwithavengingself-reproachtohermemory，asshehungaboutMrsSturgis，withmanytears，whichservedinsteadofwordstoexpresshergratitudeandlove。BenbustledaboutwiththesquarebottleofGolden-wasserinoneofhishands，andasmalltumblerintheother；hewenttoMary，Jem，andhiswifeinsuccession，pouringoutaglassforeach，andbiddingthemdrinkittokeeptheirspiritsup；butaseachseverallyrefused，hedrankithimself；andpassedontoofferthesamehospitalitytoanotherwiththelikerefusal，andthelikeresult。Whenhehadswallowedthelastofthethreedraughts，hecondescendedtogivehisreasonsforhavingdoneso。“Icannotabidewaste。What’spouredoutmunbedrunk。That’smymaxim。“