Sosayinghereplacedthebottleinthecupboard。Itwashewho，inafirmcommandingvoice，atlasttoldJemandMarytobeoff，ortheywouldbetoolate。MrsSturgishadkeptuptillthen；butastheyleftherhouse，shecouldnolongerrestrainhertears，andcriedaloudinspiteofherhusband’supbraiding。“Perhapsthey’llbetoolateforthetrain!“exclaimedshe，withadegreeofhope，astheclockstrucktwo。“What!andcomebackagain？No!no!thatwouldneverdo。We’vedoneourpart，andcriedourcry；it’snousegoingoverthesamegroundagain。
Ishouldha’togive’emmoreoutofyonbottlewhennextpartingtimecame，andthemthreeglassestheyha’madeaholeinthestuff，Icantellyou。TimeJackwasbackfromHamburghwithsomemore。WhentheyreachedManchester，Marylookedverywhite，andtheexpressionofherfacewasalmoststern。Shewasinfactsummoningupherresolutiontomeetherfatherifhewereathome。JemhadnevernamedhismidnightglimpseofJohnBartontohumanbeing；butMaryhadasortofpresentiment，thatwanderwherehewould，hewouldseekhishomeatlast。Butinwhatmoodshedreadedtothink。Fortheknowledgeofherfather’scapabilityofguiltseemedtohaveopenedadarkgulfinhischaracter，intothedepthsofwhichshetrembledtolook。Atonemomentshewouldfainhaveclaimedprotectionagainstthelifeshemustlead，forsometimeatleast，alonewithamurderer!Shethoughtofhisgloom，beforehismindwashauntedbythememoryofsoterribleacrime；hismoody，irritableways。Sheimaginedtheeveningsasofold；she，toilingatsomework，longafterhouseswereshut，andfolksabed；he，moresavagethanhehadeverbeenbeforewiththeinwardgnawingofhisremorse。Atsuchtimesshecouldhavecriedaloudwithterror，atthescenesherfancyconjuredup。Butherfilialduty，nay，herloveandgratitudeformanydeedsofkindnessdonetoherasalittlechild，conqueredallfear。Shewouldendureallimaginableterrors，althoughofdailyoccurrence。Andshewouldpatientlybearallwaywardviolenceoftemper；morethanpatientlywouldshebearit——pitifully，asonewhoknewofsomeawfulcurseawaitingtheblood-shedder。
Shewouldwatchoverhimtenderly，astheInnocentshouldwatchovertheGuilty；awaitingthegraciousseasons，whereintopouroilandbalmintothebitterwounds。Withtheuntroubledpeacewhichtheresolvetoenduretotheendgives，sheapproachedthehousethatfromhabitshestillcalledhome，butwhichpossessedtheholinessofhomenolonger。“Jem!“saidshe，astheystoodattheentrancetothecourt，closebyJobLegh’sdoor，“youmustgointhereandwaithalfanhour。Notless。IfinthattimeIdon’tcomeback，yougoyourwaystoyourmother。Givehermydearlove。IwillsendbyMargaretwhenIwanttoseeyou。“Shesighedheavily。“Mary!Mary!Icannotleaveyou。Youspeakascoldlyasifweweretobenoughttoeachother。Andmyheart’sboundupinyou。Iknowwhyyoubidmekeepaway，but——“Sheputherhandonhisarm，ashespokeinaloudagitatedtone；shelookedintohisfacewithupbraidingloveinhereyes，andthenshesaid，whileherlipsquivered，andhefeltherwholeframetrembling：“DearJem!Ioftencouldhavetoldyoumoreoflove，ifIhadnotoncespokenoutsofree。Rememberthattime，Jem，ifeveryouthinkmecold。
Then，thelovethat’sinmyheartwouldoutinwords；butnow，thoughI’msilentonthepainI’mfeelinginquittingyou，theloveisinmyheartallthesame。Butthisisnotthetimetospeakonsuchthings。IfIdonotdowhatIfeeltoberightnow，Imayblamemyselfallmylifelong!
Jem，youpromised——“Andsosayingshelefthim。Shewentquickerthanshewouldotherwisehavepassedoverthosefewyardsofground，forfearheshouldstilltrytoaccompanyher。Herhandwasonthelatch，andinabreaththedoorwasopened。Theresatherfather，stillandmotionless——noteventurninghisheadtoseewhohadentered；butperhapsherecognisedthefootstep——thetrickofaction。Hesatbythefire；thegrateIshouldsay，forfiretherewasnone。Somedullgreyashes，negligentlyleft，longdaysago，coldlychokedupthebars。Hehadtakentheaccustomedseatfrommereforceofhabit，whichruledhisautomatonbody。Forallenergy，bothphysicalandmental，seemedtohaveretreatedinwardstosomeofthegreatcitadelsoflife，theretodobattleagainsttheDestroyer，Conscience。Hishandswerecrossed，hisfingersinterlaced；usuallyapositionimplyingsomedegreeofresolutionorstrength；butinhimitwassofaintlymaintained，thatitappearedmoretheresultofchance；anattituderequiringsomeapplicationofoutwardforcetoalter，——andablowwithastrawseemedasthoughitwouldbesufficient。Andasforhisface，itwassunkandworn，——likeaskull，withyetasufferingexpressionthatskullshavenot!Yourheartwouldhaveachedtohaveseentheman，howeverhardlyyoumighthavejudgedhiscrime。Butcrimeandallwasforgottenbyhisdaughter，asshesawhisabashedlook，hissmittenhelplessness。AllalongshehadfeltitdifficultasImayhavesaidbeforetoreconcilethetwoideas，ofherfatherandablood-shedder。Butnowitwasimpossible。Hewasherfather!herowndearfather!andinhissufferings，whatevertheircause，moredearlylovedthaneverbefore。Hiscrimewasathingapart，nevermoretobeconsideredbyher。Andtenderlydidshetreathim，andfondlydidsheservehimineverywaythatheartcoulddevise，orhandexecute。Shehadsomemoneyabouther，thepriceofherstrangeservicesasawitness；
andwhenthelingeringduskgrewonshestoleouttoeffectsomepurchasesnecessaryforherfather’scomfort。Forhowbodyandsoulhadbeenkepttogether，evenasmuchastheywere，duringthedayshehaddweltalone，noonecansay。ThehousewasbareaswhenMaryhadleftit，ofcoal，orofcandle，offood，orofblessinginanyshape。Shecamequicklyhome；butasshepassedJobLegh’sdoor，shestopped。
DoubtlessJemhadlongsincegone；anddoubtless，too，hehadgivenMargaretsomegoodreasonfornotintrudinguponherfriendforthisnightatleast，otherwiseMarywouldhaveseenherbeforenow。Butto-morrow，——wouldshenotcomeinto-morrow？AndwhosoquickasblindMargaretinnoticingtones，andsighs，andevensilence？Shedidnotgiveherselftimeforfurtherthought，herdesiretobeoncemorewithherfatherwastoopressing；butsheopenedthedoor，beforeshewellknewwhattosay。“It’sMaryBarton!Iknowherbyherbreathing!Grandfather，it’sMaryBarton!“Margaret’sjoyatmeetingher，theopendemonstrationofherlove，affectedMarymuch；shecouldnotkeepfromcrying，andsatdownweakandagitatedonthefirstchairshecouldfind。“Aye，aye，Mary!thou’rtlookingabitdifferenttowhenIsawtheelast。
Thou’ltgiveJemandmegoodcharactersforsicknurses，Itrust。Ifalltradesfail，I’llturntothat。Jem’splaceisforlife，Ireckon。Nay，neverreddenso，lass。Youandheknoweachother’smindsbythistime!“Margaretheldherhand，andgentlysmiledintoherface。JobLeghtookthecandleup，andbeganaleisurelyinspection。“Thouhastgettenabitofpinkinthycheeks，——notmuch；butwhenlastIsawthee，thylipswereaswhiteasasheet。Thynoseissharpishatth’end；thou’rtmorelikethyfatherthaneverthouwertbefore。Lord!
child，what’sthematter？Artthougoingtofaint？“ForMaryhadsickenedatthementionofthatname；yetshefeltthatnoworneverwasthetimetospeak。“Father’scomehome!“shesaid，“buthe’sverypoorly；Ineversawhimasheisnow，before。IaskedJemnottocomenearhimforfearitmightfidgethim。“Shespokehastily，andtoherownideainanunnaturalmanner。Buttheydidnotseemtonoticeit，nortotakethehintshehadthrownoutofcompanybeingunacceptable；forJobLeghdirectlyputdownsomeinsect，whichhewasimpalingonacorking-pin，andexclaimed，“Thyfathercomehome!Why，Jemneversaidawordofit!Andailingtoo!
I’llgoin，andcheerhimwithabitoftalk。Ineverknewanygoodcomeofdelegatingit。““Oh，Job!fathercannotstand——fatheristooill。Don’tcome；notbutthatyou’reverykindandgood；butto-night——indeed，“saidshe，atlast，indespair，seeingJobstillpersevereinputtingawayhisthings；“youmustnotcometillIsendorcomeforyou。Father’sinthatstrangeway，Ican’tanswerforitifheseesstrangers。Pleasedon’tcome。I’llcomeandtellyoueverydayhowhegoeson。Imustbeoffnowtoseeafterhim。DearJob!kindJob!don’tbeangrywithme。Ifyouknewall，you’dpityme。“ForJobwasmutteringawayinhighdudgeon，andevenMargaret’stonewasalteredasshewishedMarygoodnight。Justthenshecouldillbrookcoldnessfromanyone，andleastofallbeartheideaofbeingconsideredungratefulbysokindandzealousafriendasJobhadbeen；sosheturnedroundsuddenly，evenwhenherhandwasonthelatchofthedoor，andranback，andthrewherarmsabouthisneck，andkissedhimfirst，andthenMargaret。Andthen，thetearsfastfallingdownhercheeks，butnowordspoken，shehastilyleftthehouse，andwentbacktoherhome。Therewasnochangeinherfather’sposition，orinhisspectrallook。
Hehadansweredherquestionsbutfewinnumber，forsomanysubjectswereunapproachablebymonosyllables，andinaweak，high，childishvoice；
buthehadnotliftedhiseyes；hecouldnotmeethisdaughter’slook。
Andshe，whenshespoke，orasshemovedabout，avoidedlettinghereyesrestuponhim。Shewishedtobeherusualself；butwhileeverythingwasdonewithaconsciousnessofpurpose，shefeltitwasimpossible。Inthismannerthingswentonforsomedays。Atnighthefeeblyclamberedupstairstobed；andduringthoselongdarkhoursMaryheardthosegroansofagonywhichneverescapedhislipsbyday，whentheywerecompressedinsilenceoverhisinwardwoe。Manyatimeshesatuplistening，andwonderingifitwouldeasehismiserableheartifshewenttohim，andtoldhimsheknewall，andlovedandpitiedhimmorethanwordscouldtell。Bydaythemonotonoushoursworeoninthesameheavy，hushedmannerasonthatfirstdrearyafternoon。Heate，——butwithoutrelish；andfoodseemednolongertonourishhim，foreachmorninghisfacehadcaughtmoreoftheghastlyforeshadowingofDeath。Theneighbourskeptstrangelyaloof。OflateyearsJohnBartonhadhadarepellentpowerabouthim，feltbyall，excepttothefewwhohadeitherknownhiminhisbetterandhappierdays，orthosetowhomhehadgivenhissympathyandhisconfidence。Peopledidnotcaretoenterthedoorsofonewhoseverydepthofthoughtfulnessrenderedhimmoodyandstern。
AndnowtheycontentedthemselveswithakindinquirywhentheysawMaryinhergoings-outorinhercomings-in。Withheroppressingknowledge，sheimaginedtheirreservedconductstrangerthanitwasinreality。ShemissedJobandMargarettoo；who，inallformertimesofsorroworanxietysincetheiracquaintancefirstbegan，hadbeenreadywiththeirsympathy。ButmostofallshemissedthedeliciousluxuryshehadlatelyenjoyedinhavingJem’stenderloveathandeveryhouroftheday，towardoffeverywindofheaven，andeverydisturbingthought。Sheknewhewasoftenhoveringaboutthehouse；thoughtheknowledgeseemedtocomemorebyintuition，thanbyanypositivesightorsoundforthefirstdayortwo。Onthethird，shemethimatJobLegh’s。Theyreceivedherwitheveryeffortofcordiality；butstilltherewasacobweb-veilofseparationbetweenthem，towhichMarywasmorbidlyacute；
whileinJem’svoice，andeyes，andmanner，therewaseveryevidenceofmostpassionate，mostadmiring，andmosttrustinglove。Thetrustwasshownbyhisrespectfulsilenceonthatonepointofreserveonwhichshehadinterdictedconversation。HeleftJobLegh’shousewhenshedid。Theylingeredonthestep，heholdingherhandbetweenbothofhis，asloathtolethergo；hequestionedherastowhenheshouldseeheragain。“Motherdoessowanttoseeyou，whisperedhe。“Canyoucometoseeherto-morrow；orwhen？““Icannottell，“repliedshesoftly。“Notyet。Waitawhile；perhapsonlyalittlewhile。DearJem，Imustgotohim，——dearestJem。“Thenextday，thefourthfromMary’sreturnhome，asshewassittingnearthewindow，sadlydreamingoversomework，shecaughtaglimpseofthelastpersonshewishedtosee——ofSallyLeadbitter!Shewasevidentlycomingtotheirhouse；anothermoment，andshetappedatthedoor。JohnBartongaveananxious，uneasyside-glance。Maryknewthatifshedelayedansweringtheknock，Sallywouldnotscrupletoenter；
soashastilyasifthevisithadbeendesired，sheopenedthedoor，andstoodtherewiththelatchinherhand，barringupallentrance，andasmuchaspossibleobstructingallcuriousglancesintotheinterior。“Well，MaryBarton!You’rehomeatlast!Iheardyou’dgettenhome；soIthoughtI’djuststepoverandhearthenews。“Shewasbentoncomingin，andsawMary’spreventivedesign。Soshestoodontip-toe，lookingoverMary’sshouldersintotheroomwhereshesuspectedalovertobelurking；butinstead，shesawonlythefigureofthesterngloomyfathershehadalwaysbeeninthehabitofavoiding；andshedroppeddownagain，contenttocarryontheconversationwhereMarychose，andasMarychose，inwhispers。“Sotheoldgovernorisbackagain，eh？AndwhatdoeshesaytoallyourfinedoingsatLiverpool，andbefore？——youandIknowwhere。Youcanthideitnow，Mary，forit’sallinprint。“Marygavealowmoan，——andthenimploredSallytochangethesubject；forunpleasantasitalwayswas，itwasdoublyunpleasantinthemannerinwhichshewastreatingit。IftheyhadbeenaloneMarywouldhaveborneitpatiently，——orsoshethought，butnowshefeltalmostcertain，herfatherwaslistening；therewasasubduedbreathing，aslightbracing-upofthelistlessattitude。ButtherewasnoarrestingSally’scuriositytohearallshecouldrespectingtheadventuresMaryhadexperienced。She，incommonwiththerestofMissSimmonds’youngladies，wasalmostjealousofthefamethatMaryhadobtained；toherself，suchmiserablenotoriety。“Nay!there’snouseshunningtalkingitover。Why!itwasintheGuardian，——andtheCourier，——andsomeonetoldJaneHodgsonitwasevencopiedintoaLondonpaper。You’vesetupheroineonyourownaccount，MaryBarton。
Howdidyoulikestandingwitness？Ar’n’tthemlawyersimpudentthings？