mind;
but
she
could
not
do
so
,
and
when
dusk
came
round
,
her
first
act
,
as
soon
as
she
laid
by
her
work
,
was
to
slip
out
unperceived
—
for
Mrs.
Gray
,
highly
indignant
with
Mr.
Jones
and
his
daughter
,
would
certainly
have
opposed
her
—
and
go
as
far
as
the
Teapot
.
Mr.
Jones
was
serving
a
customer
.
He
did
not
recognize
Rachel
as
she
entered
the
shop
,
and
hastily
called
out
:
"
Mary
—
Mary
come
and
serve
the
lady
.
"
"
It
's
only
me
,
Mr.
Jones
,
"
timidly
said
Rachel
.
"
Walk
in
,
Miss
Gray
,
"
he
replied
,
slightly
embarrassed
,
"
walk
in
,
you
'll
find
Mary
in
the
back
parlour
,
very
glad
to
see
you
,
Miss
Gray
.
"
Much
more
sulky
than
glad
looked
Mary
,
but
of
this
Rachel
took
no
notice
;
she
sat
down
by
the
side
of
the
young
girl
,
and
,
as
if
nothing
had
occurred
,
spoke
of
the
Teapot
and
its
prospects
.
To
which
discourse
Mary
gave
replies
pertinaciously
sullen
.
"
Mary
!
"
at
length
said
Rachel
,
"
why
did
you
not
come
to
work
to
day
,
were
you
unwell
?
"
This
simple
question
obtaining
no
reply
,
Rachel
repeated
it
;
still
Mary
remained
silent
,
but
when
a
third
time
Rachel
gently
said
:
"
Mary
what
was
it
ailed
you
?
"
Mary
began
to
cry
.
"
Well
,
well
,
what
's
the
matter
?
"
exclaimed
her
father
looking
in
,
"
you
ai
n't
been
scolding
my
little
Mary
have
you
.
Miss
Gray
?
"
"
I
!
"
said
Rachel
,
"
no
,
Mr.
Jones
,
I
only
asked
her
why
she
did
not
come
this
morning
?
"
"
Because
I
would
not
let
her
,
"
he
replied
,
almost
sharply
,
"
dress-making
do
n't
agree
with
my
Mary
,
Miss
Gray
,
and
you
know
I
told
you
from
the
first
,
that
if
her
health
would
n't
allow
it
,
she
was
not
to
stay
.
"
And
a
customer
calling
him
back
to
the
shop
,
he
left
the
parlour
threshold
.
Rachel
rose
.
"
Good-night
,
Mary
,
"
she
gently
said
;
"
if
you
feel
stronger
,
and
more
able
to
work
,
you
may
come
back
to
me
.
"
Mary
did
not
reply
.
"
Good-night
,
Mr.
Jones
,
"
said
Rachel
,
passing
through
the
shop
.
"
Good-night
,
Miss
Gray
,
"
he
replied
,
formally
.
"
My
best
respects
to
Mrs.
Gray
,
if
you
please
.
"
When
people
have
done
an
insolent
and
ungrateful
thing
,
they
generally
try
to
persuade
themselves
that
it
was
a
spirited
,
independent
sort
of
thing
;
and
so
now
endeavoured
to
think
Richard
Jones
and
his
daughter
—
but
in
vain
.
To
both
still
came
the
thought
:
"
Was
this
the
return
to
make
to
Rachel
Gray
for
all
her
kindness
?
"
The
conscience
of
Mr.
Jones
,
little
used
to
such
reflections
,
made
him
feel
extremely
uneasy
;
and
if
that
of
Mary
was
not
quite
so
sensitive
,
the
dull
routine
of
the
paternal
home
added
much
force
to
the
conclusion
"
that
she
had
much
better
have
stayed
with
Miss
Gray
.
"
Mary
was
too
childish
,
and
had
ever
been
too
much
indulged
to
care
for
consistency
.
At
the
close
of
a
week
,
she
therefore
declared
that
she
wished
to
go
back
to
Miss
Gray
,
and
did
not
know
why
her
father
had
taken
her
away
.
"
I
—
I
—
my
dear
!
"
said
Richard
Jones
,
confounded
at
the
accusation
,
"
you
said
getting
up
early
made
your
side
ache
.
"
"
So
it
did
;
but
I
could
have
got
up
late
,
and
gone
all
the
same
,
only
you
would
n't
let
me
;
you
kept
me
here
to
mind
the
shop
.
I
hate
the
shop
.
Teapot
and
all
!
"
added
Mary
,
busting
into
tears
.
Jones
hung
down
his
head
—
then
shook
it
"
Oh
!
my
little
Mary
—
my
little
Mary
!
"
he
exclaimed
,
ruefully
;
and
he
felt
as
if
he
could
hare
cried
himself
,
to
see
the
strange
perversity
of
this
spoiled
child
,
"
who
turned
upon
him
,
"
as
he
internally
phrased
it
,
and
actually
upbraided
him
with
his
over-indulgence
.
A
wiser
father
would
never
have
thus
indulged
a
pettish
daughter
,
and
never
have
humbled
himself
as
,
to
please
his
little
Mary
,
Richard
Jones
now
did
.
That
same
day
,
he
went
round
to
Rachel
Gray
's
;
he
had
hoped
that
she
might
be
alone
in
the
little
parlour
;
but
no
,
there
sat
,
as
if
to
increase
his
mortification
,
Mrs.
Gray
,
stiff
and
stern
,
and
Jane
smiling
grimly
.
Rachel
alone
was
the
same
as
usual
.
Jones
scratched
his
head
,
coughed
,
and
looked
foolish
;
but
at
length
he
came
out
with
it
:
"
Would
Miss
Gray
take
back
his
daughter
,
whose
health
a
week
's
rest
had
much
improved
—
much
improved
,
"
he
added
,
looking
at
Rachel
doubtfully
.
Mrs.
Gray
drew
herself
up
to
utter
a
stern
"
No
,
"
but
for
once
the
mild
Rachel
checked
and
contradicted
her
mother
,
and
said
:
"
Yes
,
Mr.
Jones
,
with
great
pleasure
.
You
may
send
her
to-day
,
if
you
like
.
She
has
missed
us
,
and
we
have
missed
her
.
"
"
Thank
you
,
Miss
Gray
—
thank
you
,
"
said
Jones
,
hurriedly
rising
to
leave
.
"
Give
Mary
my
kind
love
,
"
whispered
Rachel
,
as
she
let
him
out
.
But
Jones
had
not
heard
her
.
Very
slowly
,
and
with
his
hands
in
his
pockets
,
he
walked
down
the
street
.
He
had
not
grown
tired
of
Mary
's
company
;
why
had
Mary
grown
tired
of
his
?
"
It
's
natural
,
I
suppose
,
"
he
thought
,
"
it
's
natural
;
"
and
when
he
entered
the
shop
,
where
Mary
sat
sulking
behind
the
counter
,
and
he
told
her
that
she
might
go
back
to
Miss
Gray
's
,
and
when
he
saw
her
face
light
up
with
pleasure
,
he
forgot
that
,
though
natural
,
it
was
not
pleasant
.
"
You
may
go
to-day
,
"
he
added
,
smiling
.
At
once
,
Mary
flew
upstairs
to
her
room
.
In
less
than
five
minutes
,
she
was
down
again
,
and
merely
nodding
to
her
father
as
she
passed
through
the
shop
,
off
she
went
,
with
the
light
,
happy
step
of
youth
.
"
It
's
natural
,
"
he
thought
again
,
"
it
's
very
natural
,
"
but
he
sighed
.
Mrs.
Gray
took
in
high
dudgeon
the
consent
her
daughter
had
given
to
the
return
of
Mary
Jones
.
She
scarcely
looked
at
that
young
lady
the
whole
day
,
and
when
she
was
gone
,
and
Jane
had
retired
to
her
little
room
,
and
mother
and
daughter
sat
together
,
Rachel
got
a
lecture
.
"
You
have
no
spirit
,
"
indignantly
said
Mrs.
Gray
.
"
What
!
after
the
little
hussy
behaving
so
shamefully
,
you
take
her
back
for
the
asking
!
"
"
She
is
but
a
child
,
"
gently
observed
Rachel
.
"
But
her
father
ai
n't
a
child
,
is
he
?
"
Rachel
smiled
.
"
Indeed
,
mother
,
he
is
not
much
better
,
"
she
replied
.
"
I
tell
you
,
that
you
ai
n't
got
a
bit
of
spirit
,
"
angrily
resumed
Mrs.
Gray
.
"
The
little
imperent
hussy
!
to
think
of
playing
her
tricks
here
!
And
do
you
think
I
'm
agoing
to
stand
that
?
"
added
Mrs.
Gray
,
warming
with
her
subject
;
"
no
,
that
I
ai
n't
!
See
if
I
do
n't
turn
her
out
of
doors
to-morrow
morning
.
"
"
Oh
!
mother
,
mother
,
do
not
!
"
cried
Rachel
,
alarmed
at
the
threat
;
"
think
that
she
is
but
a
child
,
after
all
.
And
,
oh
,
mother
!
"
she
added
with
a
sigh
,
"
have
you
never
noticed
how
like
she
is
to
what
our
own
little
Jane
once
was
?
"
Mrs.
Gray
remained
mute
.
She
looked
back
in
the
past
for
the
image
of
her
lost
child
.
She
saw
a
pale
face
,
with
blue
eyes
and
fair
hair
,
like
Mary
's
.
Never
before
had
the
resemblance
struck
her
;
when
it
came
,
it
acted
with
overpowering
force
on
a
nature
which
,
though
rugged
,
and
stern
,
and
embittered
by
age
and
sorrows
,
was
neither
cold
nor
forgetful
.
One
solitary
love
,
but
ardent
and
impassioned
,
had
Sarah
Gray
known
,
in
her
life
of
three-score
and
ten
—
the
love
of
a
harsh
,
but
devoted
mother
for
an
only
child
.
For
that
child
's
sake
had
its
father
,
whom
she
had
married
more
for
prudential
reasons
than
for
motives
of
affection
,
become
dear
to
her
heart
.
He
was
the
father
of
her
Jane
.
For
that
child
's
sake
,
had
she
,
without
repining
,
borne
the
burden
of
Rachel
.
Rachel
was
the
sister
of
her
Jane
.
Never
should
Rachel
want
,
whilst
she
had
heart
and
hands
to
work
,
and
earn
her
a
bit
of
bread
.
But
when
this
much-loved
child
,
after
ripening
to
early
youth
,
withered
and
dropped
from
the
tree
of
life
;
when
she
was
laid
to
sleep
in
a
premature
grave
,
all
trace
of
the
holy
and
beautiful
tenderness
which
gives
its
grace
to
womanhood
,
seemed
to
pass
away
from
the
bereaved
mother
's
heart
.
She
became
more
harsh
,
more
morose
than
she
had
ever
been
,
and
had
it
been
worth
the
world
's
while
to
note
or
record
it
,
of
her
too
it
might
have
been
said
,
as
it
was
of
England
's
childless
King
,
"
that
from
one
sad
day
she
smiled
no
more
.
"
And
now
,
when
she
heard
Rachel
,
when
in
her
mind
she
compared
the
living
with
the
dead
,
strength
,
pride
,
fortitude
forsook
her
,
her
stern
features
worked
,
her
aged
bosom
heaved
,
passionate
tears
flowed
down
her
wrinkled
cheek
.
"
Oh
!
my
darling
—
my
lost
darling
!
"
she
cried
,
in
broken
accents
,
"
would
I
could
have
died
for
thee
!
would
thou
wert
here
to-day
!
would
my
old
bones
filled
thy
young
grave
!
"
And
she
threw
her
apron
over
her
face
,
and
moaned
with
bitterness
and
anguish
.
"
Mother
,
dear
mother
,
do
not
,
pray
do
not
!
"
cried
Rachel
,
distressed
and
alarmed
at
so
unusual
a
burst
of
emotion
.
After
a
while
,
Mrs.
Gray
unveiled
her
face
.
It
was
pale
and
agitated
;
but
her
tears
had
ceased
.
For
years
they
had
not
flowed
,
and
until
her
dying
day
,
they
flowed
no
more
.
"
Rachel
,
"
she
said
,
looking
in
her
step-daughter
's
face
,
"
I
forgive
you
.
You
have
nearly
broken
my
heart
.
Let
Mary
come
,
stay
,
and
go
;
but
talk
to
me
no
more
of
the
dead
.
Rachel
,
when
my
darling
died
,
"
here
her
pale
lips
quivered
,
"
know
that
I
rebelled
against
the
Lord
—
know
that
I
did
not
give
her
up
willingly
,
but
only
after
such
agony
of
mind
and
heart
as
a
mother
goes
through
when
she
sees
the
child
she
has
borne
,
reared
,
cherished
,
fondled
,
lying
a
pale
,
cold
bit
of
earth
before
her
!
And
,
therefore
,
I
say
,
talk
no
more
to
me
about
the
dead
,
lest
my
rebellious
heart
should
rise
again
,
and
cry
out
to
its
Maker
:
'
Oh
God
!
oh
God
!
why
didst
thou
take
her
from
me
!
'
"
Mrs.
Gray
rose
to
leave
the
room
.
On
the
threshold
,
she
turned
back
to
say
in
a
low
,
sad
voice
:
"
The
child
may
come
to-morrow
,
Rachel
.
"
CHAPTER
XI
.
Mrs.
Gray
had
never
cared
about
Mary
Jones
;
she
had
always
thought
her
what
she
was
indeed
—
a
sickly
and
peevish
child
.
But
now
her
heart
yearned
towards
the
young
girl
,
she
herself
would
have
been
loth
to
confess
why
.
Mary
took
it
as
a
matter
of
course
,
Jane
wondered
,
Rachel
well
knew
what
had
wrought
such
a
change
;
but
she
said
nothing
,
and
watched
silently
.
In
softened
tones
,
Mrs.
Gray
now
addressed
the
young
girl
.
If
Rachel
ventured
to
chide
Mary
,
though
ever
so
slightly
,
her
step-mother
sharply
checked
her
.
"
Let
the
child
alone
,
"
were
her
mildest
words
.
As
to
Jane
or
Mrs.
Brown
,
they
both
soon
learned
that
Mary
Jones
was
not
to
be
looked
at
with
impunity
.
Mrs.
Gray
wondered
at
them
,
she
did
,
for
teazing
the
poor
little
thing
.
In
short
,
Mary
was
exalted
to
the
post
of
favourite
to
the
ruling
powers
,
and
she
filled
it
with
dignity
and
consequence
.
But
the
watchful
eye
of
Rachel
Gray
noted
other
signs
.
She
saw
with
silent
uneasiness
,
the
fading
eye
,
the
faltering
step
,
the
weakness
daily
increasing
of
her
step-mother
;
and
she
felt
with
secret
sorrow
that
she
was
soon
to
lose
this
harsh
,
yet
not
unloving
or
unloved
companion
of
her
quiet
life
.
Mrs.
Gray
complained
one
day
of
feeling
weak
and
ailing
.
She
felt
worse
the
next
day
,
and
still
worse
on
the
third
.
And
thus
,
day
by
day
,
she
slowly
declined
without
hope
of
recovery
.
Mrs.
Gray
had
a
strong
,
though
narrow
mind
,
and
a
courageous
heart
.
She
heard
the
doctor
's
sentence
calmly
and
firmly
;
and
virtues
which
she
had
neglected
in
life
,
graced
and
adorned
her
last
hours
and
her
dying
bed
.
Meek
and
patient
she
bore
suffering
and
disease
without
repining
or
complaint
,
and
granted
herself
but
one
indulgence
:
the
sight
and
presence
of
Mary
.
The
young
girl
was
kinder
and
more
attentive
to
her
old
friend
than
might
have
been
expected
from
her
pettish
,
indulged
nature
.
She
took
a
sort
of
pride
in
keeping
Mrs.
Gray
company
,
in
seeing
to
Mrs.
Gray
,
as
she
called
it
Her
little
vanity
was
gratified
in
having
the
once
redoubtable
Mrs.
Gray
now
wholly
in
her
hands
,
and
in
some
sort
a
helpless
dependent
on
her
good-will
and
kindness
.
It
may
be
,
too
,
that
she
found
a
not
unworthy
satisfaction
in
feeling
and
proving
to
the
little
world
around
her
,
that
she
also
was
a
person
of
weight
and
consequence
.
But
her
childish
kindness
availed
not
.
The
time
of
Mrs.
Gray
had
come
;
she
too
was
to
depart
from
a
world
where
toil
and
few
joys
,
and
some
heavy
sorrows
had
been
her
portion
.
Mary
and
Rachel
were
alone
with
her
in
that
hour
.
Mary
was
busy
about
the
room
.
Rachel
sat
by
her
mother
's
bed
.
Pale
and
languid
,
Mrs.
Gray
turned
to
her
step-daughter
,
and
gathering
her
remaining
strength
to
speak
,
she
said
feebly
:
"
My
poor
Rachel
,
I
am
afraid
I
have
often
teazed
and
tormented
you
.
It
was
all
temper
;
but
I
never
meant
it
unkindly
—
never
indeed
.
And
then
,
you
see
,
Rachel
,
"
she
added
,
true
to
her
old
spirit
of
patronizing
and
misunderstanding
her
step-daughter
,
"
Your
not
being
exactly
like
others
provoked
me
at
times
;
but
I
know
it
should
n't
—
it
was
n't
fair
to
you
,
poor
girl
!
for
of
course
you
could
n't
help
it
.
"
And
Rachel
,
true
to
her
spirit
of
humble
submission
,
only
smiled
,
and
kissed
her
mother
's
wasted
cheek
,
and
said
,
meekly
:
"
Do
not
think
of
it
,
dear
mother
—
do
not
;
you
were
not
to
blame
.
"
And
she
did
not
murmur
,
even
in
her
heart
.
She
did
not
find
it
hard
that
to
the
end
she
should
be
slighted
,
and
held
as
one
of
little
worth
.
A
little
while
after
this
,
Mrs.
Gray
spoke
again
.
"
Where
is
Mary
?
"
she
said
.
"
And
here
I
am
,
Mrs.
Gray
,
"
said
Mary
,
coming
up
to
her
on
the
other
side
of
the
bed
.
Mrs.
Gray
smiled
,
and
stretched
out
her
trembling
hands
,
until
they
met
and
clasped
those
of
the
young
girl
.
Then
,
with
her
fading
eyes
fixed
on
Mary
's
face
,
she
said
to
Rachel
:
"
Rachel
,
tell
your
father
that
I
forgive
him
,
will
you
?
"
"
Yes
,
mother
,
"
replied
Rachel
,
in
a
low
tone
.
"
Rachel
,
"
she
said
again
,
and
her
weak
voice
rose
,
"
Rachel
,
you
have
been
a
good
and
a
faithful
daughter
to
me
—
may
the
Lord
bless
you
!
"
Tears
streamed
down
Rachel
's
face
on
hearing
those
few
words
that
paid
her
for
many
a
bitter
hour
;
but
her
mother
saw
them
not
,
still
her
look
sought
Mary
.
"
In
Thy
hands
,
Lord
,
I
commend
my
spirit
,
"
she
murmured
,
and
with
her
look
still
fastened
on
little
Mary
's
pale
face
,
she
died
.
Sad
and
empty
seemed
the
house
to
Rachel
Gray
when
her
mother
was
gone
.
She
missed
her
chiding
voice
,
her
step
,
heavy
with
age
,
her
very
scolding
,
which
long
habit
had
made
light
to
bear
.
The
solitude
and
liberty
once
so
dear
and
so
hardly
won
,
now
became
painful
and
oppressive
;
but
Rachel
was
not
long
troubled
with
either
.
We
are
told
that
"
he
whom
He
loveth
He
chasteneth
;
"
and
Rachel
was
not
unloved
,
for
she
,
too
,
was
to
have
her
share
of
affliction
.
Spite
her
sickly
aspect
,
she
enjoyed
good
health
,
and
,
therefore
,
when
she
rose
one
morning
,
shortly
after
her
mother
's
death
,
and
felt
unusually
languid
and
unwell
,
Rachel
was
more
surprised
than
alarmed
.
"
La
,
Miss
!
how
poorly
you
do
look
!
"
exclaimed
Jane
,
laying
down
her
work
with
concern
.
"
I
do
not
feel
very
well
,
"
replied
Rachel
,
calmly
,
"
but
I
do
not
feel
very
ill
,
either
,
"
she
added
,
smiling
.
Her
looks
belied
her
words
;
vainly
she
endeavoured
to
work
;
by
the
united
entreaties
of
Jane
and
Mary
,
she
was
at
length
persuaded
to
go
up
to
her
room
.
She
laid
down
on
her
bed
,
and
tried
to
sleep
,
but
could
not
;
she
thought
of
her
step-mother
,
so
harsh
,
yet
so
kind
in
her
very
harshness
;
of
her
father
,
so
cold
and
unloving
;
of
her
silent
,
lonely
life
,
and
its
narrow
cares
and
narrow
duties
,
above
which
smiled
so
heavenly
a
hope
,
burning
like
a
clear
star
above
a
dark
and
rugged
valley
;
and
with
these
thoughts
and
feelings
,
heightening
them
to
intensity
,
blended
the
heat
and
languor
of
growing
fever
.
When
Mary
came
up
to
know
if
Rachel
Gray
wanted
anything
,
she
found
her
so
ill
that
she
could
scarcely
answer
her
question
.
She
grew
rapidly
worse
.
The
medical
man
who
was
called
in
,
pronounced
her
disease
a
slow
fever
,
not
dangerous
,
but
wasting
.
"
Then
there
is
nothing
for
it
but
patience
,
"
resignedly
said
Rachel
,
"
I
fear
I
shall
be
the
cause
of
trouble
to
those
around
me
,
but
the
will
of
God
be
done
.
"
"
La
,
Miss
!
we
'll
take
care
of
you
,
"
zealously
said
Jane
,
"
sha
n't
we
,
Mary
?
"
"
Of
course
we
will
,
"
as
zealously
replied
the
young
girl
.
Rachel
smiled
at
their
earnestness
;
but
their
zeal
was
destined
to
be
thrown
in
the
shade
by
that
of
a
third
individual
.
On
the
fourth
day
of
her
illness
,
Rachel
was
awakened
from
a
heavy
sleep
into
which
she
had
fallen
,
by
the
sound
of
angry
though
subdued
voices
on
the
staircase
.
"
I
tell
you
'
taint
a
bit
of
use
,
and
that
you
're
not
going
to
go
up
,
"
said
the
deep
,
emphatic
tones
of
Jane
.
"
Et
je
vous
dis
que
je
veux
monter
,
moi
!
"
obstinately
exclaimed
the
shrill
French
voice
of
Madame
Rose
.
Jane
,
who
was
not
patient
,
now
apparently
resorted
to
that
last
argument
of
kings
and
nations
,
physical
force
,
to
remove
the
intruder
,
for
there
was
the
sound
of
a
scuffle
on
the
staircase
,
but
if
she
had
strength
on
her
side
,
Madame
Rose
had
agility
,
and
though
somewhat
ruffled
and
out
of
breath
,
she
victoriously
burst
into
Rachel
's
room
.
"
Take
care
,
Miss
,
take
care
,
"
screamed
Jane
,
rushing
up
after
her
,
"
the
French
madwoman
has
got
in
,
and
I
could
n't
keep
her
out
.
"
"
Do
n't
be
afraid
,
Jane
,
"
said
Rachel
,
as
the
alarmed
apprentice
made
her
appearance
at
the
door
,
"
I
am
very
glad
to
see
Madame
Rose
.
I
tell
you
she
will
not
hurt
me
,
and
that
I
am
glad
to
see
her
,
"
she
added
,
as
Jane
stared
grimly
at
the
intruder
.
She
spoke
so
positively
,
that
the
apprentice
retired
,
but
not
without
emphatically
intimating
that
she
should
be
within
call
if
Miss
Gray
wanted
her
.
Rachel
was
too
ill
to
speak
much
;
but
Madame
Rose
spared
her
the
trouble
by
taking
that
task
on
herself
;
indeed
,
she
seemed
willing
to
take
a
great
deal
on
herself
,
and
listless
as
Rachel
was
,
she
perceived
with
surprise
that
Madame
Rose
was
in
some
measure
taking
possession
of
her
sick
room
.
She
inquired
after
Mimi
.
Madame
Rose
shook
her
head
,
produced
a
square
pocket-handkerchief
,
applied
it
to
her
eyes
,
then
turned
them
up
,
till
the
whites
alone
were
visible
;
in
short
,
she
plainly
intimated
that
Mimi
had
gone
to
her
last
home
;
after
which
she
promptly
dried
her
tears
,
and
,
partly
by
speech
,
partly
by
pantomime
,
she
informed
Rachel
that
the
apprentices
were
too
busy
sewing
to
be
able
to
attend
on
her
,
and
that
she
—
Madame
Rose
—
would
undertake
that
care
.
Rachel
was
too
ill
and
languid
to
resist
;
and
Jane
and
Mary
,
though
they
resented
the
intrusion
of
the
foreigner
,
were
unable
to
eject
her
,
for
,
by
possession
,
which
is
acknowledged
to
be
nine-tenths
of
the
law
,
Madame
Rose
made
her
claim
good
,
until
the
enemy
had
abandoned
all
idea
of
resistance
.
And
a
devoted
nurse
she
made
,
ever
attentive
,
ever
vigilant
.
For
three
months
did
Rachel
see
,
in
her
darkened
room
,
the
active
little
figure
of
the
Frenchwoman
,
either
moving
briskly
about
,
or
sitting
erect
in
her
chair
,
knitting
assiduously
,
occasionally
relieved
,
it
is
true
,
by
Jane
and
Mary
.
She
saw
it
when
she
lay
in
the
trance
of
fever
and
pain
,
unable
to
move
or
speak
;
in
her
few
moments
of
languid
relief
,
it
was
still
there
,
and
it
became
so
linked
,
in
her
mind
,
with
her
sick
room
,
that
,
when
she
awoke
one
day
free
from
fever
,
the
delightful
sensation
that
pain
was
gone
from
her
,
like
the
weary
dream
of
a
troubled
night
fled
in
the
morning
,
blended
with
a
sense
of
surprise
and
annoyance
at
missing
the
nod
and
the
smile
of
Madame
Rose
.
Rachel
looked
around
her
wondering
,
and
in
looking
,
she
caught
sight
of
the
portly
and
vulgar
figure
of
Mrs.
Brown
;
she
saw
her
with
some
surprise
,
for
she
knew
that
that
lady
entertained
a
strong
horror
of
a
sick
room
.
"
It
's
only
me
!
"
said
Mrs.
Brown
,
nodding
at
her
.
"
You
are
all
right
now
,
my
girl
.
"
"
I
feel
much
better
,
indeed
,
"
replied
Rachel
"
Of
course
you
do
;
the
fever
is
all
gone
,
otherwise
you
should
not
see
me
here
,
I
promise
you
,
"
added
Mrs.
Brown
,
with
another
nod
,
and
a
knowing
wink
.
"
And
Madame
Rose
,
"
said
Rachel
,
"
where
is
Madame
Rose
?
"
"
Law
!
do
n't
trouble
your
mind
about
her
.
Keep
quiet
,
will
you
?
"
Mrs.
Brown
spoke
impatiently
.
Rachel
felt
too
weak
to
dispute
her
authority
,
but
when
Jane
came
up
,
she
again
inquired
after
Madame
Rose
.
Jane
drily
said
it
was
all
right
,
and
that
Miss
Gray
was
to
keep
quiet
;
and
more
than
this
she
would
not
say
.
The
fever
had
left
Rachel
.
She
was
now
cured
,
and
rapidly
got
better
;
but
still
,
she
did
not
see
Madame
Rose
,
and
was
favoured
with
more
of
Mrs.
Brown
's
company
than
she
liked
.
At
length
she
one
day
positively
exacted
an
explanation
from
Jane
,
who
reluctantly
gave
it
.
"
Law
bless
you
,
Miss
!
"
she
said
,
'
"
tai
n't
worth
talking
about
.
Mrs.
Brown
ca
n't
abide
the
little
Frenchwoman
;
and
so
,
one
day
when
she
went
out
,
she
locked
the
door
,
and
would
n't
let
Mary
open
it
;
and
when
Madame
Rose
rang
and
rapped
,
Mrs.
Brown
put
her
head
out
of
the
window
,
and
railed
at
her
,
until
she
fairly
scared
her
away
from
the
place
.
"
"
But
what
brought
Mrs.
Brown
here
?
"
asked
Rachel
,
who
had
heard
her
with
much
surprise
.
Jane
looked
embarrassed
,
but
was
spared
the
trouble
of
replying
by
the
voice
of
Mrs.
Brown
,
who
imperatively
summoned
her
downstairs
.
She
immediately
complied
,
and
left
Rachel
alone
.
A
mild
sun
shone
in
through
the
open
window
on
the
sick
girl
;
she
had
that
day
got
up
,
for
the
first
time
,
and
sat
in
a
chair
with
a
book
on
her
knees
.
But
she
could
not
read
:
she
felt
too
happy
,
blest
in
that
delightful
sense
of
returning
health
which
long
sickness
renders
so
sweet
.
Her
whole
soul
overflowed
with
joy
,
thankfulness
,
and
prayer
,
and
for
once
the
shadow
of
sad
or
subduing
thoughts
fell
not
on
her
joy
.
"
Well
,
my
girl
,
and
how
are
you
to-day
?
"
said
the
rough
voice
of
Mrs.
Brown
,
who
entered
without
the
ceremony
of
knocking
.
Rachel
quietly
replied
that
she
felt
well
—
almost
quite
well
.
"
Of
course
you
do
.
I
knew
I
'd
bring
you
round
,
"
said
Mrs.
Brown
.
"
La
bless
you
!
all
their
coddling
was
just
killing
you
.
So
I
told
Jane
,
all
along
,
but
she
would
n't
believe
me
.
'
La
bless
you
,
girl
!
'
I
said
to
her
,
'
I
do
it
willingly
,
but
ifs
only
just
a
wasting
of
my
money
,
'
says
I
.
"
"
Your
money
,
Mrs.
Brown
?
"
interrupted
Rachel
,
with
a
start
.
"
Why
,
of
course
,
my
money
.
Whose
else
?
Did
n't
you
know
of
it
?
"
"
Indeed
,
I
did
not
,
"
replied
Rachel
,
confounded
.
"
La
!
what
a
muff
the
girl
is
!
"
good-humouredly
observed
Mrs.
Brown
.
"
And
where
did
you
think
,
stupid
,
that
the
money
you
have
been
nursed
with
these
three
months
came
from
?
Why
,
from
my
pocket
,
of
course
;
twenty
pound
three-and-six
,
besides
a
quarter
's
rent
,
and
another
running
on
.
"
Rachel
was
dismayed
at
the
amount
of
the
debt
.
When
and
how
should
she
be
able
to
pay
so
large
a
sum
?
Still
,
rallying
from
her
first
feeling
of
surprise
and
dismay
,
she
attempted
to
express
to
Mrs.
Brown
her
gratitude
for
the
assistance
so
generously
yielded
,
and
her
hope
of
being
able
to
repay
it
some
day
;
but
Mrs.
Brown
would
not
hear
her
.
"
Nonsense
,
Rachel
,
"
she
said
,
"
I
ai
n't
a-done
more
than
I
ought
to
have
done
for
my
cousin
's
step-daughter
.
And
to
whom
should
Jane
,
when
she
wanted
money
,
have
come
,
but
to
me
?
And
as
to
paying
me
,
bless
you
!
there
's
no
hurry
,
Rachel
.
I
can
afford
,
thank
Heaven
,
to
lend
twenty
pound
,
and
not
miss
it
.
"
This
was
kindness
—
such
Rachel
felt
it
to
be
;
but
,
alas
!
she
also
felt
that
these
was
on
her
,
from
that
day
,
the
badge
of
obligation
and
servitude
.
She
was
still
too
weak
to
work
;
she
had
,
dining
her
long
illness
,
lost
the
best
part
of
her
customers
;
until
her
full
recovery
,
she
was
,
perforce
,
cast
on
Mrs.
Brown
for
assistance
,
and
,
of
all
persons
,
Mrs.
Brown
was
the
last
not
to
take
advantage
of
such
a
state
of
things
.
Mrs.
Brown
came
when
she
liked
,
said
what
she
liked
,
and
did
what
she
liked
in
Rachel
's
house
.
But
,
indeed
,
it
was
not
Rachel
's
house
—
it
was
Mrs.
Brown
's
.
Rachel
was
there
on
sufferance
;
the
very
bed
on
which
she
slept
was
Mrs.
Brown
's
;
the
very
chair
on
which
she
sat
was
Mrs.
Brown
's
.
So
Mrs.
Brown
felt
,
and
made
every
one
feel
,
Rachel
included
.
The
effects
of
her
rule
were
soon
apparent
.
Every
article
of
furniture
changed
its
place
;
every
household
nook
was
carefully
examined
and
improved
,
and
every
luckless
individual
who
entertained
a
lingering
kindness
for
Rachel
Gray
,
was
affronted
,
and
effectually
banished
from
the
house
,
from
irascible
Madame
Rose
down
to
peaceful
Mr.
Jones
.
Rachel
carried
patience
to
a
fault
;
through
her
whole
life
,
she
had
been
taught
to
suffer
and
endure
silently
,
and
now
,
burdened
with
the
sense
of
her
debt
and
obligation
,
she
knew
not
how
to
resist
the
domestic
tyranny
of
this
new
tormentor
.
The
easiest
course
was
to
submit
.
To
Rachel
it
seemed
that
such
,
in
common
gratitude
,
was
her
duty
;
and
,
accordingly
,
she
submitted
.
But
this
was
a
time
of
probation
and
trial
:
as
such
she
ever
looked
back
to
it
,
in
after
life
.
To
Jane
,
her
patience
seemed
amazing
,
and
scarcely
commendable
.
"
I
wonder
you
can
bear
with
the
old
creetur
,
that
I
do
,
"
she
said
,
emphatically
.
"
Mrs.
Brown
means
kindly
,
"
said
Rachel
,
"
and
she
has
been
a
kind
friend
to
me
,
when
I
had
no
other
friend
.
I
may
well
hare
a
little
patience
.
"
"
A
little
patience
!
"
echoed
Jane
,
indignantly
,
"
a
little
patience
!
when
she
's
always
at
you
.
"
But
Rachel
would
hear
no
more
on
the
subject
.
If
she
bore
with
Mrs.
Brown
,
it
was
not
to
murmur
at
her
behind
her
back
.
Yet
she
was
not
so
insensible
to
what
she
endured
,
but
that
she
felt
it
a
positive
relief
when
Mrs.
Brown
went
and
paid
one
of
her
nieces
a
visit
in
the
country
,
and
for
a
few
weeks
delivered
the
house
of
her
presence
.
Internally
,
Rachel
accused
herself
of
ingratitude
because
she
felt
glad
.
"
It
's
very
wrong
of
me
,
I
know
,
"
she
remorsefully
thought
,
"
but
I
feel
as
if
I
could
not
help
it
.
"
Her
health
was
now
restored
.
She
had
found
some
work
to
do
;
with
time
she
knew
she
should
be
able
to
pay
Mrs.
Brown
.
Her
mind
recovered
its
habitual
tone
;
old
thoughts
,
old
feelings
,
laid
by
during
the
hour
of
trial
and
sickness
,
but
never
forsaken
,
returned
to
her
now
,
and
time
,
as
it
passed
on
,
matured
a
great
thought
in
her
heart
.
"
Who
knows
,
"
she
often
asked
herself
,
in
her
waking
dreams
,
"
who
knows
if
the
hour
is
not
come
at
last
?
My
father
cannot
always
turn
his
face
from
me
.
Love
me
at
once
he
cannot
;
but
why
should
he
not
with
time
?
"
Yet
it
was
not
at
once
that
Rachel
acted
on
these
thoughts
.
Never
since
he
had
received
her
so
coldly
,
had
she
crossed
her
father
's
threshold
;
but
often
,
in
the
evening
,
she
had
walked
up
and
down
before
his
door
,
looking
at
him
through
the
shop
window
with
sad
and
earnest
eyes
,
never
seeking
for
more
than
that
stolen
glance
,
though
still
with
the
persistency
of
a
fond
heart
,
she
looked
forward
to
a
happier
future
.
And
thus
she
lingered
until
one
morning
,
when
she
rose
,
nerved
her
heart
,
and
went
out
;
calmly
resolved
to
bear
as
others
,
to
act
.
She
went
to
her
father
's
house
.
She
found
him
sturdy
and
stern
,
planing
with
the
vigour
of
a
man
in
the
prime
of
life
.
His
brow
became
clouded
,
as
he
saw
and
recognized
his
daughter
's
pale
face
and
shrinking
figure
.
Still
he
bade
her
come
in
,
for
she
stood
on
the
threshold
timidly
waiting
for
a
welcome
;
and
his
ungraciousness
was
limited
to
the
cold
question
of
what
had
brought
her
.
"
I
am
come
to
see
you
,
father
,
"
was
her
mild
reply
.
And
as
to
this
Thomas
Gray
said
nothing
,
Rachel
added
:
"
My
mother
is
dead
.
"
"
I
know
it
,
and
have
known
it
these
three
months
,
"
he
drily
answered
.
"
She
died
very
happy
,
"
resumed
Rachel
,
"
and
before
she
died
,
she
desired
me
to
come
and
tell
you
that
she
sincerely
forgave
you
all
past
unkindness
.
"
A
frown
knit
the
rugged
brow
of
Thomas
Gray
.
His
late
wife
had
had
a
sharp
temper
of
her
own
;
and
perhaps
he
thought
himself
as
much
sinned
against
as
sinning
.
But
he
made
no
comment
.
"
Father
,
"
said
Rachel
,
speaking
from
her
very
heart
,
and
looking
earnestly
in
his
face
,
"
may
I
come
and
live
with
you
?
"
Thomas
Gray
looked
steadily
at
his
daughter
,
and
did
not
reply
.
But
Rachel
,
resolved
not
to
be
easily
disheartened
,
persisted
none
the
less
.
"
Father
,
"
she
resumed
,
and
her
voice
faltered
with
the
depth
of
her
emotion
,
"
pray
let
me
.
I
know
you
do
not
care
much
for
me
.
I
dare
say
you
are
right
,
that
I
am
not
worth
much
;
but
still
I
might
be
useful
to
you
.
A
burden
I
certainly
should
not
be
;
and
in
sickness
,
in
age
,
I
think
,
I
hope
,
father
,
you
would
like
to
have
your
daughter
near
you
.
"
I
am
now
your
only
child
,
"
she
added
,
after
a
moment
's
pause
;
"
the
only
living
thing
of
your
blood
,
not
one
relative
have
I
in
this
wide
world
;
and
you
,
father
,
you
too
are
alone
.
Let
me
come
to
live
with
you
.
Pray
let
me
!
If
my
presence
is
irksome
to
you
,
"
added
Rachel
,
gazing
wistfully
in
his
face
,
as
both
hope
and
courage
began
to
fail
her
,
"
I
shall
keep
out
of
the
way
.
Indeed
,
indeed
,
"
she
added
with
tears
in
her
eyes
,
"
I
shall
.
"
He
had
heard
her
out
very
quietly
,
and
very
quietly
he
replied
:
"
Rachel
,
what
did
I
go
to
America
for
?
"
Rachel
,
rather
bewildered
with
the
question
,
faltered
that
she
did
not
know
.
"
And
what
did
I
come
to
live
here
for
?
"
he
continued
.
Rachel
did
not
answer
;
but
there
was
a
sad
foreboding
in
her
heart
.
"
To
be
alone
,
"
he
resumed
;
and
he
spoke
with
some
sternness
,
"
to
be
alone
.
"
And
he
went
back
to
his
planing
.
With
tears
which
he
saw
not
,
Rachel
looked
at
the
stern
,
selfish
old
man
,
whom
she
called
her
father
.
The
sentence
which
he
had
uttered
,
rung
in
her
heart
;
but
she
did
not
venture
to
dispute
its
justice
.
Her
simple
pleading
had
been
heard
and
rejected
.
More
than
she
had
said
,
she
could
not
say
;
and
it
did
not
occur
to
her
to
urge
a
second
time
the
homely
eloquence
which
had
so
signally
failed
when
first
spoken
.
But
she
made
bold
to
prefer
a
timid
and
humble
petition
.
"
Might
she
come
to
see
him
?
"
"
What
for
?
"
he
bluntly
asked
.
"
To
see
how
you
are
,
father
,
"
replied
poor
Rachel
.
"
How
I
am
,
"
he
echoed
,
with
a
suspicious
gathering
of
the
brow
,
"
and
why
should
n't
I
be
well
,
just
tell
me
that
?
"
"
It
might
please
Providence
to
afflict
you
with
sickness
,
"
began
Rachel
.
"
Sickness
,
sickness
,
"
he
interrupted
;
indignantly
,
"
I
tell
you
,
woman
,
I
never
was
sick
in
my
life
.
Is
there
the
sign
of
illness
,
or
of
disease
upon
me
?
"
"
No
,
indeed
,
father
,
there
is
not
.
"
"
And
could
you
find
a
man
of
my
age
half
so
healthy
,
and
so
strong
as
I
am
—
just
tell
me
that
?
"
he
rather
defiantly
asked
.
Poor
Rachel
was
literal
as
truth
.
Instead
of
eluding
a
reply
,
she
simply
said
:
"
I
have
seen
stronger
men
than
you
,
father
.
"
"
Oh
I
you
have
—
have
you
!
"
he
ejaculated
eyeing
her
with
very
little
favour
.
And
though
Rachel
was
not
unconscious
of
her
offence
,
she
added
:
"
And
strong
or
weak
,
father
,
are
we
not
all
in
the
hands
of
God
?
"
From
beneath
his
bushy
grey
eyebrows
,
Thomas
Gray
looked
askance
at
his
daughter
;
but
love
often
rises
to
a
fearlessness
that
makes
it
heroic
,
and
Rachel
,
not
daunted
,
resumed
:
"
Father
,
"
she
said
,
earnestly
,
"
you
do
not
want
me
now
;
I
know
and
see
it
,
but
if
ever
you
should
—
and
that
time
may
come
,
pray
,
father
,
pray
send
for
me
.
"
"
Want
you
?
and
what
should
I
want
you
for
?
"
asked
Thomas
Gray
.
"
I
cannot
tell
,
I
do
not
know
;
but
you
might
want
me
.
Remember
,
that
if
you
do
,
you
have
but
to
send
for
me
.
I
am
willing
,
ever
willing
.
"
He
looked
at
her
as
she
stood
there
before
him
,
a
pale
,
sallow
,
sickly
girl
,
then
he
laughed
disdainfully
,
and
impatiently
motioned
her
away
,
as
if
his
temper
were
chafed
at
her
continued
presence
.
Rachel
felt
,
indeed
,
that
her
visit
had
been
sufficiently
long
,
and
not
wishing
to
close
on
herself
the
possibility
of
return
—
for
she
had
one
of
those
quietly
pertinacious
natures
that
never
give
up
hope
—
she
calmly
bade
her
father
good-bye
.
Without
looking
at
her
,
he
muttered
an
unintelligible
reply
.
Rachel
left
the
shop
,
and
returned
to
her
quiet
street
and
solitary
home
.
Yet
solitary
she
did
not
find
it
.
True
,
Jane
was
out
on
some
errand
or
other
,
but
Mary
was
alone
in
the
parlour
.
She
sat
with
her
work
on
her
lap
,
crying
as
if
her
heart
would
break
.
In
vain
she
tried
to
hide
or
check
her
tears
;
Rachel
saw
Mary
's
grief
,
and
forgetting
at
once
her
own
troubles
,
she
kindly
sat
down
by
the
young
girl
,
and
asked
what
ailed
her
.
At
first
,
Mary
would
not
speak
,
then
suddenly
she
threw
her
arms
around
Rachel
's
neck
,
and
with
a
fresh
burst
of
tears
,
she
exclaimed
:
"
Oh
!
dear
,
dear
Miss
Gray
!
I
am
so
miserable
.
"
"
What
for
,
child
?
"
asked
Rachel
astonished
.
"
He
's
gone
—
he
's
gone
!
"
sobbed
Mary
.
"
Who
is
gone
,
my
dear
?
"
Mary
hung
down
her
head
.
But
Rachel
pressed
her
so
kindly
to
speak
,
that
her
heart
opened
,
and
with
many
a
hesitating
pause
,
and
many
a
qualifying
comment
,
Mary
Jones
related
to
her
kind-hearted
listener
a
little
story
,
which
,
lest
the
reader
should
not
prove
so
indulgent
,
or
so
patient
as
Rachel
Gray
,
we
will
relate
in
language
plainer
and
more
brief
.
CHAPTER
XII
.
Time
had
worn
on
:
nine
months
in
all
had
passed
away
since
the
opening
of
the
Teapot
.
We
must
be
quite
frank
:
Mr.
Jones
had
not
always
made
the
one
pound
ten
a
week
dear
profit
;
and
of
course
this
affected
all
his
calculations
:
the
ten
per
cent
for
increase
of
gain
included
.
There
had
been
weeks
when
he
had
not
realized
more
than
one
pound
,
others
when
he
made
ten
shillings
,
ay
and
there
had
been
weeks
when
all
he
could
do
—
if
he
did
do
so
—
was
to
make
both
ends
meet
.
It
was
odd
;
but
it
was
so
.
Mr.
Jones
was
at
first
much
startled
;
but
,
he
soon
learned
to
reconcile
himself
to
it
.
"
It
stands
to
reason
,
"
he
philosophically
observed
to
Mary
,
"
it
's
business
,
you
see
,
it
's
business
.
"
The
words
explained
all
.
Another
drawback
was
that
the
front
room
which
was
worth
five
shillings
a
week
,
as
his
landlord
had
proved
to
Mr.
Jones
in
their
very
first
conversation
,
and
for
which
Mr.
Jones
had
therefore
allowed
—
on
the
faith
of
his
landlord
's
word
—
thirteen
pounds
a
year
in
his
accounts
—
never
let
at
all
.
This
was
the
first
intimation
Mr.
Jones
received
of
the
practical
business
truth
,
that
it
is
necessary
to
allow
for
losses
.
He
had
almost
given
up
all
thoughts
of
letting
this
unfortunate
room
,
and
indeed
the
bill
had
had
time
to
turn
shabby
and
yellow
in
the
shop
window
,
when
one
morning
a
young
man
entered
the
shop
and
in
a
cool
deliberate
tone
said
:
"
Room
to
let
?
"
"
Yes
,
Sir
,
"
replied
Jones
rather
impressed
by
his
brief
manner
.
"
Back
or
front
?
"
"
Front
,
Sir
,
front
.
Capital
room
,
Sir
!
"
"
Terms
?
"
"
Five
shillings
a-week
,
Sir
.
A
room
worth
six
shillings
,
anywhere
else
.
Like
to
see
it
,
Sir
?
Mary
—
Mary
,
dear
,
just
mind
the
shop
awhile
,
will
you
?
"
Mary
came
grumbling
at
being
disturbed
,
whilst
her
father
hastened
upstairs
before
the
stranger
,
and
throwing
the
window
open
,
showed
him
a
very
dusty
room
,
not
over
and
above
well
furnished
.
"
Capital
room
.
Sir
!
"
said
Mr.
Jones
,
winking
shrewdly
;
"
real
Brussels
carpet
;
portrait
of
Her
Majesty
above
the
mantel-piece
;
and
that
bed
,
Sir
—
just
feel
that
bed
,
Sir
,
"
he
added
,
giving
it
a
vigorous
poke
,
by
way
of
proving
its
softness
;
"
very
cheerful
look-out
,
too
;
the
railroad
just
hard
by
—
see
all
the
trains
passing
.
"
Without
much
minding
these
advantages
,
the
stranger
cast
a
quick
look
round
the
room
,
then
said
in
his
curt
way
:
"
Take
four
shillings
for
it
?
Yes
.
Well
then
,
I
'll
come
to-night
.
"
And
without
giving
Mr.
Jones
time
to
reply
,
he
walked
downstairs
,
and
walked
out
through
the
shop
.
"
Well
,
father
,
have
you
let
the
room
?
"
asked
Mary
,
when
her
father
came
down
,
still
bewildered
by
the
young
man
's
strange
and
abrupt
manner
.
"
Well
,
child
,
"
he
replied
,
"
I
suppose
I
may
say
I
have
,
for
the
young
man
is
coming
to-night
.
"
"
What
's
his
name
?
"
promptly
asked
Mary
.
"
I
'm
blest
if
I
know
;
he
never
told
me
,
nor
gave
me
time
to
ask
.
"
"
But
,
father
,
you
do
n't
mean
to
say
you
let
the
room
to
him
,
without
knowing
his
name
?
"
"
But
I
did
n't
let
the
room
to
him
,
"
said
Mr.
Jones
;
"
it
was
he
took
it
.
"
"
Well
,
that
's
queer
!
"
said
Mary
.
"
Queer
!
I
call
it
more
than
queer
!
"
exclaimed
the
grocer
,
now
turning
indignant
at
the
treatment
he
had
received
;
"
but
he
sha
n't
sleep
in
it
,
though
,
till
I
've
got
his
references
,
I
can
tell
him
.
"
The
words
were
scarcely
out
of
his
mouth
,
when
into
the
shop
again
walked
the
stranger
.
"
My
name
is
Joseph
Saunders
,
"
he
said
,
briefly
,
"
and
if
you
want
to
know
more
,
apply
to
Mr.
Smithson
,
number
thirteen
,
in
the
alley
hard
by
.
He
'll
give
you
all
the
particulars
.
"
Having
delivered
which
piece
of
information
,
he
once
more
vanished
.
Well
,
there
was
nothing
to
say
to
this
;
and
Mr.
Jones
,
who
had
an
inquisitive
temper
,
was
preparing
to
dart
off
to
Mr.
Smithson
's
,
who
did
indeed
live
hard
by
,
when
Mr.
Joseph
Saunders
once
more
appeared
.
"
P'r'aps
you
'd
like
the
first
week
,
"
he
said
;
and
without
waiting
for
a
reply
,
he
laid
four
shillings
down
on
the
counter
,
and
again
disappeared
—
this
time
to
return
no
more
.
Mary
was
very
much
struck
.
"
He
looks
quite
superior
,
"
she
said
,
"
quite
.
Saunders
—
Joseph
Saunders
!
what
a
nice
name
.
"
"
That
's
all
very
well
,
"
replied
her
father
,
sweeping
the
four
shillings
into
the
till
,
"
but
I
must
have
a
word
or
two
to
say
with
Mr.
Smithson
—
for
all
that
his
name
is
Joseph
Saunders
.
"
He
took
his
hat
,
and
walked
out
to
seek
Mr.
Smithson
,
an
old
and
stiff
dealer
in
earthenware
,
who
lived
within
a
stone's-throw
of
the
Teapot
.
The
day
was
fine
,
and
Mr.
Smithson
was
airing
his
pans
and
dishes
,
and
setting
them
along
the
pavement
,
like
traps
for
the
feet
of
unwary
passengers
.
"
Good-morning
to
you
,
"
began
Jones
,
in
a
conciliating
tone
.
"
Good-morning
!
"
replied
,
or
rather
,
grunted
Mr.
Smithson
,
without
taking
the
trouble
to
look
up
.
"
I
have
just
come
round
to
inquire
about
a
young
man
—
his
name
is
Joseph
Saunders
.
Do
you
know
him
?
"
"
S'pose
I
do
?
"
answered
Mr.
Smithson
too
cautious
to
commit
himself
.
"
Well
then
,
s'pose
you
do
—
you
can
tell
me
something
about
him
,
ca
n't
you
?
"
"
What
for
?
"
drily
asked
the
earthenware
dealer
.
"
What
for
!
"
exclaimed
Mr.
Jones
,
beginning
to
lose
his
temper
,
"
why
,
because
he
's
taken
my
front
room
,
and
I
want
to
know
what
sort
of
a
chap
he
is
,
and
because
,
too
,
he
has
referred
me
to
you
—
that
's
what
for
.
"
"
Well
,
then
,
"
said
Mr.
Smithson
,
"
I
'll
just
tell
you
this
:
first
,
he
'll
pay
his
rent
;
second
,
he
'll
give
no
trouble
;
third
,
that
's
all
.
"
With
which
Mr.
Smithson
,
who
had
for
a
moment
looked
up
,
and
paused
in
his
occupation
,
returned
to
his
earthenware
.
"
And
what
does
he
do
?
"
asked
Mr.
Jones
,
not
satisfied
with
this
brief
account
.
"
If
you
was
to
stay
here
from
now
till
to-morrow
morning
,
"
surlily
replied
Mr.
Smithson
,
"
you
'd
know
no
more
from
me
.
"
Mr.
Jones
whistled
,
and
walked
off
,
with
his
hands
in
his
pockets
.
He
had
been
guilty
of
the
unpardonable
sin
of
not
purchasing
a
shilling
's
worth
of
Mr.
Smithson
's
goods
since
he
had
come
to
the
neighbourhood
,
and
of
course
Mr.
Smithson
felt
aggrieved
.
"
Well
,
father
,
"
eagerly
exclaimed
Mary
,
as
soon
as
she
saw
her
father
;
"
who
is
he
?
What
is
he
?
What
does
he
do
?
Is
he
married
—
"
"
Bless
the
girl
!
"
interrupted
Mr.
Jones
,
"
how
am
I
to
know
all
that
?
He
'll
pay
his
rent
,
and
he
's
respectable
,
and
more
do
n't
concern
us
;
and
it
's
time
for
you
to
go
to
Miss
Gray
,
ai
n't
it
?
"
With
which
limited
information
Mary
had
,
perforce
,
to
remain
satisfied
.
The
new
lodger
proved
to
be
what
Mr.
Jones
graphically
termed
"
a
very
buttoned-up
sort
of
chap
;
"
a
tall
,
dark
,
silent
,
and
reserved
man
,
who
paid
his
rent
every
week
,
went
out
early
every
morning
,
came
home
at
ten
every
night
,
and
vanished
every
Sunday
.
We
have
already
hinted
that
Mr.
Jones
had
a
spice
of
curiosity
;
this
mystery
teazed
him
,
and
by
dint
of
waylaying
his
guest
both
early
and
late
,
he
succeeded
in
ascertaining
that
he
had
recently
left
his
situation
in
a
large
house
in
the
city
,
and
that
he
was
in
search
of
another
.
No
more
did
Mr.
Joseph
Saunders
choose
to
communicate
;
but
this
was
enough
.
For
some
time
,
the
poor
grocer
had
had
a
strong
suspicion
that
he
was
not
a
very
good
business
man
;
that
he
wanted
something
;
energy
,
daring
,
he
knew
not
what
,
but
something
he
was
sure
it
was
.
"
Now
,
"
he
thought
,
"
if
I
could
secure
such
a
young
fellow
as
that
;
it
would
be
a
capital
thing
for
me
,
and
in
time
not
a
bad
one
for
him
.
For
suppose
,
that
he
becomes
a
Co.
,
and
marries
Mary
,
why
the
house
is
his
,
that
's
all
.
Now
I
should
like
to
know
what
man
in
the
city
will
say
to
him
:
'
Saunders
,
I
'll
make
a
Co.
of
you
,
and
you
shall
have
my
daughter
.
'
"
Fully
impressed
with
the
importance
of
the
proposal
he
had
to
make
,
Mr.
Jones
accordingly
walked
up
one
morning
to
his
lodger
's
room
;
and
after
a
gentle
knock
,
obtained
admittance
.
But
scarcely
had
he
entered
the
room
,
scarcely
cast
a
look
around
him
,
when
his
heart
failed
him
,
Joseph
Saunders
was
packing
up
.
"
Going
,
Sir
?
"
faintly
said
Jones
.
"
Why
yes
!
"
replied
the
young
man
,
"
I
have
found
a
situation
,
and
so
I
am
off
naturally
.
My
week
is
up
to-morrow
,
I
believe
,
but
not
having
given
notice
,
I
shall
pay
for
next
,
of
course
.
"
He
thrust
his
hand
in
his
pocket
as
he
spoke
.
Poor
Mr.
Jones
was
too
much
hurt
with
his
disappointment
to
care
about
the
four
shillings
.
"
Pray
do
n't
mention
it
,
"
he
said
hurriedly
,
"
your
time
's
up
to-morrow
,
and
so
there
's
an
end
of
it
all
.
"
Which
words
applied
to
the
end
of
his
hopes
,
more
than
anything
else
.
Mr.
Saunders
gave
him
a
look
of
slight
surprise
,
but
said
quietly
:
"
No
,
no
,
Mr.
Jones
,
what
's
fair
is
fair
.
I
gave
no
notice
,
and
so
here
are
your
four
shillings
.
"
He
laid
them
on
the
table
as
he
spoke
;
and
resumed
his
packing
.
He
forgot
to
ask
what
had
brought
Mr.
Jones
up
to
his
room
,
and
Mr.
Jones
no
longer
anxious
to
tell
him
,
pocketed
his
four
shillings
and
withdrew
hastily
,
under
pretence
that
he
was
wanted
in
the
shop
.
Mr.
Jones
had
not
acted
in
all
this
without
consulting
his
daughter
;
she
had
tacitly
approved
his
plans
,
and
when
he
had
imprudently
allowed
her
to
see
how
he
thought
those
plans
likely
to
end
by
a
matrimonial
alliance
between
herself
and
young
Saunders
,
a
faint
blush
had
come
over
the
poor
little
thing
's
sallow
face
,
and
stooping
to
shun
her
father
's
kind
eye
,
she
pretended
to
pick
up
a
needle
that
had
not
fallen
.
And
now
she
was
waiting
,
below
,
for
it
was
early
yet
,
and
she
had
not
gone
to
Miss
Gray
's
—
she
was
waiting
to
know
the
result
of
her
father
's
conference
with
Mr.
Saunders
.
No
wonder
that
he
came
down
somewhat
slowly
,
and
not
a
little
crest-fallen
.
All
he
said
was
:
"
He
's
got
a
new
situation
,
"
and
whistling
by
way
of
showing
his
utter
unconcern
,
he
entered
the
shop
,
where
a
dirty
child
with
its
chin
resting
on
the
counter
,
was
waiting
to
be
served
.
Mary
too
had
had
her
dreams
,
innocent
dreams
,
made
up
of
the
shadow
of
love
,
and
of
the
substance
of
girlish
vanity
.
The
poor
child
felt
this
blow
,
the
first
her
little
life
had
known
,
and
childishly
began
to
cry
.
Her
eyes
were
red
when
she
went
to
work
,
but
she
sat
in
shadow
,
and
Jane
,
who
seldom
honoured
Miss
Jones
with
her
notice
,
saw
nothing
.
Rachel
Gray
was
too
much
absorbed
in
her
own
thoughts
to
heed
what
passed
around
her
.
It
was
only
on
her
return
,
that
finding
Mary
in
tears
,
she
drew
from
her
the
little
tale
of
her
hope
and
disappointment
.
It
is
not
an
easy
task
to
console
,
even
the
lightest
sorrow
,
for
it
is
not
easy
to
feel
sympathy
.
Yet
little
as
her
grave
mind
,
and
earnest
heart
could
understand
the
troubles
of
Mary
Jones
,
little
as
she
could
feel
in
reality
for
the
childish
fancy
to
which
they
owed
their
birth
,
Rachel
felt
for
the
young
girl
's
grief
,
such
as
it
was
,
and
by
sympathy
and
mild
reasoning
,
she
soothed
Mary
,
and
sent
her
home
partly
consoled
.
Of
course
,
Mr.
Saunders
was
gone
—
he
had
left
too
without
any
adieu
or
message
.
Mary
's
vanity
was
as
much
hurt
as
her
heart
.
Mr.
Jones
was
not
habitually
a
man
of
keen
perceptions
,
but
love
is
ever
quick
.
It
cut
him
to
the
heart
to
see
his
little
Mary
so
woebegone
.
He
looked
at
her
wistfully
,
tried
to
check
a
sigh
,
and
said
as
brightly
as
he
could
:
"
Cheer
up
,
Mary
;
law
bless
you
girl
,
well
have
lots
of
lodgers
yet
;
and
as
to
that
Saunders
,
I
do
n't
so
much
care
about
it
,
now
he
's
gone
.
He
was
a
clever
fellow
,
but
he
had
n't
got
no
capital
,
and
as
to
taking
a
Co.
without
capital
,
why
none
but
a
good-natured
easy
fellow
like
me
would
dream
of
such
a
thing
now
a
days
;
but
,
as
I
said
,
we
'll
have
lots
of
lodgers
—
lots
of
lodgers
.
"
"
We
never
had
but
that
one
all
them
nine
months
,
"
said
Mary
with
some
asperity
.
"
They
're
all
a
coming
,
"
said
her
father
gaily
,
"
They
're
all
a
coming
.
"
And
he
said
it
in
such
droll
fashion
,
and
winked
