hands,
"
nurse
will
know
better
than
me
,
"
and
so
saying
,
she
turned
eagerly
towards
the
door
.
"
She
be
gone
,
mother
,
and
have
n't
gived
nothing
,
"
said
the
eldest
girl
,
in
a
voice
so
mournfully
expressive
of
disappointment
,
that
in
spite
of
her
alarm
,
Mary
stopped
to
take
half-a-crown
from
her
purse
,
which
she
put
into
the
child
's
hand
.
She
looked
at
the
coin
,
and
in
a
half-whisper
ejaculated
,
"
Oh
!
"
Then
creeping
to
the
bed
,
she
put
it
into
the
palm
of
her
mother
's
hand
,
pressing
the
fingers
down
upon
it
,
and
in
an
accent
of
interrogation
uttered
the
word
"
Bread
?
"
This
Mary
heard
,
but
not
the
answer
to
it
,
for
she
had
quitted
the
scene
before
it
was
uttered
.
On
opening
the
door
of
the
house
,
she
started
at
seeing
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
still
within
a
dozen
yards
of
it
;
he
was
standing
beside
the
carriage
,
with
one
arm
extended
to
keep
the
door
of
it
open
,
and
the
other
resting
against
the
vehicle
on
the
opposite
side
of
the
opening
,
while
his
head
thrust
forward
within
an
inch
of
good
Mrs.
Tremlett
's
nose
effectually
prevented
her
following
her
young
lady
,
however
much
she
might
have
wished
to
do
so
.
He
had
,
indeed
,
upon
Miss
Brotherton
's
disappearance
reseated
the
good
woman
almost
by
force
,
and
then
addressed
her
in
such
a
strain
as
was
rapidly
working
her
up
to
make
an
attempt
to
escape
from
the
other
side
of
the
carriage
,
when
the
reappearance
of
the
young
lady
released
her
from
her
thraldom
.
"
Mrs.
Tremlett
!
"
he
said
,
"
are
you
aware
of
the
awful
responsibility
which
will
rest
upon
you
if
any
thing
unfortunate
happens
to
your
amiable
,
but
most
headstrong
young
lady
?
All
the
neighbourhood
know
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
that
she
has
,
as
it
were
,
placed
herself
for
protection
in
your
hands
,
refusing
all
other
counsel
,
and
shutting
her
ears
to
all
other
advice
,
and
it
is
thus
that
you
perform
your
duty
!
"
"
Good
God
,
sir
!
what
do
you
mean
?
"
said
the
good
woman
,
in
great
agitation
.
"
Let
me
out
if
you
please
,
sir
.
If
my
young
lady
is
in
any
danger
,
it
is
wicked
to
keep
me
sitting
here
.
let
me
out
,
sir
!
"
"
I
will
let
you
out
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
"
replied
the
knight
,
still
firmly
retaining
the
position
which
so
effectually
kept
her
in
,
"
I
will
let
you
out
;
but
first
,
for
her
sake
and
your
own
,
it
is
my
duty
to
tell
you
in
a
few
words
the
sort
of
place
she
has
now
thought
proper
to
enter
.
Do
n't
struggle
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
but
hear
me
.
It
is
not
possible
they
can
do
her
any
personal
injury
as
long
as
I
am
so
near
the
door
of
the
house
as
at
present
.
Be
very
sure
that
from
some
hole
or
corner
of
the
filthy
premises
,
some
spying
eyes
are
at
this
moment
watching
us
.
There
is
no
danger
of
her
being
murdered
now
,
but
as
sure
as
you
sit
there
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
murdered
she
will
be
,
if
she
goes
without
the
protection
of
a
powerful
arm
within
such
dens
of
sin
and
iniquity
as
she
has
entered
now
.
One
short
moment
more
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
—
one
short
moment
,
while
I
tell
what
the
creatures
are
among
whom
she
has
thrown
herself
.
The
house
is
notorious
as
one
of
the
very
worst
in
Ashleigh
.
The
man
is
an
habitual
drunkard
,
whom
I
,
and
my
excellent
servant
Parsons
,
have
endeavoured
in
every
possible
way
to
reform
—
but
in
vain
.
The
moment
he
has
got
his
wages
,
he
goes
to
the
gin-shop
,
and
often
and
often
he
wo
n't
work
at
all
,
which
of
course
prevents
his
family
from
being
in
the
comfortable
easy
circumstances
which
they
ought
to
be
.
If
he
happens
to
be
in
the
house
now
,
I
dare
say
there
is
no
species
of
indecent
language
to
which
your
young
lady
will
not
be
obliged
to
listen
.
As
to
the
mother
of
the
family
,
I
believe
she
is
dying
in
consequence
of
a
life
passed
in
all
sorts
of
the
most
abominable
wickedness
.
Indeed
I
believe
she
is
now
half
mad
,
for
I
have
been
told
by
some
of
my
people
whom
I
have
sent
upon
charitable
visits
of
inquiry
to
her
,
that
she
lies
in
her
bed
inventing
the
strangest
lies
imaginable
.
Indeed
some
think
that
notwithstanding
she
is
so
near
death
she
still
drinks
,
and
that
it
is
nothing
but
drunken
lies
that
she
makes
people
listen
to
.
"
"
Pray
,
pray
let
me
get
out
,
Sir
Matthew
!
Being
murdered
,
sir
,
is
not
the
only
thing
from
which
I
should
wish
to
save
Miss
Brotherton
.
"
"
One
word
more
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
and
I
have
done
.
The
eldest
girl
is
a
notorious
prostitute
.
Another
,
a
year
or
two
younger
is
going
the
same
way
.
The
boy
is
suspected
of
being
an
extremely
skilful
thief
,
and
the
two
younger
girls
,
for
they
all
work
at
my
factory
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
and
I
know
them
well
,
the
two
younger
ones
are
such
depraved
little
wretches
,
that
for
the
sake
of
example
we
have
been
obliged
to
turn
them
out
of
the
mill
,
though
we
are
in
great
want
of
young
hands
to
do
the
work
.
Now
,
madam
,
I
have
done
,
and
I
leave
it
with
you
to
judge
how
far
it
will
be
right
and
proper
for
Miss
Brotherton
to
continue
such
frolics
as
these
.
"
Sir
Matthew
was
in
the
act
of
pronouncing
the
last
words
of
this
speech
as
Miss
Brotherton
opened
the
door
of
the
house
,
and
stepped
out
into
the
street
.
On
first
perceiving
her
,
the
knight
appeared
about
to
take
her
hand
,
for
the
purpose
of
replacing
her
in
the
carriage
;
but
his
attention
was
called
to
the
sound
of
many
feet
suddenly
turning
the
corner
of
a
street
which
led
from
a
neighbouring
factory
.
It
proceeded
from
the
workpeople
,
who
were
rushing
home
in
scrambling
haste
to
snatch
their
miserable
dinners
.
Gentlemen
in
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
's
situation
,
and
enjoying
the
species
of
influence
which
belongs
to
it
,
take
little
or
no
pains
to
avoid
meeting
the
people
they
themselves
employ
.
They
look
not
in
the
young
eyes
to
read
what
sort
of
blessing
cowers
there
,
nor
heed
the
crippled
gait
,
or
pallid
visage
of
those
who
exist
but
by
the
poisonous
employment
which
he
gives
them
.
But
such
gentlemen
seldom
,
if
they
can
avoid
it
,
expose
themselves
to
the
remarks
of
any
gangs
belonging
to
their
neighbours
,
and
no
sooner
did
Sir
Matthew
become
aware
that
the
mill
in
the
next
street
was
pouring
forth
its
fifteen
hundred
hands
,
than
he
turned
from
the
young
lady
who
had
passed
by
without
appearing
to
see
him
,
and
taking
his
horse
from
the
hand
of
the
groom
who
held
it
,
sprung
with
great
activity
into
the
saddle
,
and
galloped
off
the
way
his
indignant
son
had
galloped
before
him
.
Mary
Brotherton
meanwhile
was
utterly
unconscious
of
the
approaching
throng
;
and
intent
only
upon
getting
Mrs.
Tremlett
out
of
the
carriage
,
turned
her
eyes
neither
to
the
right
nor
the
left
,
but
seizing
her
by
the
arm
,
exclaimed
,
"
Come
to
me
nurse
,
come
to
me
!
"
The
good
woman
who
was
quite
as
desirous
as
herself
of
the
reunion
,
required
no
second
summons
,
but
more
quickly
than
it
can
be
told
,
was
first
by
the
side
of
her
young
mistress
in
the
street
,
and
then
entering
with
her
the
low
door
of
the
dwelling
so
fearfully
described
by
Sir
Matthew
.
Had
Mrs.
Tremlett
possessed
the
power
,
most
assuredly
she
would
have
turned
the
steps
of
her
charge
the
other
way
,
and
for
ever
have
prevented
her
from
exposing
herself
to
the
contemplation
of
such
depravity
as
she
had
heard
described
;
but
knowing
perfectly
well
that
no
such
power
was
vested
in
her
,
the
next
wish
she
conceived
,
was
to
give
all
the
assistance
and
support
she
could
to
the
dear
wilful
girl
to
whom
she
had
devoted
herself
.
Aware
,
as
she
entered
the
door
,
that
many
eyes
followed
them
,
nay
,
that
many
steps
were
stayed
,
apparently
,
to
watch
the
spectacle
so
rare
in
Ashleigh
of
well-dressed
ladies
entering
the
sordid
dwelling
of
operatives
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
herself
closed
the
door
as
soon
as
they
had
both
passed
through
it
,
and
looking
round
upon
the
desolation
of
the
chamber
,
trembled
with
an
emotion
made
up
of
terror
and
compassion
,
at
perceiving
to
what
a
scene
the
delicately-nurtured
Mary
Brotherton
had
introduced
herself
.
"
This
woman
is
very
ill
,
nurse
Tremlett
,
"
said
the
young
lady
,
drawing
her
close
to
the
bed
.
"
For
God
's
sake
tell
me
what
we
had
better
do
for
her
?
"
"
My
dear
,
dear
,
Miss
Mary
come
away
,
and
send
the
doctor
to
her
!
"
answered
Mrs.
Tremlett
;
positively
shaking
from
head
to
foot
,
as
she
contemplated
the
ghastly
countenance
of
the
woman
,
the
filthy
rag
that
imperfectly
covered
her
,
and
the
scanty
straw
upon
which
her
stiffening
limbs
were
stretched
.
"
This
is
no
place
for
you
,
Miss
Brotherton
!
come
with
me
I
say
this
moment
,
and
we
will
send
the
doctor
,
and
money
,
and
clothes
too
,
if
you
like
it
.
"
"
If
I
like
it
!
—
Do
you
think
I
am
amusing
myself
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
?
—
Feel
her
hand
—
feel
her
pulse
!
I
believe
she
is
dying
.
"
These
words
though
spoken
very
quietly
and
deliberately
,
were
uttered
in
a
voice
so
unlike
what
she
had
ever
heard
from
the
young
lady
before
,
that
the
old
woman
became
dreadfully
alarmed
.
"
Oh
,
good
God
!
she
is
losing
her
senses
!
"
were
the
words
she
uttered
as
she
threw
her
arms
round
the
person
of
Miss
Brotherton
,
and
vainly
attempted
to
remove
her
from
the
spot
on
which
she
stood
.
"
Fie
upon
you
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
!
"
said
Mary
,
sternly
,
"
do
you
fancy
that
you
are
doing
me
any
good
?
Be
satisfied
that
I
am
not
losing
my
senses
,
and
let
me
request
that
you
will
make
an
effort
to
recover
yours
.
This
woman
's
head
is
too
low
.
My
dear
mother
asked
for
pillows
.
"
Here
the
steady
voice
faltered
,
but
it
was
now
only
for
a
moment
.
"
I
want
the
cushions
from
the
carriage
nurse
Tremlett
,
will
you
get
them
,
or
shall
I
?
"
Without
answering
a
word
the
terrified
old
woman
hastened
to
obey
her
,
and
did
so
in
the
best
manner
;
for
calling
to
the
tall
footman
,
who
continued
to
stand
beside
the
open
door
of
the
carriage
,
he
obeyed
the
summons
,
which
he
supposed
to
be
preparatory
to
his
young
mistress
making
her
exit
,
by
very
unceremoniously
thrusting
right
and
left
the
curious
group
that
still
lingered
on
the
threshold
.
"
Give
me
the
cushions
from
the
carriage
,
Jones
,
"
she
said
,
"
make
haste
,
for
God
's
sake
!
"
The
man
stared
at
her
for
an
instant
in
utter
astonishment
,
and
then
did
as
he
was
ordered
.
"
Now
get
upon
the
box
and
bid
the
coachman
drive
as
fast
as
he
can
go
,
to
the
nearest
doctor
's
—
that
's
Mr.
Thomas
,
I
think
,
in
Cannon-street
.
—
Tell
him
Miss
Brotherton
has
sent
for
him
,
and
desire
him
to
get
into
carriage
directly
.
"
Having
uttered
these
commands
as
rapidly
as
she
could
speak
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
carried
a
couple
of
the
carriage
cushions
to
the
bed
,
and
with
the
assistance
of
Mary
and
the
elder
child
,
managed
to
raise
the
woman
into
a
position
apparently
less
distorted
and
painful
than
before
.
"
Have
you
any
thing
to
give
her
?
"
said
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
addressing
the
child
.
The
little
girl
without
answering
,
stepped
to
a
sort
of
cupboard
in
the
wall
,
and
taking
thence
a
pitcher
without
a
spout
,
and
a
mug
without
a
handle
,
contrived
to
tilt
up
the
former
so
as
to
make
it
discharge
a
portion
of
its
cotents
into
the
latter
.
"
It
is
water
,
"
said
Mary
,
watching
the
operation
.
"
It
will
not
hurt
her
,
will
it
?
"
"
Nothing
can
hurt
her
,
my
dear
love
?
"
replied
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
her
eyes
filling
with
tears
as
she
listened
to
the
altered
voice
of
her
gay-hearted
girl
,
whose
smiles
and
frolics
she
had
watched
,
and
indulged
,
for
so
many
years
;
but
of
whose
deep
feeling
she
had
never
conceived
any
idea
till
now
.
"
I
do
n't
think
anything
can
hurt
her
now
,
Mary
.
Her
pulse
flutters
,
and
her
forehead
is
quite
damp
.
I
have
sent
for
Mr.
Thomas
,
and
he
will
probably
be
here
immediately
.
"
Mary
's
only
answer
was
silently
pressing
the
hand
of
her
old
friend
as
she
took
from
it
the
broken
mug
of
water
,
and
then
,
kneeling
on
the
sordid
floor
,
she
applied
it
to
the
pale
dry
lips
of
the
sufferer
.
The
poor
woman
made
an
effort
to
meet
it
,
and
swallowed
a
mouthful
eagerly
;
and
then
,
relieved
probably
by
the
change
of
posture
,
and
refreshed
by
the
cool
liquid
,
she
stretched
out
the
hand
in
which
she
still
held
Mary
's
half-crown
,
and
said
,
"
Go
Betsy
,
buy
—
"
The
child
she
addressed
,
eagerly
seized
the
money
in
the
hand
that
had
fingers
to
close
upon
it
,
and
flitted
through
the
door
in
an
instant
.
The
poor
woman
had
again
closed
her
eyes
;
but
her
breathing
was
more
tranquil
,
and
Mary
hoped
she
had
fallen
asleep
.
With
this
persuasion
she
stood
perfectly
still
and
silent
beside
her
,
her
own
hand
locked
,
though
she
was
not
conscious
of
it
,
in
the
grasp
of
her
deeply
affected
nurse
,
while
her
whole
soul
seemed
settled
in
her
eyes
as
she
fixed
them
immovably
upon
what
she
felt
to
be
the
most
awful
spectacle
that
a
mortal
can
gaze
upon
,
namely
,
the
passing
of
a
human
spirit
from
life
to
death
.
The
little
girl
whose
swollen
and
discoloured
arm
still
remained
uncovered
,
probably
because
she
feared
the
pain
likely
to
attend
the
replacing
it
in
the
sleeve
,
stood
close
beside
her
mother
's
head
,
childishly
contemplating
the
cushions
which
supported
it
,
and
apparently
as
unconscious
as
they
were
,
of
the
heavy
loss
that
threatened
her
.
But
this
stillness
did
not
long
remain
uninterrupted
.
All
the
members
of
the
family
,
who
had
been
named
as
belonging
to
the
factory
,
except
the
father
,
returned
for
the
purpose
of
taking
such
rest
and
refreshment
as
one
hour
(
nearly
half
of
which
was
consumed
by
the
walk
to
and
from
the
mill
)
could
permit
.
The
latch
was
lifted
by
the
eldest
girl
,
a
delicate
featured
,
but
dreadfully
dirty
creature
of
about
seventeen
,
with
a
sort
of
sharp
eagerness
,
denoting
the
curiosity
excited
by
the
sight
of
the
carriage
stationed
before
their
dwelling
.
On
perceiving
the
deathlike
countenance
of
her
mother
,
made
distinctly
visible
by
the
noonday
light
,
that
streamed
through
the
open
door
,
she
suddenly
stopped
,
clasping
her
hands
together
,
and
uttering
in
tones
that
sounded
like
a
shriek
—
"
Oh
!
God
,
she
is
dead
!
"
"
No
!
not
dead
!
"
said
Mary
solemnly
,
and
without
turning
her
eyes
from
the
object
on
which
they
were
rivetted
.
"
Not
dead
!
—
she
is
sleeping
—
Hush
!
—
Do
not
disturb
her
!
"
Close
following
on
the
heels
of
the
first
,
came
a
second
girl
,
about
a
year
her
junior
,
but
with
a
countenance
much
less
prepossessing
.
Dirty
she
was
too
,
it
possible
more
so
than
the
others
,
and
there
was
a
look
of
stolid
stupidity
about
her
that
,
but
for
the
sort
of
reckless
audacity
which
lurked
in
her
eye
,
might
have
given
the
idea
of
an
almost
brutal
want
of
animation
.
A
thin
consumptive-looking
lad
of
about
fourteen
,
followed
after
her
,
and
closed
the
door
behind
him
as
he
entered
.
"
Oh
!
mother
!
"
he
exclaimed
as
her
sunken
face
caught
his
eye
,
"
I
wish
I
was
alongside
of
ye
,
and
then
we
'd
be
buried
together
!
"
And
without
appearing
conscious
of
the
presence
of
the
strangers
,
he
suddenly
threw
himself
upon
the
tottering
bedstead
,
and
nestling
his
face
close
to
that
of
the
dying
woman
,
kissed
her
passionately
again
and
again
.
"
My
boy
,
you
may
hasten
her
going
by
that
,
"
said
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
gently
.
"
Be
still
,
be
still
all
of
ye
!
"
But
as
she
spoke
,
she
,
and
Mary
too
,
whose
hand
she
continued
to
hold
,
made
way
for
the
eldest
girl
,
who
now
eagerly
,
but
silently
pressing
forward
,
dropped
on
her
knees
beside
the
bed
,
and
throwing
her
two
arms
over
the
emaciated
body
,
remained
with
streaming
eyes
that
rested
piteously
on
the
face
of
her
mother
.
The
second
girl
looked
on
,
till
by
degrees
her
heavy
countenance
appeared
to
stiffen
into
horror
,
and
she
too
drew
near
,
but
with
distended
and
tearless
eyes
,
that
seemed
to
speak
more
of
fear
than
love
.
Mrs.
Tremlett
looked
anxiously
into
the
face
of
her
charge
.
It
was
deadly
pale
,
and
wore
an
expression
of
solemnity
so
new
and
strange
,
that
the
good
woman
threw
her
arms
around
her
in
an
agony
of
fond
anxiety
,
exclaiming
,
"
My
Mary
,
my
dear
,
dear
child
!
come
away
!
Mary
,
Mary
,
come
away
!
you
can
do
no
good
.
This
scene
is
not
a
fit
one
for
you
to
witness
.
"
"
You
mistake
,
nurse
.
It
is
fit
for
me
.
It
is
necessary
for
me
.
Do
not
disturb
me
,
nurse
Tremlett
!
do
not
!
"
Then
after
a
short
pause
,
during
which
her
eyes
were
closed
,
and
her
hands
crossed
upon
her
breast
,
she
again
whispered
,
"
Could
hse
not
pray
with
me
?
Shall
I
not
ask
her
to
pray
with
me
?
"
"
My
sweet
girl
,
she
will
not
hear
you
,
I
think
,
"
said
the
old
woman
,
while
the
tears
streamed
down
her
cheeks
.
"
But
you
shall
be
satisfied
my
darling
,
"
and
approaching
the
bed
,
and
leaning
over
the
girl
who
knelt
beside
it
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
in
a
low
but
distinct
voice
pronounced
the
words
,
"
Shall
we
pary
with
you
?
"
She
was
evidently
heard
and
understood
,
for
the
hands
that
for
some
minutes
had
lain
motionless
,
were
with
an
effort
brought
together
,
and
clasped
in
the
attitude
of
prayer
.
Mary
who
was
eagerly
watching
her
every
movement
,
suddenly
stepped
forward
,
and
gliding
in
between
the
eldest
and
the
youngest
girl
,
dropped
on
her
knees
beside
them
.
Mrs.
Tremlett
following
close
behind
her
,
knelt
also
,
and
then
with
tremlbing
lips
,
and
faltering
voice
,
but
slowly
,
distinctly
,
and
most
reverentially
,
Mary
Brotherton
uttered
the
last
and
most
impressive
of
those
sentences
in
our
litany
which
is
followed
by
the
solemn
petition
for
deliverance
.
it
was
with
a
throb
of
pleasure
at
her
heart
,
and
an
exclamation
of
thanksgiving
from
her
tongue
,
that
she
heard
the
dying
woman
answer
"
Amen
!
"
Almost
at
the
very
instant
she
did
so
,
the
latch
was
again
lifted
,
and
Mr.
Thomas
,
one
of
the
three
medical
practitioners
of
Ashleigh
,
entered
.
Miss
Brotherton
was
not
conscious
of
ever
having
seen
him
before
;
but
he
,
like
every
one
else
in
the
neighbourhood
,
perfectly
well
knew
the
heiress
by
sight
;
and
now
,
even
no
,
in
the
awful
chamber
of
death
,
bowed
low
before
her
.
It
would
not
be
easy
to
describe
the
feeling
with
which
she
turned
away
from
this
ill-timed
demonstration
of
respect
.
Yet
it
was
with
no
harshness
;
for
the
struggle
so
often
going
on
within
us
between
our
better
and
our
worser
natures
,
was
at
this
moment
so
decidedly
in
favour
of
all
that
was
good
in
her
young
heart
,
that
there
was
hardly
place
for
any
severer
feeling
than
pity
within
it
.
She
had
risen
from
her
knees
as
he
made
his
bow
,
and
turning
gravely
towards
him
,
said
,
"
If
any
thing
can
be
done
sir
,
for
this
poor
woman
,
let
it
not
be
delayed
.
I
fear
she
is
very
ill.
"
"
Certainly
,
ma'am
—
certainly
,
Miss
Brotherton
,
my
best
attention
may
be
depended
on
.
But
will
you
first
,
my
dear
young
lady
,
give
me
leave
to
observe
that
I
would
much
rather
see
you
in
your
carriage
than
here
.
I
really
cannot
answer
for
it
.
It
is
in
point
of
fact
impossible
to
say
whether
there
may
not
be
something
deleterious
,
something
noxious
,
in
short
,
to
your
very
precious
health
in
the
atmosphere
of
this
room
.
"
"
I
thank
you
,
sir
.
Be
sure
I
will
take
quite
sufficient
care
of
myself
;
but
it
is
not
for
me
that
your
services
are
wanted
—
it
is
here
!
"
Sophy
,
the
eldest
girl
seemed
unconscious
of
what
was
going
on
,
for
she
remained
perfectly
motionless
on
the
spot
where
she
had
first
knelt
down
;
while
the
third
sister
,
who
had
been
sent
on
the
poor
mother
's
last
errand
for
bread
,
and
who
had
crept
back
unobserved
into
the
room
during
the
foregoing
scene
,
occupied
the
space
on
her
right
hand
,
Mary
Brotherton
having
knelt
on
her
left
,
so
that
there
was
scarcely
space
for
the
approach
of
the
smart
apothecary
"
Move
,
my
dear
girls
!
"
said
Mary
,
gently
laying
a
hand
on
the
shoulder
of
each
.
They
both
rose
;
while
Mr.
Thomas
,
carefully
storing
the
anecdote
in
aid
of
the
gossiping
part
of
his
practice
,
looked
and
listened
with
astonishment
to
what
seemed
to
him
the
very
unnatural
conduct
of
the
rich
young
lady
,
and
internally
exclaimed
,
"
A
clear
case
of
religious
mania
this
,
as
I
ever
saw
!
She
wo
n't
live
long
,
probably
.
What
a
match
!
"
It
required
no
very
long
examination
of
the
poor
patient
,
to
discover
that
her
last
moment
was
rapidly
approaching
.
"
Upon
my
word
,
Miss
Brotherton
,
I
really
wish
I
could
persuade
you
to
come
away
,
"
persisted
the
medical
gentleman
as
he
once
more
turned
towards
her
.
The
air
is
becoming
more
mephitic
every
instant
.
"
This
woman
is
at
the
last
extremity
.
"
"
Nothing
,
then
,
can
be
done
for
her
?
"
said
Mary
.
"
No
,
ma'am
—
nothing
in
the
world
.
Not
the
whole
college
,
if
they
were
present
,
could
keep
soul
and
body
together
for
another
hour
,
I
would
venture
to
say
.
"
On
this
Miss
Brotherton
put
a
fee
into
his
hand
,
and
bent
her
head
in
token
that
his
business
there
was
ended
,
and
that
he
might
depart
.
But
he
did
not
immediately
obey
the
hint
,
for
pocketing
the
unwonted
golden
prize
,
he
seemed
anxious
to
remain
a
little
longer
where
such
blessings
abounded
,
and
returning
to
the
bed
,
again
took
hold
of
the
poor
woman
's
hand
,
and
then
said
in
a
voice
of
authority
—
"
Let
me
have
some
water
.
"
It
was
Mary
only
who
seemed
to
understand
his
words
,
and
she
immediately
obeyed
them
,
placing
in
his
hand
the
broken
mug
which
she
had
set
aside
upon
the
floor
.
The
apothecary
put
the
water
to
the
lips
of
the
poor
woman
,
and
she
again
swallowed
a
little
of
it
,
after
which
they
saw
her
lips
move
as
if
she
was
making
an
effort
to
speak
to
them
.
Mrs.
Tremlett
lent
over
her
,
and
then
,
with
a
stronger
effort
she
articulated
—
"
Let
me
see
William
!
"
"
Who
is
William
?
"
said
Mrs.
Tremlett
raising
herself
,
"
Is
it
one
of
the
children
?
"
"
It
be
father
,
"
said
Betsy
.
"
Where
is
he
to
be
found
?
"
cried
Miss
Brotherton
,
eagerly
.
"
Let
him
be
sought
for
instantly
—
where
is
he
likely
to
be
?
"
"
At
the
gin-shop
,
"
replied
the
ungracious
Grace
.
"
If
you
know
where
he
is
,
go
for
him
,
"
said
Mary
,
impressively
,
"
and
for
God
's
sake
let
him
not
delay
!
"
The
girl
she
addressed
stared
at
her
as
upon
something
utterly
incomprehensible
:
but
she
obeyed
,
and
,
in
so
short
a
time
as
to
show
that
the
gin-shop
was
at
no
great
distance
,
returned
with
a
man
of
an
exterior
as
filthy
as
the
rest
of
his
race
,
wretchedly
crippled
in
the
legs
,
and
a
complexion
that
spoke
both
of
ill
health
,
and
intemperance
.
"
What
!
—
It
is
come
to
that
,
is
it
,
already
?
"
said
the
man
looking
wistfully
at
her
from
the
bottom
of
the
bed
,
but
with
a
countenance
whose
lines
seemed
too
fixed
in
the
expression
of
hard
indifference
,
to
permit
its
exhibiting
much
feeling
.
"
She
asked
for
you
,
father
,
"
said
Sophy
gently
,
then
taking
one
of
her
mother
's
hands
in
hers
she
murmured
,
"
Mother
!
—
Dear
mother
!
—
open
your
eyes
upon
us
,
father
is
here
,
and
all
of
us
"
while
large
tear-drops
fell
upon
the
livid
face
as
she
hung
over
it
.
The
dying
eyes
were
once
more
opened
,
and
consciousness
,
and
recognition
of
them
all
,
were
visible
as
she
suffered
them
to
rest
first
on
one
,
and
then
on
another
.
The
boy
only
,
from
his
position
,
she
could
not
see
;
but
even
then
,
there
seemed
intelligence
between
them
,
and
she
certainly
knew
he
was
lying
beside
her
,
for
her
head
rested
against
his
,
and
she
raised
her
left
hand
till
her
fingers
touched
his
cheek
.
The
youngest
child
also
when
the
mother
's
eyes
opened
,
was
too
much
behind
her
,
but
she
seemed
aware
of
her
vicinity
,
and
pronounced
the
words
"
Little
one
!
"
probably
her
usual
appellation
,
so
distinctly
as
to
make
the
child
start
,
and
instantly
climb
upon
the
bed
to
kiss
her
.
The
last
movement
was
an
effort
to
return
this
kiss
;
and
the
next
moment
Mrs.
Tremlett
removed
the
child
's
clinging
lips
from
a
corse
.
A
very
awful
interval
of
perfect
stillness
followed
.
"
Can
I
be
of
any
further
service
to
you
,
Miss
Brotherton
?
"
from
the
lips
of
Mr.
Thomas
,
were
the
first
words
that
broke
it
.
Poor
Mary
only
shook
her
head
,
but
Mrs.
Tremlett
replied
,
"
No
,
thank
you
sir
,
nothing
more
;
"
and
with
repeated
bows
,
and
rather
a
reluctant
step
,
he
departed
;
turning
,
however
,
to
give
another
glance
at
the
heiress
,
as
he
passed
out
,
for
he
was
not
without
hopes
that
she
might
fall
down
in
a
fainting-fit
.
Nothing
,
however
,
of
the
kind
happened
,
and
he
disappeared
.
"
You
will
go
now
,
Mary
dear
"
whispered
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
"
and
I
will
come
here
to-morrow
to
inquire
about
them
for
you
.
"
"
Yes
,
I
will
go
now
,
"
replied
the
young
lady
,
"
I
cannot
comfort
them
.
"
Then
looking
round
upon
the
steadfast
group
,
as
if
to
discover
which
of
them
appeared
in
the
fittest
state
of
be
spoken
to
,
she
fixed
upon
the
little
Betsy
,
and
placing
a
couple
of
sovereigns
in
her
hand
,
told
her
to
take
care
of
them
and
give
them
to
her
father
presently
,
adding
,
"
tell
your
sister
Sophy
to
come
up
to
my
house
.
This
,
"
giving
a
card
,
"
is
the
place
where
I
live
.
"
She
then
led
the
way
to
her
carriage
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
followed
,
and
the
next
moment
they
were
driving
rapidly
from
the
abode
of
the
most
abject
misery
,
to
a
residence
which
every
quarter
of
the
globe
had
contributed
to
render
luxurious
.
It
was
evident
that
the
heiress
felt
no
inclination
to
converse
;
indeed
,
for
by
far
the
greater
portion
of
the
way
her
face
was
concealed
by
the
bandkerchief
which
she
held
to
her
eyes
,
and
Mrs.
Tremlett
had
too
much
real
feeling
to
disturb
her
.
After
driving
,
however
,
through
the
handsome
lodge-gates
,
and
sweeping
up
to
the
noble
entrance
of
her
mansion
,
where
already
,
at
the
sound
of
her
approaching
carriage
,
two
or
three
servants
were
seen
waiting
like
a
guard
of
honour
to
receive
her
,
it
seemed
that
her
meditations
had
not
been
wholly
confined
to
the
deathbed
scene
she
had
witnessed
,
and
that
the
sordid
cabin
,
with
its
misery-stamped
inhabitants
,
had
made
a
deep
impression
;
for
the
first
,
and
for
many
hours
the
only
words
she
uttered
after
her
return
,
spoken
to
the
ear
of
Mrs.
Tremlett
as
they
walked
arm
in
arm
together
through
the
hall
,
were
these
:
"
I
too
am
living
by
the
profit
of
the
factory
house
.
Is
the
division
just
?
—
Oh
,
God
!
Is
it
holy
?
"
The
old
woman
felt
that
she
trembled
violently
,
but
knew
not
what
words
to
utter
that
might
compose
her
.
On
arriving
at
the
foot
of
the
stairs
,
Mary
withdrew
her
arm
,
and
mounting
them
more
rapidly
than
her
companion
could
follow
,
reached
her
bedchamber
alone
,
which
she
entered
,
closing
and
bolting
the
door
after
her
.
CHAPTER
XIII
.
DISAGREEABLE
MEDITATIONS
—
A
CONFIDENTIAL
INTERVIEW
WITH
A
FAITHFUL
SERVANT
—
ANOTHER
INTERVIEW
,
NOT
QUITE
SO
CONFIDENTIAL
WITH
A
DAUGHTER
—
MARTHA
AND
MICHAEL
TAKE
A
PLEASANT
WALK
TOGETHER
TO
VISIT
THE
WIDOW
ARMSTRONG
—
A
CONSULTATION
.
It
will
be
easily
believed
that
Sir
Matthew
rode
back
to
Dowling
Lodge
not
in
the
very
sweetest
humour
in
the
world
.
"
Bring
up
a
child
in
the
way
he
should
go
,
"
is
an
admirable
proverb
,
and
certain
it
is
that
when
that
"
way
"
is
agreeable
,
he
does
very
rarely
"
depart
from
the
same
.
"
Thus
it
happens
that
the
young
gentlemen
and
ladies
,
sons
and
daughters
of
the
millocrats
,
who
pile
thousands
upon
thousands
,
and
acres
upon
acres
,
by
the
secret
mysteries
of
their
wonderful
compound
of
human
and
divine
machinery
,
do
rarely
or
never
take
their
way
into
the
dwellings
that
shelter
and
that
hide
the
sufferings
of
their
operatives
.
Nothing
is
so
distasteful
to
a
truly
elegant
mill-owner
as
any
allusion
,
domestic
or
foreign
,
gossiping
or
professional
,
religious
or
political
,
to
his
factory
,
or
his
factory
people
;
and
the
gay
fatherly
phrase
,
"
Do
n't
talk
of
that
,
for
God
's
sake
,
my
dear
!
—
it
smells
of
the
shop
,
"
has
turned
away
many
innocent
eyes
from
contemplating
that
,
which
had
they
looked
upon
it
,
could
hardly
have
endured
so
long
.
To
know
therefore
that
the
wilful
,
whimsical
,
rich
,
and
independent
Mary
Brotherton
(
while
still
too
young
to
understand
any
thing
whatever
of
the
real
nature
of
trade
,
and
our
glorious
manufactures
)
,
—
to
know
that
she
was
beginning
to
thrust
herself
behind
the
scenes
,
and
do
Heaven
knows
what
mischief
among
his
devilish
people
,
instead
of
minding
her
own
business
,
and
falling
in
love
with
his
adorable
son
,
was
altogether
too
much
to
be
borne
with
patience
;
and
had
it
not
been
that
the
weather
was
so
hot
as
to
make
him
long
for
a
draught
of
hock
and
iced
water
,
a
natural
instinct
would
have
made
him
turn
aside
from
his
park-gates
,
and
pursue
the
by
path
which
led
to
his
factory
,
where
,
as
he
knew
by
experience
,
the
sort
of
temper
he
was
then
in
could
find
great
relief
,
without
any
body
but
the
overlookers
being
in
the
secret
.
As
it
was
,
however
,
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
reached
his
home
;
and
the
first
thing
he
heard
from
the
man
who
threw
wide
its
portals
was
,
that
Mr.
Parsons
was
waiting
for
him
in
his
study
.
"
Bring
me
a
biscuit
,
a
bottle
of
Stein
,
and
some
iced
water
,
"
said
the
knight
in
the
accent
of
one
not
born
to
"
enter
the
venerable
presence
of
hunger
,
thirst
,
and
cold
,
"
nor
into
that
of
heat
or
vexation
either
.
"
What
's
the
matter
now
,
Parsons
?
"
said
he
,
throwing
himself
into
a
delicious
arm-chair
,
and
perceiving
by
one
glance
at
the
sour
visage
before
him
,
that
something
or
other
had
gone
wrong
.
"
The
mill
's
not
burnt
down
I
suppose
,
is
it
?
"
"
And
I
'm
not
sure
that
would
be
the
worst
thing
that
could
happen
Sir
Matthew
,
if
it
was
,
"
replied
the
confidential
servant
.
"
It
is
well
insured
you
know
,
sir
,
and
would
bring
in
a
famous
sum
,
as
sure
as
the
bank
,
and
that
's
more
,
I
take
it
,
than
we
can
say
of
all
our
debts
.
"
"
Who
the
devil
has
been
gossiping
with
you
about
the
debts
?
What
business
is
that
of
yours
,
I
should
like
to
know
?
Mind
your
billy-rollers
Mr.
Parsons
,
and
take
care
your
hands
keep
up
with
your
machinery
,
that
's
your
work
;
—
and
I
can
tell
you
,
if
you
do
n't
know
it
already
,
that
the
success
of
the
concern
depends
more
upon
that
,
than
upon
any
other
thing
whatever
.
The
building
is
paid
for
,
and
the
glorious
machinery
is
paid
for
—
mind
that
,
sir
,
and
where
's
the
interest
of
it
to
come
from
if
you
let
the
hands
go
to
sleep
over
it
?
I
tell
you
what
,
Mr.
Parsons
,
an
overlooker
is
not
worth
his
salt
if
he
does
not
continually
keep
it
in
his
head
,
that
the
more
the
machinery
is
improved
the
faster
must
the
brats
move
to
follow
it
.
And
you
may
rely
upon
it
that
where
this
is
remembered
early
and
late
,
day
hours
and
night
hours
,
the
concern
will
answer
,
and
every
manager
of
it
,
master
or
man
,
will
live
well
.
But
,
by
the
Lord
Harry
!
where
it
is
not
,
they
are
as
sure
to
go
the
wrong
side
of
the
post
,
as
you
are
to
go
to
bed
to-night
.
It
stands
to
reason
,
Parsons
.
If
one
man
knows
how
to
drive
,
and
another
does
n't
,
the
one
man
's
team
will
pay
,
and
the
other
's
wo
n't
;
and
I
will
be
much
obliged
to
any
man
who
will
tell
me
how
I
am
to
help
being
undersold
in
the
market
,
if
I
do
n't
contrive
to
make
my
machinery
go
as
fast
,
and
as
long
too
,
as
the
best
of
'
em
.
That
's
the
business
you
are
to
attend
to
,
Mr.
Parsons
,
and
I
wo
n't
trouble
you
about
any
other
.
"
"
All
true
,
Sir
Matthew
,
every
word
of
it
.
And
I
ca
n't
but
say
,
though
I
scorn
to
be
a
boaster
,
—
I
ca
n't
but
say
,
that
I
think
I
have
given
you
reason
to
trust
me
.
I
am
noted
for
being
able
to
keep
the
children
awake
,
and
going
longer
than
any
other
man
in
the
mill
.
There
is
n't
an
overlooker
in
Ashleigh
that
can
equal
me
with
the
strap
or
the
billy-roller
either
,
when
I
chooses
to
make
'
em
tell
.
"
"
I
know
all
that
,
my
good
fellow
,
and
I
value
your
services
accordingly
.
But
I
have
been
devilishly
put
out
this
morning
,
and
that
makes
me
snappish
;
besides
,
I
am
quite
sure
you
have
got
something
disagreeable
to
tell
,
by
your
face
.
So
out
with
it
,
man
,
and
make
an
end
of
it
.
"
"
Make
an
end
of
it
,
Sir
Matthew
?
"
replied
Parsons
,
repeating
the
last
words
of
the
sentence
with
marked
emphasis
,
"
by
the
Lord
,
sir
,
that
is
exactly
what
I
'm
come
to
beg
you
to
do
.
You
must
make
an
end
of
your
charity
job
,
Sir
Matthew
,
for
it
do
n't
answer
in
any
way
:
we
have
lost
one
of
the
nimblest
set
of
fingers
we
had
,
that
wanted
nothing
but
the
strap
to
keep
'
em
going
for
sixteen
hours
out
of
the
four-and-twenty
,
and
I
wish
you
could
just
hear
what
gratitude
you
have
gained
in
return
for
it
.
There
is
not
a
single
day
comes
round
that
the
rickety
little
Armstrong
do
n't
blubber
over
his
work
like
a
church
spout
.
And
I
overheard
him
,
the
young
villain
,
when
he
did
n't
think
I
was
so
near
—
I
overheard
him
when
the
scavenger-girl
,
as
was
cleaning
under
the
mules
,
looked
up
and
asked
,
why
for
he
cried
,
when
his
brother
had
got
such
good
fortune
—
I
heard
him
answer
.
And
what
do
you
think
he
said
,
Sir
Matthew
?
"
"
How
the
devil
should
I
know
?
"
replied
the
chafed
capitalist
.
"
Do
n't
stand
mumming
there
,
but
out
with
it
.
"
"
Neither
more
nor
less
than
this
,
Sir
Matthew
:
'
Do
n't
talk
of
his
good
fortune
,
Bet
,
'
says
he
,
'
he
's
the
most
unhappiest
boy
in
all
the
world
,
'
says
he
.
"
"
Pestilent
little
vermin
!
"
exclaimed
Sir
Matthew
through
his
closed
teeth
.
"
Infernal
fool
that
I
was
to
listen
to
that
idiot
woman
!
—
and
Crockley
too
,
who
ought
to
know
better
,
has
been
badgering
me
exactly
with
the
same
execrable
nonsense
.
Never
again
as
long
as
I
live
will
I
be
persuaded
to
try
any
other
scheme
with
the
people
than
what
we
have
always
acted
upon
.
Brutes
and
beasts
they
are
,
and
like
brutes
and
beasts
they
should
be
treated
;
—
and
so
they
shall
by
me
,
as
long
as
my
head
's
above
ground
.
"
"
Well
,
sir
,
I
ca
n't
but
say
I
am
glad
you
are
come
back
to
your
right
mind
,
as
one
may
call
it
.
Such
romantical
goings
on
can
never
answer
in
a
factory
,
Sir
Matthew
.
It
a
n't
the
way
to
do
business
,
and
business
is
what
we
have
got
to
do
.
And
so
,
sir
,
I
hope
you
will
send
that
scamp
Mike
back
to
the
mill
to-morrow
morning
,
for
they
ca
n't
say
no
worse
of
it
,
let
us
pay
him
off
as
we
will
,
than
that
he
's
the
most
unhappiest
boy
in
all
the
world
.
And
that
's
what
they
says
already
.
"
"
It
wo
n't
do
,
Parsons
.
That
boy
must
be
got
rid
of
.
—
What
do
you
stare
for
,
you
ass
?
Do
you
think
I
am
going
to
get
hanged
for
him
?
"
"
Oh
!
dear
no
,
Sir
Matthew
—
you
know
the
value
of
your
own
life
better
than
that
,
any
how
,
—
God
forbid
you
should
not
.
Only
I
did
not
overwell
understand
what
you
meant
by
getting
rid
of
him
.
"
"
I
must
contrive
to
send
him
out
of
the
way
,
at
least
out
of
this
neighbourhood
;
and
moreover
with
his
own
consent
and
his
mother
's
too
.
That
is
what
I
meant
,
Mr.
Parsons
.
"
"
You
must
know
best
,
Sir
Matthew
.
But
it
seems
to
me
you
are
taking
a
deal
of
trouble
about
him
.
If
you
'll
just
let
me
have
him
back
in
the
mill
,
I
think
I
'll
venture
to
say
that
he
shall
never
get
within
reach
of
plaguing
you
any
more
—
and
I
'd
get
a
pennyworth
out
of
him
into
the
bargain
.
"
"
For
a
tolerably
sharp
fellow
,
Parsons
,
you
're
devilish
dull
about
this
business
.
Ca
n't
you
guess
that
I
should
not
be
taking
all
the
trouble
you
talk
of
,
about
such
a
beggar
's
brat
as
that
,
unless
I
had
reasons
for
it
.
There
's
that
lord
's
daughter
that
got
me
into
the
scrape
,
wo
n't
she
be
ferreting
and
ferreting
till
she
finds
out
that
the
sweet
little
master
has
not
found
himself
comfortable
here
?
And
ten
times
worse
than
her
,
—
ay
,
a
hundred
fold
,
is
that
obstinate
headstrong
girl
of
old
Brotherton
's
.
My
Lady
Clarissa
might
be
troublesome
from
mere
folly
,
and
might
perhaps
be
stopped
short
in
any
mischief
she
was
doing
,
by
a
few
words
from
me
.
But
not
the
old
one
himself
could
stop
Mary
Brotherton
if
she
got
a
whim
in
her
head
.
You
should
have
seen
her
just
now
,
Mr.
Parsons
,
raving
at
me
with
her
colour
up
and
her
eyes
flashing
,
for
all
the
world
as
if
she
had
just
escaped
out
of
Bedlam
,
only
because
I
cautioned
her
against
going
into
Joe
Drake
's
pigsty
,
—
a
pretty
place
was
n't
it
for
a
girl
of
her
fortune
to
go
visiting
?
But
in
she
went
,
by
heaven
!
and
you
may
rely
upon
it
,
if
such
a
girl
as
that
,
who
cares
for
nothing
,
and
nobody
,
once
gets
it
into
her
head
to
go
about
among
the
factory
people
,
she
'll
kick
up
more
dust
than
we
shall
find
it
easy
to
lay
again
.
I
've
been
told
already
by
one
who
I
suspect
wanted
to
put
me
on
my
guard
,
that
this
Mary
Brotherton
wished
to
have
a
little
talk
with
Michael
Armstrong
.
I
can
put
two
and
two
together
as
well
as
Miss
Mary
.
She
was
at
our
cursed
play
last
night
,
and
I
'll
bet
my
life
to
a
rotten
egg
that
she
wants
to
ask
him
what
he
cried
for
.
"
"
Likely
enough
,
sir
,
"
replied
the
overlooker
with
a
grim
smile
.
"
I
heard
of
the
crying
,
I
wo
n't
say
that
I
did
n't
.
You
may
guess
,
Sir
Matthew
that
it
was
a
good
deal
talked
about
among
the
servants
—
and
then
t'other
of
'
em
blubbering
away
at
the
mill
,
must
give
a
pretty
notion
,
must
n't
it
,
sir
,
of
your
goodness
to
'
em
?
"
"
Say
no
more
about
it
,
it
makes
me
mad
!
"
exclaimed
the
knight
.
"
One
or
both
of
'
em
shall
be
sent
to
Deep
Valley
mill
,
Parsons
,
if
I
die
for
it
!
"
"
There
's
none
but
'
prentices
taken
in
at
the
mill
in
the
deep
hollow
,
Sir
Matthew
,
if
you
mean
that
.
"
"
Yes
,
sir
,
I
do
mean
that
,
"
replied
Sir
Matthew
with
a
very
ominous
frown
,
"
and
there
Master
Michael
Armstrong
shall
go
.
'
prentice
or
no
'
prentice
,
or
I
'll
give
him
up
my
place
,
and
take
his
.
"
"
That
's
all
,
then
Sir
Matthew
,
"
said
the
overlooker
,
preparing
to
depart
.
"
I
com
'd
to
put
you
up
to
the
boys
ingratitude
,
and
have
nothing
further
to
say
at
present
.
"
"
You
need
not
trouble
yourself
any
more
about
that
,
Mr.
Parsons
.
I
will
take
care
of
him
,
"
replied
the
knight
.
Whereupon
Mr.
Parsons
made
a
bow
,
and
departed
.
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
had
already
taken
one
tumbler
of
hock-and-water
.
He
now
took
a
second
,
and
then
throwing
himself
back
in
his
arm-chair
,
indulged
for
several
minutes
in
very
deep
meditation
.
At
the
end
of
that
time
it
seemed
as
if
the
good
Rhine
wine
had
done
its
office
,
for
suddenly
the
knight
's
countenance
became
animated
;
the
heavy
gloom
which
had
rested
upon
it
disappeared
,
and
springing
to
his
feet
he
rang
the
bell
with
a
sort
of
lively
jerk
which
showed
he
had
some
project
in
hand
that
he
greatly
relished
.
It
was
the
lively
Peggy
who
answered
the
summons
;
but
though
she
entered
almost
out
of
breath
from
the
eagerness
with
which
she
had
traversed
the
passage
which
led
from
the
kitchen
to
the
study
,
and
though
she
brought
into
immediate
activity
all
the
agaceries
of
which
she
was
capable
,
a
smiling
nod
was
all
she
got
in
return
,
so
eager
did
Sir
Matthew
appear
to
say
,
"
Go
to
Miss
Martha
,
Peggy
,
as
fast
as
you
can
,
and
tell
her
to
come
here
to
me
this
very
minute
.
Go
,
my
dear
,
and
make
haste
,
there
's
a
good
girl
.
"
Peggy
was
disappointed
and
angry
,
for
she
had
a
great
deal
to
tell
Sir
Matthew
about
Michael
Armstrong
's
ungratefulness
,
and
all
that
the
servants
thought
and
said
about
it
;
but
the
command
she
had
received
was
too
peremptory
to
be
trifled
with
,
and
though
she
very
nearly
slammed
the
study
door
in
shutting
it
,
she
failed
not
to
deliver
her
message
,
which
was
instantly
obeyed
with
the
most
dutiful
alacrity
by
Martha
.
"
Did
you
send
Peggy
for
me
,
papa
?
"
said
she
in
entering
.
"
Yes
,
Martha
dear
,
I
did
.
How
are
you
to-day
,
my
dear
girl
?
I
have
not
seen
you
before
this
morning
.
Sit
down
,
love
,
sit
down
;
I
want
to
talk
to
you
,
Martha
,
I
have
got
something
upon
my
mind
that
vexes
me
,
and
I
am
going
to
open
my
heart
to
you
about
it
.
"
"
Oh
,
my
dear
,
dear
papa
!
"
returned
Martha
,
"
I
should
be
so
glad
if
I
could
be
of
any
use
to
you
!
"
"
You
can
,
Martha
—
you
can
be
of
great
use
and
comfort
to
me
.
In
the
first
place
you
must
be
my
father
confessor
,
and
let
me
confess
my
faults
to
you
,
and
I
hope
you
will
give
me
absolution
if
you
can
;
for
I
really
am
very
uncomfortable
.
"
"
What
can
you
mean
,
papa
?
"
"
Why
,
my
dear
,
I
mean
that
I
have
been
foolish
enough
to
put
myself
in
a
great
pet
,
when
I
ought
not
to
have
done
any
such
thing
.
It
is
always
wrong
to
let
temper
get
the
better
of
one
;
but
in
this
case
it
was
particularly
so
.
You
know
the
fuss
that
has
been
made
about
this
little
fellow
that
I
have
taken
out
of
the
factory
—
I
do
assure
you
,
my
dear
girl
,
that
I
really
intended
to
be
a
very
kind
friend
to
him
.
But
I
got
so
provoked
at
his
crying
upon
the
stage
last
night
in
that
beautiful
speech
that
was
written
for
him
,
that
I
cuffed
him
soundly
for
it
when
he
came
off
—
and
I
am
sadly
afraid
that
I
frightened
the
poor
little
fellow
so
violently
that
he
will
never
feel
comfortable
,
and
at
his
ease
with
me
again
.
You
cannot
think
how
this
vexes
me
.
"
"
Oh
!
my
dear
papa
,
he
will
never
remember
it
any
more
if
you
will
please
to
forgive
him
.
"
And
Martha
's
heart
bounded
with
joy
as
she
spoke
,
to
think
how
completely
Miss
Brotherton
's
opinion
would
be
changed
could
she
but
hear
her
father
speak
thus
amiably
of
what
had
passed
.
"
No
,
Martha
,
no
;
I
cannot
bear
to
see
his
frightened
look
.
And
besides
,
my
dear
,
I
shall
never
be
sure
of
myself
—
you
know
how
hasty
I
am
!
—
I
should
live
in
perpetual
terror
lest
any
thing
should
tempt
me
to
give
him
a
cuff
.
There
are
other
reasons
too
,
my
dear
Martha
,
which
induce
me
to
think
that
I
should
be
doing
the
little
fellow
and
his
family
infinitely
more
service
if
I
apprenticed
him
to
some
good
trade
,
than
he
could
ever
gain
by
running
about
Dowling
Lodge
.
"
The
excellent
good
sense
of
this
observation
struck
Martha
as
very
valuable
,
and
she
uttered
the
most
cordial
approbation
of
the
wisdom
and
goodness
from
whence
it
proceeded
.
"
I
am
exceedingly
glad
you
agree
with
me
,
my
dear
child
,
"
proceeded
Sir
Matthew
,
"
for
I
have
an
idea
that
you
could
be
very
useful
in
making
the
arrangement
.
Do
you
happen
to
know
where
the
little
boy
's
mother
lives
,
my
dear
Martha
?
"
"
No
,
papa
—
but
Michael
could
show
me
.
"
"
Then
you
should
have
no
objection
to
pay
her
a
visit
on
this
business
,
my
dear
?
"
"
Oh
!
dear
no
!
I
should
like
it
so
much
!
"
"
Very
well
,
my
love
—
then
you
shall
set
out
immediately
if
you
will
.
Or
stay
—
it
would
perhaps
be
better
to
get
you
the
paper
first
that
they
will
have
to
sign
.
You
must
remember
to
tell
them
,
Martha
,
that
I
shall
undertake
to
pay
all
the
fees
.
It
certainly
is
an
excellent
thing
for
a
poor
family
like
Armstrong
's
,
to
have
a
boy
'
prenticed
to
a
good
trade
.
I
trust
the
mother
will
not
refuse
her
consent
from
any
selfish
notion
,
that
she
may
lose
the
boy
's
help
thereby
,
it
would
be
really
very
wicked
.
You
may
tell
her
,
my
dear
,
that
I
shall
continue
to
send
her
down
nice
and
nourishing
food
,
and
that
little
Michael
shall
be
taught
to
write
,
and
well
instructed
every
way
;
so
she
may
be
quite
easy
about
him
,
and
he
will
be
sure
to
send
her
a
letter
every
now
and
then
.
"
The
knight
concluded
with
a
smile
of
kindness
,
that
perfectly
enchanted
his
daughter
.
"
Oh
!
my
dear
,
dear
papa
!
"
she
said
,
"
how
few
people
there
are
who
know
you
as
well
as
I
do
!
Let
me
go
and
look
for
Michael
now
,
papa
,
shall
I
?
I
should
like
to
go
down
to
his
mother
with
him
at
once
,
and
tell
her
of
your
great
goodness
.
The
papers
could
be
sent
afterwards
,
you
know
.
"
"
Very
well
,
dear
,
trot
away
then
;
—
get
your
bonnet
and
parasol
,
find
your
little
squire
,
and
then
come
back
here
to
me
to
receive
my
last
instructions
.
"
As
soon
as
the
happy-looking
Martha
had
left
the
room
the
bell
was
again
rung
,
and
on
this
occasion
answered
by
a
footman
,
—
the
lively
Peggy
choosing
to
turn
herself
another
way
as
soon
as
she
heard
it
.
"
Is
Parsons
gone
?
"
demanded
Sir
Matthew
of
the
servant
.
"
No
,
Sir
Matthew
,
he
is
in
the
servants
'
hall
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
Desire
him
to
step
here
directly
.
"
Though
the
overlooker
was
enjoying
some
very
comfortable
refreshment
,
he
promptly
obeyed
the
summons
,
and
as
soon
as
he
had
again
entered
the
study
,
and
shut
the
door
behind
him
,
his
master
said
,
"
Do
you
know
,
Parsons
,
whether
the
woman
Armstrong
can
read
?
"
"
Yes
,
sir
,
I
know
she
can
—
and
that
's
one
reason
why
she
is
so
outdacious
about
the
workhouse
and
every
thing
.
There
's
nothing
on
earth
does
so
much
mischief
among
the
mill
people
as
making
scholards
of
'
em
,
"
said
the
man
.
"
I
know
that
well
enough
,
who
does
n't
?
But
you
may
go
now
,
I
only
wanted
to
ask
you
that
one
question
,
"
replied
the
master
.
Once
more
alone
,
the
knight
again
took
to
meditation
.
Profound
as
was
the
state
of
ignorance
respecting
all
things
beyond
their
own
wretched
dwellings
in
which
the
operatives
at
that
time
were
kept
,
Sir
Matthew
had
some
misgivings
as
to
the
possibility
that
the
name
and
fame
of
Deep
Valley
mill
,
might
have
reached
even
Hoxley-lane
.
If
it
had
,
the
sending
to
a
woman
who
could
read
,
indentures
by
which
her
child
should
become
bound
to
that
establishment
till
the
age
of
twenty-one
,
was
running
a
risk
of
more
opposition
than
he
wished
to
encounter
.
But
he
had
a
ready
wit
,
and
seldom
remained
long
at
a
loss
how
to
manage
any
business
on
which
his
mind
had
fixed
itself
.
When
Martha
returned
,
therefore
,
he
was
quite
ready
with
his
last
instructions
.
"
Have
you
found
the
little
boy
,
my
dear
?
"
said
he
mildly
.
"
Yes
,
papa
,
he
is
waiting
for
me
in
the
hall
.
Foolish
little
fellow
!
I
believe
he
fears
that
you
are
very
angry
with
him
,
and
he
looked
so
much
alarmed
that
I
would
not
bring
him
in
.
"
"
Poor
child
!
But
you
were
quite
right
,
my
dear
Martha
.
It
is
better
not
to
harass
him
in
any
way
.
Now
then
,
Martha
,
what
you
have
got
to
do
is
this
:
Explain
to
the
poor
woman
that
it
is
my
wish
to
keep
my
promise
of
providing
for
her
boy
;
but
that
I
am
come
to
the
persuasion
that
the
apprenticing
him
to
some
respectable
business
will
be
better
than
letting
him
run
about
the
place
here
learning
nothing
.
You
may
talk
to
the
little
boy
,
you
know
;
he
is
a
sharp
child
,
and
I
have
no
doubt
will
come
to
the
same
conclusion
himself
,
if
you
state
the
thing
to
him
properly
.
"
"
I
have
no
doubt
of
it
,
papa
,
"
answered
the
innocent
Martha
;
"
I
will
do
my
very
best
to
make
him
understand
it
.
And
what
trade
shall
I
tell
Mrs.
Armstrong
you
have
chosen
for
him
?
"
"
Stocking
weaving
,
my
dear
,
I
really
do
n't
know
a
better
;
and
we
may
be
able
to
help
him
in
that
if
he
behaves
well
as
he
goes
on
.
"
"
Well
then
,
papa
,
now
I
may
go
?
"
"
Yes
,
my
dear
,
now
you
may
go
—
and
you
may
just
tell
the
woman
,
Martha
,
that
if
she
approves
the
plan
,
I
will
call
upon
her
myself
some
day
with
the
papers
.
A
pleasant
walk
to
you
!
Good
bye
.
"
It
was
a
very
pleasant
walk
,
for
Martha
was
delighted
with
her
companion
.
She
opened
to
him
kindly
and
clearly
the
plan
for
his
being
put
apprentice
to
a
respectable
trade
,
and
pointed
out
to
his
young
but
quick
capacity
the
advantage
this
would
give
him
in
after
life
,
and
the
power
he
might
hope
to
possess
,
if
he
behaved
well
,
of
providing
for
his
mother
and
brother
.
"
'
Tis
that
what
I
should
like
best
of
all
things
,
"
said
Michael
.
"
Because
,
please
ma'am
,
I
know
I
must
help
'
em
,
as
they
beant
neither
of
'
em
so
strong
as
I
be
.
"
"
You
are
a
good
boy
,
Michael
,
for
thinking
of
them
so
much
as
you
do
.
That
is
the
reason
I
take
notice
of
you
,
and
love
