hesaid
he
had
had
some
talk
with
old
Mr.
Duncombe
,
and
they
thought
it
might
be
better
if
I
left
Manchester
for
a
bit
;
they
'd
recommend
me
to
some
other
place
.
"
But
Mary
could
only
shake
her
head
in
a
mournful
way
,
and
repeat
her
words
,
"
They
might
have
known
thee
better
,
Jem
.
"
Jem
pressed
the
little
hand
he
held
between
his
own
work-hardened
ones
.
After
a
minute
or
two
,
he
asked
,
"
Mary
,
art
thou
much
bound
to
Manchester
?
Would
it
grieve
thee
sore
to
quit
the
old
smoke-jack
?
"
"
With
thee
?
"
she
asked
,
in
a
quiet
,
glancing
way
.
"
Ay
,
lass
!
Trust
me
,
I
'll
ne'er
ask
thee
to
leave
Manchester
while
I
'm
in
it
.
Because
I
've
heard
fine
things
of
Canada
;
and
our
overlooker
has
a
cousin
in
the
foundry
line
there
.
—
Thou
knowest
where
Canada
is
,
Mary
?
"
"
Not
rightly
—
not
now
,
at
any
rate
;
—
but
with
thee
,
Jem
,
"
her
voice
sunk
to
a
soft
,
low
whisper
,
"
anywhere
—
"
What
was
the
use
of
a
geographical
description
?
"
But
father
!
"
said
Mary
,
suddenly
breaking
that
delicious
silence
with
the
one
sharp
discord
in
her
present
life
.
She
looked
up
at
her
lover
's
grave
face
;
and
then
the
message
her
father
had
sent
flashed
across
her
memory
.
"
Oh
,
Jem
,
did
I
tell
you
?
—
Father
sent
word
he
wished
to
speak
with
you
.
I
was
to
bid
you
come
to
him
at
eight
to-night
.
What
can
he
want
,
Jem
?
"
"
I
cannot
tell
,
"
replied
he
.
"
At
any
rate
I
'll
go
.
It
's
no
use
troubling
ourselves
to
guess
,
"
he
continued
,
after
a
pause
of
a
few
minutes
,
during
which
they
slowly
and
silently
paced
up
and
down
the
by-street
,
into
which
he
had
led
her
when
their
conversation
began
.
"
Come
and
see
mother
,
and
then
I
'll
take
thee
home
,
Mary
.
Thou
wert
all
in
a
tremble
when
first
I
came
up
with
thee
;
thou'rt
not
fit
to
be
trusted
home
by
thyself
,
"
said
he
,
with
fond
exaggeration
of
her
helplessness
.
Yet
a
little
more
lovers
'
loitering
;
a
few
more
words
,
in
themselves
nothing
—
to
you
nothing
,
but
to
those
two
what
tender
passionate
language
can
I
use
to
express
the
feelings
which
thrilled
through
that
young
man
and
maiden
,
as
they
listened
to
the
syllables
made
dear
and
lovely
through
life
by
that
hour
's
low-whispered
talk
.
It
struck
the
half
hour
past
seven
.
"
Come
and
speak
to
mother
;
she
knows
you
're
to
be
her
daughter
,
Mary
,
darling
.
"
So
they
went
in
.
Jane
Wilson
was
rather
chafed
at
her
son
's
delay
in
returning
home
,
for
as
yet
he
had
managed
to
keep
her
in
ignorance
of
his
dismissal
from
the
foundry
;
and
it
was
her
way
to
prepare
some
little
pleasure
,
some
little
comfort
for
those
she
loved
;
and
if
they
,
unwittingly
,
did
not
appear
at
the
proper
time
to
enjoy
her
preparation
,
she
worked
herself
up
into
a
state
of
fretfulness
which
found
vent
in
upbraidings
as
soon
as
ever
the
objects
of
her
care
appeared
,
thereby
marring
the
peace
which
should
ever
be
the
atmosphere
of
a
home
,
however
humble
;
and
causing
a
feeling
almost
amounting
to
loathing
to
arise
at
the
sight
of
the
"
stalled
ox
,
"
which
,
though
an
effect
and
proof
of
careful
love
,
has
been
the
cause
of
so
much
disturbance
.
Mrs.
Wilson
had
first
sighed
,
and
then
grumbled
to
herself
,
over
the
increasing
toughness
of
the
potato-cakes
she
had
made
for
her
son
's
tea
.
The
door
opened
,
and
he
came
in
;
his
face
brightening
into
proud
smiles
,
Mary
Barton
hanging
on
his
arm
,
blushing
and
dimpling
,
with
eye-lids
veiling
the
happy
light
of
her
eyes
,
—
there
was
around
the
young
couple
a
radiant
atmosphere
—
a
glory
of
happiness
.
Could
his
mother
mar
it
?
Could
she
break
into
it
with
her
Martha-like
cares
?
Only
for
one
moment
did
she
remember
her
sense
of
injury
,
—
her
wasted
trouble
,
—
and
then
,
her
whole
woman
's
heart
heaving
with
motherly
love
and
sympathy
,
she
opened
her
arms
,
and
received
Mary
into
them
,
as
,
shedding
tears
of
agitated
joy
,
she
murmured
in
her
ear
,
"
Bless
thee
,
Mary
,
bless
thee
!
Only
make
him
happy
,
and
God
bless
thee
for
ever
!
"
It
took
some
of
Jem
's
self-command
to
separate
those
whom
he
so
much
loved
,
and
who
were
beginning
,
for
his
sake
,
to
love
one
another
so
dearly
.
But
the
time
for
his
meeting
John
Barton
drew
on
:
and
it
was
a
long
way
to
his
house
.
As
they
walked
briskly
thither
they
hardly
spoke
;
though
many
thoughts
were
in
their
minds
.
The
sun
had
not
long
set
,
but
the
first
faint
shade
of
twilight
was
over
all
;
and
when
they
opened
the
door
,
Jem
could
hardly
perceive
the
objects
within
by
the
waning
light
of
day
,
and
the
flickering
fire-blaze
.
But
Mary
saw
all
at
a
glance
!
Her
eye
,
accustomed
to
what
was
usual
in
the
aspect
of
the
room
,
saw
instantly
what
was
unusual
,
—
saw
,
and
understood
it
all
.
Her
father
was
standing
behind
his
habitual
chair
,
holding
by
the
back
of
it
as
if
for
support
.
And
opposite
to
him
there
stood
Mr.
Carson
;
the
dark
out-line
of
his
stern
figure
looming
large
against
the
light
of
the
fire
in
that
little
room
.
Behind
her
father
sat
Job
Legh
,
his
head
in
his
hands
,
and
resting
his
elbows
on
the
little
family
table
,
—
listening
evidently
;
but
as
evidently
deeply
affected
by
what
he
heard
.
There
seemed
to
be
some
pause
in
the
conversation
.
Mary
and
Jem
stood
at
the
half-open
door
,
not
daring
to
stir
;
hardly
to
breathe
.
"
And
have
I
heard
you
aright
?
"
began
Mr.
Carson
,
with
his
deep
quivering
voice
.
"
Man
!
have
I
heard
you
aright
?
Was
it
you
,
then
,
that
killed
my
boy
?
my
only
son
?
"
—
(
he
said
these
last
few
words
almost
as
if
appealing
for
pity
,
and
then
he
changed
his
tone
to
one
more
vehement
and
fierce
)
.
"
Do
n't
dare
to
think
that
I
shall
be
merciful
,
and
spare
you
,
because
you
have
come
forward
to
accuse
yourself
.
I
tell
you
I
will
not
spare
you
the
least
pang
the
law
can
inflict
,
—
you
,
who
did
not
show
pity
on
my
boy
,
shall
have
none
from
me
.
"
"
I
did
not
ask
for
any
,
"
said
John
Barton
,
in
a
low
voice
.
"
Ask
,
or
not
ask
,
what
care
I
?
You
shall
be
hanged
—
hanged
—
man
!
"
said
he
,
advancing
his
face
,
and
repeating
the
word
with
slow
,
grinding
emphasis
,
as
if
to
infuse
some
of
the
bitterness
of
his
soul
into
it
.
John
Barton
gasped
,
but
not
with
fear
.
It
was
only
that
he
felt
it
terrible
to
have
inspired
such
hatred
,
as
was
concentrated
into
every
word
,
every
gesture
of
Mr.
Carson
's
.
"
As
for
being
hanged
,
sir
,
I
know
it
's
all
right
and
proper
.
I
dare
say
it
's
bad
enough
;
but
I
tell
you
what
,
sir
,
"
speaking
with
an
out-burst
,
"
if
you
'd
hanged
me
the
day
after
I
'd
done
the
deed
,
I
would
have
gone
down
on
my
knees
and
blessed
you
.
Death
!
Lord
,
what
is
it
to
Life
?
To
such
a
life
as
I
've
been
leading
this
fortnight
past
.
Life
at
best
is
no
great
thing
;
but
such
a
life
as
I
have
dragged
through
since
that
night
,
"
he
shuddered
at
the
thought
.
"
Why
,
sir
,
I
've
been
on
the
point
of
killing
myself
this
many
a
time
to
get
away
from
my
own
thoughts
.
I
did
n't
!
and
I
'll
tell
you
why
.
I
did
n't
know
but
that
I
should
be
more
haunted
than
ever
with
the
recollection
of
my
sin
.
Oh
!
God
above
only
can
tell
the
agony
with
which
I
've
repented
me
of
it
,
and
part
perhaps
because
I
feared
He
would
think
I
were
impatient
of
the
misery
He
sent
as
punishment
—
far
,
far
worse
misery
than
any
hanging
,
sir
.
"
He
ceased
from
excess
of
emotion
.
Then
he
began
again
.
"
Sin
'
that
day
(
it
may
be
very
wicked
,
sir
,
but
it
's
the
truth
)
I
've
kept
thinking
and
thinking
if
I
were
but
in
that
world
where
they
say
God
is
,
He
would
,
may
be
,
teach
me
right
from
wrong
,
even
if
it
were
with
many
stripes
.
I
've
been
sore
puzzled
here
.
I
would
go
through
Hell-fire
if
I
could
but
get
free
from
sin
at
last
,
it
's
such
an
awful
thing
.
As
for
hanging
,
that
's
just
nought
at
all
.
"
His
exhaustion
compelled
him
to
sit
down
.
Mary
rushed
to
him
.
It
seemed
as
if
till
then
he
had
been
unaware
of
her
presence
.
"
Ay
,
ay
,
wench
!
"
said
he
feebly
,
"
is
it
thee
?
Where
's
Jem
Wilson
?
"
Jem
came
forward
.
John
Barton
spoke
again
,
with
many
a
break
and
gasping
pause
,
"
Lad
!
thou
hast
borne
a
deal
for
me
.
It
's
the
meanest
thing
I
ever
did
to
leave
thee
to
bear
the
brunt
.
Thou
,
who
wert
as
innocent
of
any
knowledge
of
it
as
the
babe
unborn
.
I
'll
not
bless
thee
for
it
.
Blessing
from
such
as
me
would
not
bring
thee
any
good
.
Thou'lt
love
Mary
,
though
she
is
my
child
.
"
He
ceased
,
and
there
was
a
pause
of
a
few
seconds
.
Then
Mr.
Carson
turned
to
go
.
When
his
hand
was
on
the
latch
of
the
door
,
he
hesitated
for
an
instant
.
"
You
can
have
no
doubt
for
what
purpose
I
go
.
Straight
to
the
police-office
,
to
send
men
to
take
care
of
you
,
wretched
man
,
and
your
accomplice
.
To-morrow
morning
your
tale
shall
be
repeated
to
those
who
can
commit
you
to
gaol
,
and
before
long
you
shall
have
the
opportunity
of
trying
how
desirable
hanging
is
.
"
"
Oh
,
sir
!
"
said
Mary
,
springing
forward
,
and
catching
hold
of
Mr.
Carson
's
arm
,
"
my
father
is
dying
.
Look
at
him
,
sir
.
If
you
want
Death
for
Death
,
you
have
it
.
Do
n't
take
him
away
from
me
these
last
hours
.
He
must
go
alone
through
Death
,
but
let
me
be
with
him
as
long
as
I
can
.
Oh
,
sir
!
if
you
have
any
mercy
in
you
,
leave
him
here
to
die
.
"
John
himself
stood
up
,
stiff
and
rigid
,
and
replied
,
"
Mary
,
wench
!
I
owe
him
summut
.
I
will
go
die
,
where
,
and
as
he
wishes
me
.
Thou
hast
said
true
,
I
am
standing
side
by
side
with
Death
;
and
it
matters
little
where
I
spend
the
bit
of
time
left
of
Life
.
That
time
I
must
pass
in
wrestling
with
my
soul
for
a
character
to
take
into
the
other
world
.
I
'll
go
where
you
see
fit
,
sir
.
He
's
innocent
,
"
faintly
indicating
Jem
,
as
he
fell
back
in
his
chair
.
"
Never
fear
!
They
cannot
touch
him
,
"
said
Job
Legh
,
in
a
low
voice
.
But
as
Mr.
Carson
was
on
the
point
of
leaving
the
house
with
no
sign
of
relenting
about
him
,
he
was
again
stopped
by
John
Barton
,
who
had
risen
once
more
from
his
chair
,
and
stood
supporting
himself
on
Jem
,
while
he
spoke
.
"
Sir
,
one
word
!
My
hairs
are
gray
with
suffering
,
and
yours
with
years
—
"
"
And
have
I
had
no
suffering
?
"
asked
Mr.
Carson
,
as
if
appealing
for
sympathy
,
even
to
the
murderer
of
his
child
.
And
the
murderer
of
his
child
answered
to
the
appeal
,
and
groaned
in
spirit
over
the
anguish
he
had
caused
.
"
Have
I
had
no
inward
suffering
to
blanch
these
hairs
?
Have
not
I
toiled
and
struggled
even
to
these
years
with
hopes
in
my
heart
that
all
centered
in
my
boy
?
I
did
not
speak
of
them
,
but
were
they
not
there
?
I
seemed
hard
and
cold
;
and
so
I
might
be
to
others
,
but
not
to
him
!
—
who
shall
ever
imagine
the
love
I
bore
to
him
?
Even
he
never
dreamed
how
my
heart
leapt
up
at
the
sound
of
his
footstep
,
and
how
precious
he
was
to
his
poor
old
father
.
—
And
he
is
gone
—
killed
—
out
of
the
hearing
of
all
loving
words
—
out
of
my
sight
for
ever
.
He
was
my
sunshine
,
and
now
it
is
night
!
Oh
,
my
God
!
comfort
me
,
comfort
me
!
"
cried
the
old
man
aloud
.
The
eyes
of
John
Barton
grew
dim
with
tears
.
Rich
and
poor
,
masters
and
men
,
were
then
brothers
in
the
deep
suffering
of
the
heart
;
for
was
not
this
the
very
anguish
he
had
felt
for
little
Tom
,
in
years
so
long
gone
by
that
they
seemed
like
another
life
!
The
mourner
before
him
was
no
longer
the
employer
;
a
being
of
another
race
,
eternally
placed
in
antagonistic
attitude
;
going
through
the
world
glittering
like
gold
,
with
a
stony
heart
within
,
which
knew
no
sorrow
but
through
the
accidents
of
Trade
;
no
longer
the
enemy
,
the
oppressor
,
but
a
very
poor
and
desolate
old
man
.
The
sympathy
for
suffering
,
formerly
so
prevalent
a
feeling
with
him
,
again
filled
John
Barton
's
heart
,
and
almost
impelled
him
to
speak
(
as
best
he
could
)
some
earnest
,
tender
words
to
the
stern
man
,
shaking
in
his
agony
.
But
who
was
he
,
that
he
should
utter
sympathy
or
consolation
?
The
cause
of
all
this
woe
.
Oh
blasting
thought
!
Oh
miserable
remembrance
!
He
had
forfeited
all
right
to
bind
up
his
brother
's
wounds
.
Stunned
by
the
thought
,
he
sank
upon
the
seat
,
almost
crushed
with
the
knowledge
of
the
consequences
of
his
own
action
;
for
he
had
no
more
imagined
to
himself
the
blighted
home
,
and
the
miserable
parents
,
than
does
the
soldier
,
who
discharges
his
musket
,
picture
to
himself
the
desolation
of
the
wife
,
and
the
pitiful
cries
of
the
helpless
little
ones
,
who
are
in
an
instant
to
be
made
widowed
and
fatherless
.
To
intimidate
a
class
of
men
,
known
only
to
those
below
them
as
desirous
to
obtain
the
greatest
quantity
of
work
for
the
lowest
wages
,
—
at
most
to
remove
an
overbearing
partner
from
an
obnoxious
firm
,
who
stood
in
the
way
of
those
who
struggled
as
well
as
they
were
able
to
obtain
their
rights
,
—
this
was
the
light
in
which
John
Barton
had
viewed
his
deed
;
and
even
so
viewing
it
,
after
the
excitement
had
passed
away
,
the
Avenger
,
the
sure
Avenger
,
had
found
him
out
.
But
now
he
knew
that
he
had
killed
a
man
,
and
a
brother
,
—
now
he
knew
that
no
good
thing
could
come
out
of
this
evil
,
even
to
the
sufferers
whose
cause
he
had
so
blindly
espoused
.
He
lay
across
the
table
,
broken-hearted
.
Every
fresh
quivering
sob
of
Mr.
Carson
's
stabbed
him
to
his
soul
.
He
felt
execrated
by
all
;
and
as
if
he
could
never
lay
bare
the
perverted
reasonings
which
had
made
the
performance
of
undoubted
sin
appear
a
duty
.
The
longing
to
plead
some
faint
excuse
grew
stronger
and
stronger
.
He
feebly
raised
his
head
,
and
looking
at
Job
Legh
,
he
whispered
out
,
"
I
did
not
know
what
I
was
doing
,
Job
Legh
;
God
knows
I
did
n't
!
Oh
,
sir
!
"
said
he
wildly
,
almost
throwing
himself
at
Mr.
Carson
's
feet
,
"
say
you
forgive
me
the
anguish
I
now
see
I
have
caused
you
.
I
care
not
for
pain
,
or
death
,
you
know
I
do
n't
;
but
oh
,
man
!
forgive
me
the
trespass
I
have
done
!
"
"
Forgive
us
our
trespasses
as
we
forgive
them
that
trespass
against
us
,
"
said
Job
,
solemnly
and
low
,
as
if
in
prayer
;
as
if
the
words
were
suggested
by
those
John
Barton
had
used
.
Mr.
Carson
took
his
hands
away
from
his
face
.
I
would
rather
see
death
than
the
ghastly
gloom
which
darkened
that
countenance
.
"
Let
my
trespasses
be
unforgiven
,
so
that
I
may
have
vengeance
for
my
son
's
murder
.
"
There
are
blasphemous
actions
as
well
as
blasphemous
words
:
all
unloving
,
cruel
deeds
are
acted
blasphemy
.
Mr.
Carson
left
the
house
.
And
John
Barton
lay
on
the
ground
as
one
dead
.
They
lifted
him
up
,
and
almost
hoping
that
that
deep
trance
might
be
to
him
the
end
of
all
earthly
things
,
they
bore
him
to
his
bed
.
For
a
time
they
listened
with
divided
attention
to
his
faint
breathings
;
for
in
each
hasty
hurried
step
that
echoed
in
the
street
outside
,
they
thought
they
heard
the
approach
of
the
officers
of
justice
.
When
Mr.
Carson
left
the
house
he
was
dizzy
with
agitation
;
the
hot
blood
went
careering
through
his
frame
.
He
could
not
see
the
deep
blue
of
the
night-heavens
for
the
fierce
pulses
which
throbbed
in
his
head
.
And
partly
to
steady
and
calm
himself
,
he
leaned
against
a
railing
,
and
looked
up
into
those
calm
majestic
depths
with
all
their
thousand
stars
.
And
by-and-by
his
own
voice
returned
upon
him
,
as
if
the
last
words
he
had
spoken
were
being
uttered
through
all
that
infinite
space
;
but
in
their
echoes
there
was
a
tone
of
unutterable
sorrow
.
"
Let
my
trespasses
be
unforgiven
,
so
that
I
may
have
vengeance
for
my
son
's
murder
.
"
He
tried
to
shake
off
the
spiritual
impression
made
by
this
imagination
.
He
was
feverish
and
ill
,
—
and
no
wonder
.
So
he
turned
to
go
homewards
;
not
,
as
he
had
threatened
,
to
the
police-office
.
After
all
(
he
told
himself
)
,
that
would
do
in
the
morning
.
No
fear
of
the
man
's
escaping
,
unless
he
escaped
to
the
grave
.
So
he
tried
to
banish
the
phantom
voices
and
shapes
which
came
unbidden
to
his
brain
,
and
to
recall
his
balance
of
mind
by
walking
calmly
and
slowly
,
and
noticing
every
thing
which
struck
his
senses
.
It
was
a
warm
soft
evening
in
spring
,
and
there
were
many
persons
in
the
streets
.
Among
others
,
a
nurse
with
a
little
girl
in
her
charge
,
conveying
her
home
from
some
children
's
gaiety
;
a
dance
most
likely
,
for
the
lovely
little
creature
was
daintily
decked
out
in
soft
,
snowy
muslin
;
and
her
fairy
feet
tripped
along
by
her
nurse
's
side
as
if
to
the
measure
of
some
tune
she
had
lately
kept
time
to
.
Suddenly
up
behind
her
there
came
a
rough
,
rude
errand-boy
,
nine
or
ten
years
of
age
;
a
giant
he
looked
by
the
fairy-child
,
as
she
fluttered
along
.
I
do
n't
know
how
it
was
,
but
in
some
awkward
way
he
knocked
the
poor
little
girl
down
upon
the
hard
pavement
as
he
brushed
rudely
past
,
not
much
caring
whom
he
hurt
,
so
that
he
got
along
.
The
child
arose
sobbing
with
pain
;
and
not
without
cause
,
for
blood
was
dropping
down
from
the
face
,
but
a
minute
before
so
fair
and
bright
—
dropping
down
on
the
pretty
frock
,
making
those
scarlet
marks
so
terrible
to
little
children
.
The
nurse
,
a
powerful
woman
,
had
seized
the
boy
,
just
as
Mr.
Carson
(
who
had
seen
the
whole
transaction
)
came
up
.
"
You
naughty
little
rascal
!
I
'll
give
you
to
a
policeman
,
that
I
will
!
Do
you
see
how
you
've
hurt
the
little
girl
?
Do
you
?
"
accompanying
every
sentence
with
a
violent
jerk
of
passionate
anger
.
The
lad
looked
hard
and
defying
;
but
withal
terrified
at
the
threat
of
the
policeman
,
those
ogres
of
our
streets
to
all
unlucky
urchins
.
The
nurse
saw
it
,
and
began
to
drag
him
along
,
with
a
view
of
making
what
she
called
"
a
wholesome
impression
.
"
His
terror
increased
,
and
with
it
his
irritation
;
when
the
little
sweet
face
,
choking
away
its
sobs
,
pulled
down
nurse
's
head
and
said
,
"
Please
,
dear
nurse
,
I
'm
not
much
hurt
;
it
was
very
silly
to
cry
,
you
know
.
He
did
not
mean
to
do
it
.
He
did
not
know
what
he
was
doing
,
did
you
,
little
boy
?
Nurse
wo
n't
call
a
policeman
,
so
do
n't
be
frightened
.
"
And
she
put
up
her
little
mouth
to
be
kissed
by
her
injurer
,
just
as
she
had
been
taught
to
do
at
home
to
"
make
peace
.
"
"
That
lad
will
mind
,
and
be
more
gentle
for
the
time
to
come
,
I
'll
be
bound
,
thanks
to
that
little
lady
,
"
said
a
passer-by
,
half
to
himself
,
and
half
to
Mr.
Carson
,
whom
he
had
observed
to
notice
the
scene
.
The
latter
took
no
apparent
heed
of
the
remark
,
but
passed
on
.
But
the
child
's
pleading
reminded
him
of
the
low
,
broken
voice
he
had
so
lately
heard
,
penitently
and
humbly
urging
the
same
extenuation
of
his
great
guilt
.
"
I
did
not
know
what
I
was
doing
.
"
He
had
some
association
with
those
words
;
he
had
heard
,
or
read
of
that
plea
somewhere
before
.
Where
was
it
?
Could
it
be
—
?
He
would
look
when
he
got
home
.
So
when
he
entered
his
house
he
went
straight
and
silently
up-stairs
to
his
library
,
and
took
down
the
great
large
handsome
Bible
,
all
grand
and
golden
,
with
its
leaves
adhering
together
from
the
bookbinder
's
press
,
so
little
had
it
been
used
.
On
the
first
page
(
which
fell
open
to
Mr.
Carson
's
view
)
were
written
the
names
of
his
children
,
and
his
own
.
"
Henry
John
,
son
of
the
above
John
and
Elizabeth
Carson
.
Born
,
Sept.
29th
,
1815.
"
To
make
the
entry
complete
,
his
death
should
now
be
added
.
But
the
page
became
hidden
by
the
gathering
mist
of
tears
.
Thought
upon
thought
,
and
recollection
upon
recollection
came
crowding
in
,
from
the
remembrance
of
the
proud
day
when
he
had
purchased
the
costly
book
,
in
order
to
write
down
the
birth
of
the
little
babe
of
a
day
old
.
He
laid
his
head
down
on
the
open
page
,
and
let
the
tears
fall
slowly
on
the
spotless
leaves
.
His
son
's
murderer
was
discovered
;
had
confessed
his
guilt
;
and
yet
(
strange
to
say
)
he
could
not
hate
him
with
the
vehemence
of
hatred
he
had
felt
,
when
he
had
imagined
him
a
young
man
,
full
of
lusty
life
,
defying
all
laws
,
human
and
divine
.
In
spite
of
his
desire
to
retain
the
revengeful
feeling
he
considered
as
a
duty
to
his
dead
son
,
something
of
pity
would
steal
in
for
the
poor
,
wasted
skeleton
of
a
man
,
the
smitten
creature
,
who
had
told
him
of
his
sin
,
and
implored
his
pardon
that
night
.
In
the
days
of
his
childhood
and
youth
,
Mr.
Carson
had
been
accustomed
to
poverty
;
but
it
was
honest
,
decent
poverty
;
not
the
grinding
squalid
misery
he
had
remarked
in
every
part
of
John
Barton
's
house
,
and
which
contrasted
strangely
with
the
pompous
sumptuousness
of
the
room
in
which
he
now
sat
.
Unaccustomed
wonder
filled
his
mind
at
the
reflection
of
the
different
lots
of
the
brethren
of
mankind
.
Then
he
roused
himself
from
his
reverie
,
and
turned
to
the
object
of
his
search
—
the
Gospel
,
where
he
half
expected
to
find
the
tender
pleading
:
"
They
know
not
what
they
do
.
"
It
was
murk
midnight
by
this
time
,
and
the
house
was
still
and
quiet
.
There
was
nothing
to
interrupt
the
old
man
in
his
unwonted
study
.
Years
ago
,
the
Gospel
had
been
his
task-book
in
learning
to
read
.
So
many
years
ago
,
that
he
had
become
familiar
with
the
events
before
he
could
comprehend
the
Spirit
that
made
the
Life
.
He
fell
to
the
narrative
now
afresh
,
with
all
the
interest
of
a
little
child
.
He
began
at
the
beginning
,
and
read
on
almost
greedily
,
understanding
for
the
first
time
the
full
meaning
of
the
story
.
He
came
to
the
end
;
the
awful
End
.
And
there
were
the
haunting
words
of
pleading
.
He
shut
the
book
,
and
thought
deeply
.
All
night
long
,
the
Archangel
combated
with
the
Demon
.
All
night
long
,
others
watched
by
the
bed
of
Death
.
John
Barton
had
revived
to
fitful
intelligence
.
He
spoke
at
times
with
even
something
of
his
former
energy
;
and
in
the
racy
Lancashire
dialect
he
had
always
used
when
speaking
freely
.
"
You
see
I
've
so
often
been
hankering
after
the
right
way
;
and
it
's
a
hard
one
for
a
poor
man
to
find
.
At
least
it
's
been
so
to
me
.
No
one
learned
me
,
and
no
one
telled
me
.
When
I
was
a
little
chap
they
taught
me
to
read
,
and
then
they
ne'er
gave
me
no
books
;
only
I
heard
say
the
Bible
was
a
good
book
.
So
when
I
grew
thoughtful
,
and
puzzled
,
I
took
to
it
.
But
you
'd
never
believe
black
was
black
,
or
night
was
night
,
when
you
saw
all
about
you
acting
as
if
black
was
white
,
and
night
was
day
.
It
's
not
much
I
can
say
for
myself
in
t'other
world
,
God
forgive
me
;
but
I
can
say
this
,
I
would
fain
have
gone
after
the
Bible
rules
if
I
'd
seen
folk
credit
it
;
they
all
spoke
up
for
it
,
and
went
and
did
clean
contrary
.
In
those
days
I
would
ha
'
gone
about
wi
'
my
Bible
,
like
a
little
child
,
my
finger
in
th
'
place
,
and
asking
the
meaning
of
this
or
that
text
,
and
no
one
told
me
.
Then
I
took
out
two
or
three
texts
as
clear
as
glass
,
and
I
tried
to
do
what
they
bid
me
do
.
But
I
do
n't
know
how
it
was
;
masters
and
men
,
all
alike
cared
no
more
for
minding
those
texts
,
than
I
did
for
th
'
Lord
Mayor
of
London
;
so
I
grew
to
think
it
must
be
a
sham
put
upon
poor
ignorant
folk
,
women
,
and
such-like
.
"
It
was
not
long
I
tried
to
live
Gospel-wise
,
but
it
was
liker
heaven
than
any
other
bit
of
earth
has
been
.
I
'd
old
Alice
to
strengthen
me
;
but
every
one
else
said
,
'
Stand
up
for
thy
rights
,
or
thou'lt
never
get
'
em
;
'
and
wife
and
children
never
spoke
,
but
their
helplessness
cried
aloud
,
and
I
was
driven
to
do
as
others
did
,
—
and
then
Tom
died
.
You
know
all
about
that
—
I
'm
getting
scant
o
'
breath
,
and
blind-like
.
"
Then
again
he
spoke
,
after
some
minutes
of
hushed
silence
.
"
All
along
it
came
natural
to
love
folk
,
though
now
I
am
what
I
am
.
I
think
one
time
I
could
e'en
have
loved
the
masters
if
they
'd
ha
'
letten
me
;
that
was
in
my
Gospel-days
,
afore
my
child
died
o
'
hunger
.
I
was
tore
in
two
often-times
,
between
my
sorrow
for
poor
suffering
folk
,
and
my
trying
to
love
them
as
caused
their
sufferings
(
to
my
mind
)
.
"
At
last
I
gave
it
up
in
despair
,
trying
to
make
folks
'
actions
square
wi
'
th
'
Bible
;
and
I
thought
I
'd
no
longer
labour
at
following
th
'
Bible
mysel
.
I
've
said
all
this
afore
,
may
be
.
But
from
that
time
I
've
dropped
down
,
down
,
—
down
.
"
After
that
he
only
spoke
in
broken
sentences
.
"
I
did
not
think
he
'd
been
such
an
old
man
,
—
Oh
!
that
he
had
but
forgiven
me
,
"
—
and
then
came
earnest
,
passionate
,
broken
words
of
prayer
.
Job
Legh
had
gone
home
like
one
struck
down
with
the
unexpected
shock
.
Mary
and
Jem
together
waited
the
approach
of
death
;
but
as
the
final
struggle
drew
on
,
and
morning
dawned
,
Jem
suggested
some
alleviation
to
the
gasping
breath
,
to
purchase
which
he
left
the
house
in
search
of
a
druggist
's
shop
,
which
should
be
open
at
that
early
hour
.
During
his
absence
,
Barton
grew
worse
;
he
had
fallen
across
the
bed
,
and
his
breathing
seemed
almost
stopped
;
in
vain
did
Mary
strive
to
raise
him
,
her
sorrow
and
exhaustion
had
rendered
her
too
weak
.
So
,
on
hearing
some
one
enter
the
house-place
below
,
she
cried
out
for
Jem
to
come
to
her
assistance
.
A
step
,
which
was
not
Jem
's
,
came
up
the
stairs
.
Mr.
Carson
stood
in
the
door-way
.
In
one
instant
he
comprehended
the
case
.
He
raised
up
the
powerless
frame
;
and
the
departing
soul
looked
out
of
the
eyes
with
gratitude
.
He
held
the
dying
man
propped
in
his
arms
.
John
Barton
folded
his
hands
as
if
in
prayer
.
"
Pray
for
us
,
"
said
Mary
,
sinking
on
her
knees
,
and
forgetting
in
that
solemn
hour
all
that
had
divided
her
father
and
Mr.
Carson
.
No
other
words
could
suggest
themselves
than
some
of
those
he
had
read
only
a
few
hours
before
.
"
God
be
merciful
to
us
sinners
.
—
Forgive
us
our
trespasses
as
we
forgive
them
that
trespass
against
us
.
"
And
when
the
words
were
said
,
John
Barton
lay
a
corpse
in
Mr.
Carson
's
arms
.
So
ended
the
tragedy
of
a
poor
man
's
life
.
Mary
knew
nothing
more
for
many
minutes
.
When
she
recovered
consciousness
,
she
found
herself
supported
by
Jem
on
the
"
settle
"
in
the
house-place
.
Job
and
Mr.
Carson
were
there
,
talking
together
lowly
and
solemnly
.
Then
Mr.
Carson
bade
farewell
and
left
the
house
;
and
Job
said
aloud
,
but
as
if
speaking
to
himself
,
"
God
has
heard
that
man
's
prayer
.
He
has
comforted
him
.
"
CHAPTER
XXXVI
.
JEM
'S
INTERVIEW
WITH
MR.
DUNCOMBE
.
"
The
first
dark
day
of
nothingness
,
The
last
of
danger
and
distress
.
"
Byron
.
Although
Mary
had
hardly
been
conscious
of
her
thoughts
,
and
it
had
been
more
like
a
secret
instinct
informing
her
soul
,
than
the
result
of
any
process
of
reasoning
,
she
had
felt
for
some
time
(
ever
since
her
return
from
Liverpool
,
in
fact
)
,
that
for
her
father
there
was
but
one
thing
to
be
desired
and
anticipated
,
and
that
was
death
!
She
had
seen
that
Conscience
had
given
the
mortal
wound
to
his
earthly
frame
;
she
did
not
dare
to
question
of
the
infinite
mercy
of
God
,
what
the
Future
Life
would
be
to
him
.
Though
at
first
desolate
and
stunned
by
the
blow
which
had
fallen
on
herself
,
she
was
resigned
and
submissive
as
soon
as
she
recovered
strength
enough
to
ponder
and
consider
a
little
;
and
you
may
be
sure
that
no
tenderness
or
love
was
wanting
on
Jem
's
part
,
and
no
consideration
and
sympathy
on
that
of
Job
and
Margaret
,
to
soothe
and
comfort
the
girl
who
now
stood
alone
in
the
world
as
far
as
blood-relations
were
concerned
.
She
did
not
ask
or
care
to
know
what
arrangements
they
were
making
in
whispered
tones
with
regard
to
the
funeral
.
She
put
herself
into
their
hands
with
the
trust
of
a
little
child
;
glad
to
be
undisturbed
in
the
reveries
and
remembrances
which
filled
her
eyes
with
tears
,
and
caused
them
to
fall
quietly
down
her
pale
cheeks
.
It
was
the
longest
day
she
had
ever
known
in
her
life
;
every
charge
and
every
occupation
was
taken
away
from
her
:
but
perhaps
the
length
of
quiet
time
thus
afforded
was
really
good
,
although
its
duration
weighed
upon
her
;
for
by
this
means
she
contemplated
her
situation
in
every
light
,
and
fully
understood
that
the
morning
's
event
had
left
her
an
orphan
;
and
thus
she
was
spared
the
pangs
caused
to
us
by
the
occurrence
of
death
in
the
evening
,
just
before
we
should
naturally
,
in
the
usual
course
of
events
,
lie
down
to
slumber
.
For
in
such
case
,
worn
out
by
anxiety
,
and
it
may
be
by
much
watching
,
our
very
excess
of
grief
rocks
itself
to
sleep
,
before
we
have
had
time
to
realise
its
cause
;
and
we
waken
,
with
a
start
of
agony
like
a
fresh
stab
,
to
the
consciousness
of
the
one
awful
vacancy
,
which
shall
never
,
while
the
world
endures
,
be
filled
again
.
The
day
brought
its
burden
of
duty
to
Mrs.
Wilson
.
She
felt
bound
by
regard
,
as
well
as
by
etiquette
,
to
go
and
see
her
future
daughter-in-law
.
And
by
an
old
association
of
ideas
(
perhaps
of
death
with
church-yards
,
and
churches
with
Sunday
)
she
thought
it
necessary
to
put
on
her
best
,
and
latterly
unused
clothes
,
the
airing
of
which
on
a
little
clothes-horse
before
the
fire
seemed
to
give
her
a
not
unpleasing
occupation
.
When
Jem
returned
home
late
in
the
evening
succeeding
John
Barton
's
death
,
weary
and
oppressed
with
the
occurrences
and
excitements
of
the
day
,
he
found
his
mother
busy
about
her
mourning
,
and
much
inclined
to
talk
.
Although
he
longed
for
quiet
,
he
could
not
avoid
sitting
down
and
answering
her
questions
.
"
Well
,
Jem
,
he
's
gone
at
last
,
is
he
?
"
"
Yes
.
How
did
you
hear
,
mother
?
"
"
Oh
,
Job
came
over
here
and
telled
me
,
on
his
way
to
the
undertaker
's
.
Did
he
make
a
fine
end
?
"
It
struck
Jem
that
she
had
not
heard
of
the
confession
which
had
been
made
by
John
Barton
on
his
death-bed
;
he
remembered
Job
Legh
's
discretion
,
and
he
determined
that
if
it
could
be
avoided
his
mother
should
never
hear
of
it
.
Many
of
the
difficulties
to
be
anticipated
in
preserving
the
secret
would
be
obviated
,
if
he
could
induce
his
mother
to
fall
into
the
plan
he
had
named
to
Mary
of
emigrating
to
Canada
.
The
reasons
which
rendered
this
secrecy
desirable
related
to
the
domestic
happiness
he
hoped
for
.
With
his
mother
's
irritable
temper
he
could
hardly
expect
that
all
allusion
to
the
crime
of
John
Barton
would
be
for
ever
restrained
from
passing
her
lips
,
and
he
knew
the
deep
trial
such
references
would
be
to
Mary
.
Accordingly
he
resolved
as
soon
as
possible
in
the
morning
to
go
to
Job
and
beseech
his
silence
;
he
trusted
that
secrecy
in
that
quarter
,
even
if
the
knowledge
had
been
extended
to
Margaret
,
might
be
easily
secured
.
But
what
would
be
Mr.
Carson
's
course
?
Were
there
any
means
by
which
he
might
be
persuaded
to
spare
John
Barton
's
memory
?
He
was
roused
up
from
this
train
of
thought
by
his
mother
's
more
irritated
tone
of
voice
.
"
Jem
!
"
she
was
saying
,
"
thou
might'st
just
as
well
never
be
at
a
death-bed
again
,
if
thou
cannot
bring
off
more
news
about
it
;
here
have
I
been
by
mysel
all
day
(
except
when
oud
Job
came
in
)
,
but
thinks
I
,
when
Jem
comes
he
'll
be
sure
to
be
good
company
,
seeing
he
was
in
the
house
at
the
very
time
of
the
death
;
and
here
thou
art
,
without
a
word
to
throw
at
a
dog
,
much
less
thy
mother
:
it
's
no
use
thy
going
to
a
death-bed
if
thou
cannot
carry
away
any
of
the
sayings
!
"
"
He
did
not
make
any
,
mother
,
"
replied
Jem
.
"
Well
,
to
be
sure
!
So
fond
as
he
used
to
be
of
holding
forth
,
to
miss
such
a
fine
opportunity
that
will
never
come
again
!
Did
he
die
easy
?
"
"
He
was
very
restless
all
night
long
,
"
said
Jem
,
reluctantly
returning
to
the
thoughts
of
that
time
.
"
And
in
course
thou
plucked
the
pillow
away
?
Thou
didst
not
!
Well
!
with
thy
bringing
up
,
and
thy
learning
,
thou
might'st
have
known
that
were
the
only
help
in
such
a
case
.
There
were
pigeons
'
feathers
in
the
pillow
,
depend
o
n't
.
To
think
of
two
grown-up
folk
like
you
and
Mary
,
not
knowing
death
could
never
come
easy
to
a
person
lying
on
a
pillow
with
pigeons
'
feathers
in
!
"
Jem
was
glad
to
escape
from
all
this
talking
to
the
solitude
and
quiet
of
his
own
room
,
where
he
could
lie
and
think
uninterruptedly
of
what
had
happened
and
remained
to
be
done
.
The
first
thing
was
to
seek
an
interview
with
Mr.
Duncombe
,
his
former
master
.
Accordingly
,
early
the
next
morning
Jem
set
off
on
his
walk
to
the
works
,
where
for
so
many
years
his
days
had
been
spent
;
where
for
so
long
a
time
his
thoughts
had
been
thought
,
his
hopes
and
fears
experienced
.
It
was
not
a
cheering
feeling
to
remember
that
henceforward
he
was
to
be
severed
from
all
these
familiar
places
;
nor
were
his
spirits
enlivened
by
the
evident
feelings
of
the
majority
of
those
who
had
been
his
fellow-workmen
.
As
he
stood
in
the
entrance
to
the
foundry
,
awaiting
Mr.
Duncombe
's
leisure
,
many
of
those
employed
in
the
works
passed
him
on
their
return
from
breakfast
;
and
with
one
or
two
exceptions
,
without
any
acknowledgment
of
former
acquaintance
beyond
a
distant
nod
at
the
utmost
.
"
It
is
hard
,
"
said
Jem
to
himself
,
with
a
bitter
and
indignant
feeling
rising
in
his
throat
,
"
that
let
a
man
's
life
be
what
it
may
,
folk
are
so
ready
to
credit
the
first
word
against
him
.
I
could
live
it
down
if
I
stayed
in
England
;
but
then
what
would
not
Mary
have
to
bear
?
Sooner
or
later
the
truth
would
out
;
and
then
she
would
be
a
show
to
folk
for
many
a
day
as
John
Barton
's
daughter
.
Well
!
God
does
not
judge
as
hardly
as
man
,
that
's
one
comfort
for
all
of
us
!
"
Mr.
Duncombe
did
not
believe
in
Jem
's
guilt
,
in
spite
of
the
silence
in
which
he
again
this
day
heard
the
imputation
of
it
;
but
he
agreed
that
under
the
circumstances
it
was
better
he
should
leave
the
country
.
"
We
have
been
written
to
by
government
,
as
I
think
I
told
you
before
,
to
recommend
an
intelligent
man
,
well
acquainted
with
mechanics
,
as
instrument-maker
to
the
Agricultural
College
they
are
establishing
at
Toronto
,
in
Canada
.
It
is
a
comfortable
appointment
,
—
house
,
—
land
,
—
and
a
good
per-centage
on
the
instruments
made
.
I
will
show
you
the
particulars
if
I
can
lay
my
hand
on
the
letter
,
which
I
believe
I
must
have
left
at
home
.
"
"
Thank
you
,
sir
.
No
need
for
seeing
the
letter
to
say
I
'll
accept
it
.
I
must
leave
Manchester
;
and
I
'd
as
lief
quit
England
at
once
when
I
'm
about
it
.
"
"
Of
course
government
will
give
you
your
passage
;
indeed
,
I
believe
an
allowance
would
be
made
for
a
family
if
you
had
one
;
but
you
are
not
a
married
man
,
I
believe
?
"
"
No
,
sir
,
but
—
"
Jem
hung
back
from
a
confession
with
the
awkwardness
of
a
girl
.
"
But
—
"
said
Mr.
Duncombe
,
smiling
,
"
you
would
like
to
be
a
married
man
before
you
go
,
I
suppose
;
eh
,
Wilson
?
"
"
If
you
please
,
sir
.
And
there
's
my
mother
,
too
.
I
hope
she
'll
go
with
us
.
But
I
can
pay
her
passage
;
no
need
to
trouble
government
.
"
"
Nay
,
nay
!
I
'll
write
to-day
and
recommend
you
;
and
say
that
you
have
a
family
of
two
.
They
'll
never
ask
if
the
family
goes
upwards
or
downwards
.
I
shall
see
you
again
before
you
sail
,
I
hope
,
Wilson
;
though
I
believe
they
'll
not
allow
you
long
to
wait
.
Come
to
my
house
next
time
;
you
'll
find
it
pleasanter
,
I
daresay
.
These
men
are
so
wrong-headed
.
Keep
up
your
heart
!
"
Jem
felt
that
it
was
a
relief
to
have
this
point
settled
;
and
that
he
need
no
longer
weigh
reasons
for
and
against
his
emigration
.
And
with
his
path
growing
clearer
and
clearer
before
him
the
longer
he
contemplated
it
,
he
went
to
see
Mary
,
and
if
he
judged
it
fit
,
to
tell
her
what
he
had
decided
upon
.
Margaret
was
sitting
with
her
.
"
Grandfather
wants
to
see
you
!
"
said
she
to
Jem
on
his
entrance
.
"
And
I
want
to
see
him
,
"
replied
Jem
,
suddenly
remembering
his
last
night
's
determination
to
enjoin
secrecy
on
Job
Legh
.
So
he
hardly
stayed
to
kiss
poor
Mary
's
sweet
woe-begone
face
,
but
tore
himself
away
from
his
darling
to
go
to
the
old
man
,
who
awaited
him
impatiently
.
"
I
've
getten
a
note
from
Mr.
Carson
,
"
exclaimed
Job
the
moment
he
saw
Jem
;
"
and
man-alive
,
he
wants
to
see
thee
and
me
!
For
sure
,
there
's
no
more
mischief
up
,
is
there
?
"
said
he
,
looking
at
Jem
with
an
expression
of
wonder
.
But
if
any
suspicion
mingled
for
an
instant
with
the
thoughts
that
crossed
Job
's
mind
,
it
was
immediately
dispelled
by
Jem
's
honest
,
fearless
,
open
countenance
.
"
I
ca
n't
guess
what
he
's
wanting
,
poor
old
chap
,
"
answered
he
.
"
May
be
there
's
some
point
he
's
not
yet
satisfied
on
;
may
be
—
but
it
's
no
use
guessing
;
let
's
be
off
.
"
"
It
would
n't
be
better
for
thee
to
be
scarce
a
bit
,
would
it
,
and
leave
me
to
go
and
find
out
what
's
up
?
He
has
,
perhaps
,
getten
some
crotchet
into
his
head
thou'rt
an
accomplice
,
and
is
laying
a
trap
for
thee
.
"
"
I
'm
not
afeared
!
"
said
Jem
;
"
I
've
done
nought
wrong
,
and
know
nought
wrong
,
about
yon
poor
dead
lad
;
though
I
'll
own
I
had
evil
thoughts
once
on
a
time
.
Folk
ca
n't
mistake
long
if
once
they
'll
search
into
the
truth
.
I
'll
go
and
give
the
old
gentleman
all
the
satisfaction
in
my
power
,
now
it
can
injure
no
one
.
I
'd
my
own
reasons
for
wanting
to
see
him
besides
,
and
it
all
falls
in
right
enough
for
me
.
"
Job
was
a
little
reassured
by
Jem
's
boldness
;
but
still
,
if
the
truth
must
be
told
,
he
wished
the
young
man
would
follow
his
advice
,
and
leave
him
to
sound
Mr.
Carson
's
intentions
.
Meanwhile
Jane
Wilson
had
donned
her
Sunday
suit
of
black
,
and
set
off
on
her
errand
of
condolence
.
She
felt
nervous
and
uneasy
at
the
idea
of
the
moral
sayings
and
texts
which
she
fancied
were
expected
from
visitors
on
occasions
like
the
present
;
and
prepared
many
a
good
set
speech
as
she
walked
towards
the
house
of
mourning
.
As
she
gently
opened
the
door
,
Mary
,
sitting
idly
by
the
fire
,
caught
a
glimpse
of
her
,
—
of
Jem
's
mother
,
—
of
the
early
friend
of
her
dead
parents
,
—
of
the
kind
minister
to
many
a
little
want
in
days
of
childhood
,
—
and
rose
and
came
and
fell
about
her
neck
,
with
many
a
sob
and
moan
,
saying
,
"
Oh
,
he
's
gone
—
he
's
dead
—
all
gone
—
all
dead
,
and
I
am
left
alone
!
"
"
Poor
wench
!
poor
,
poor
wench
!
"
said
Jane
Wilson
,
tenderly
kissing
her
.
"
Thou'rt
not
alone
,
so
donnot
take
on
so
.
I
'll
say
nought
of
Him
who
's
above
,
for
thou
know'st
He
is
ever
the
orphan
's
friend
;
but
think
on
Jem
!
nay
,
Mary
,
dear
,
think
on
me
!
I
'm
but
a
frabbit
woman
at
times
,
but
I
've
a
heart
within
me
through
all
my
temper
,
and
thou
shalt
be
as
a
daughter
henceforward
,
—
as
mine
own
ewe-lamb
.
Jem
shall
not
love
thee
better
in
his
way
,
than
I
will
in
mine
;
and
thou'lt
bear
with
my
turns
,
Mary
,
knowing
that
in
my
soul
God
sees
the
love
that
shall
ever
be
thine
,
if
thou'lt
take
me
for
thy
mother
,
and
speak
no
more
of
being
alone
.
"
Mrs.
Wilson
was
weeping
herself
long
before
she
had
ended
this
speech
,
which
was
so
different
to
all
she
had
planned
to
say
,
and
from
all
the
formal
piety
she
had
laid
in
store
for
the
visit
;
for
this
was
heart
's
piety
,
and
needed
no
garnish
of
texts
to
make
it
true
religion
,
pure
and
undefiled
.
They
sat
together
on
the
same
chair
,
their
arms
encircling
each
other
;
they
wept
for
the
same
dead
;
they
had
the
same
hope
,
and
trust
,
and
overflowing
love
in
the
living
.
From
that
time
forward
,
hardly
a
passing
cloud
dimmed
the
happy
confidence
of
their
intercourse
;
even
by
Jem
would
his
mother
's
temper
sooner
be
irritated
than
by
Mary
;
before
the
latter
she
repressed
her
occasional
nervous
ill-humour
till
the
habit
of
indulging
it
was
perceptibly
decreased
.
Years
afterwards
in
conversation
with
Jem
,
he
was
startled
by
a
chance
expression
which
dropped
from
his
mother
's
lips
;
it
implied
a
knowledge
of
John
Barton
's
crime
.
It
was
many
a
long
day
since
they
had
seen
any
Manchester
people
who
could
have
revealed
the
secret
(
if
indeed
it
was
known
in
Manchester
,
against
which
Jem
had
guarded
in
every
possible
way
)
.
And
he
was
led
to
inquire
first
as
to
the
extent
,
and
then
as
to
the
source
of
her
knowledge
.
It
was
Mary
herself
who
had
told
all
.
For
on
the
morning
to
which
this
chapter
principally
relates
,
as
Mary
sat
weeping
,
and
as
Mrs.
Wilson
comforted
her
by
every
tenderest
word
and
caress
,
she
revealed
to
the
dismayed
and
astonished
Jane
,
the
sting
of
her
deep
sorrow
;
the
crime
which
stained
her
dead
father
's
memory
.
She
was
quite
unconscious
that
Jem
had
kept
it
secret
from
his
mother
;
she
had
imagined
it
bruited
abroad
as
the
suspicion
against
her
lover
had
been
;
so
word
after
word
(
dropped
from
her
lips
in
the
supposition
that
Mrs.
Wilson
knew
all
)
had
told
the
tale
and
revealed
the
cause
of
her
deep
anguish
;
deeper
than
is
ever
caused
by
Death
alone
.
On
large
occasions
like
the
present
,
Mrs.
Wilson
's
innate
generosity
came
out
.
Her
weak
and
ailing
frame
imparted
its
irritation
to
her
conduct
in
small
things
,
and
daily
trifles
;
but
she
had
deep
and
noble
sympathy
with
great
sorrows
,
and
even
at
the
time
that
Mary
spoke
she
allowed
no
expression
of
surprise
or
horror
to
escape
her
lips
.
She
gave
way
to
no
curiosity
as
to
the
untold
details
;
she
was
as
secret
and
trustworthy
as
her
son
himself
;
and
if
in
years
to
come
her
anger
was
occasionally
excited
against
Mary
,
and
she
,
on
rare
occasions
,
yielded
to
ill-temper
against
her
daughter-in-law
,
she
would
upbraid
her
for
extravagance
,
or
stinginess
,
or
over-dressing
,
or
under-dressing
,
or
too
much
mirth
or
too
much
gloom
,
but
never
,
never
in
her
most
uncontrolled
moments
did
she
allude
to
any
one
of
the
circumstances
relating
to
Mary
's
flirtation
with
Harry
Carson
,
or
his
murderer
;
and
always
when
she
spoke
of
John
Barton
,
named
him
with
the
respect
due
to
his
conduct
before
the
last
,
miserable
,
guilty
month
of
his
life
.
Therefore
it
came
like
a
blow
to
Jem
when
,
after
years
had
passed
away
,
he
gathered
his
mother
's
knowledge
of
the
whole
affair
.
From
the
day
when
he
learnt
(
not
without
remorse
)
what
hidden
depths
of
self-restraint
she
had
in
her
soul
,
his
manner
to
her
,
always
tender
and
respectful
,
became
reverential
;
and
it
was
more
than
ever
a
loving
strife
between
him
and
Mary
which
should
most
contribute
towards
the
happiness
of
the
declining
years
of
their
mother
.
But
I
am
speaking
of
the
events
which
have
occurred
only
lately
,
while
I
have
yet
many
things
to
tell
you
that
happened
six
or
seven
years
ago
.
CHAPTER
XXXVII
.
DETAILS
CONNECTED
WITH
THE
MURDER
.
"
The
rich
man
dines
,
while
the
poor
man
pines
,
And
eats
his
heart
away
;
'
They
teach
us
lies
,
'
he
sternly
cries
,
'
Would
brothers
do
as
they
?
'
"
"
The
Dream
.
"
Mr.
Carson
stood
at
one
of
the
breathing-moments
of
life
.
The
object
of
the
toils
,
the
fears
,
and
the
wishes
of
his
past
years
,
was
suddenly
hidden
from
his
sight
,
—
vanished
into
the
deep
mystery
which
circumscribes
existence
.
Nay
,
even
the
vengeance
which
he
had
proposed
to
himself
as
an
aim
for
exertion
,
had
been
taken
away
from
before
his
eyes
,
as
by
the
hand
of
God
.
Events
like
these
would
have
startled
the
most
thoughtless
into
reflection
,
much
more
such
a
man
as
Mr.
Carson
,
whose
mind
,
if
not
enlarged
,
was
energetic
;
indeed
,
whose
very
energy
,
having
been
hitherto
the
cause
of
the
employment
of
his
powers
in
only
one
direction
,
had
prevented
him
from
becoming
largely
and
philosophically
comprehensive
in
his
views
.
But
now
the
foundations
of
his
past
life
were
razed
to
the
ground
,
and
the
place
they
had
once
occupied
was
sown
with
salt
,
to
be
for
ever
rebuilt
no
more
.
It
was
like
the
change
from
this
Life
to
that
other
hidden
one
,
when
so
many
of
the
motives
which
have
actuated
all
our
earthly
existence
,
will
have
become
more
fleeting
than
the
shadows
of
a
dream
.
With
a
wrench
of
his
soul
from
the
past
,
so
much
of
which
was
as
nothing
,
and
worse
than
nothing
to
him
now
,
Mr.
Carson
took
some
hours
,
after
he
had
witnessed
the
death
of
his
son
's
murderer
,
to
consider
his
situation
.
But
suddenly
,
while
he
was
deliberating
,
and
searching
for
motives
which
should
be
effective
to
compel
him
to
exertion
and
action
once
more
;
while
he
contemplated
the
desire
after
riches
,
social
distinction
,
a
name
among
the
merchant-princes
amidst
whom
he
moved
,
and
saw
these
false
substances
fade
away
into
the
shadows
they
truly
are
,
and
one
by
one
disappear
into
the
grave
of
his
son
,
—
suddenly
,
I
say
,
the
thought
arose
within
him
that
more
yet
remained
to
be
learned
about
the
circumstances
and
feelings
which
had
prompted
John
Barton
's
crime
;
and
when
once
this
mournful
curiosity
was
excited
,
it
seemed
to
gather
strength
in
every
moment
that
its
gratification
was
delayed
.
Accordingly
he
sent
a
message
to
summon
Job
Legh
and
Jem
Wilson
,
from
whom
he
promised
himself
some
elucidation
of
what
was
as
yet
unexplained
;
while
he
himself
set
forth
to
call
on
Mr.
Bridgenorth
,
whom
he
knew
to
have
been
Jem
's
attorney
,
with
a
glimmering
suspicion
intruding
on
his
mind
,
which
he
strove
to
repel
,
that
Jem
might
have
had
some
share
in
his
son
's
death
.
He
had
returned
before
his
summoned
visitors
arrived
;
and
had
time
enough
to
recur
to
the
evening
on
which
John
Barton
had
made
his
confession
.
He
remembered
with
mortification
how
he
had
forgotten
his
proud
reserve
,
and
his
habitual
concealment
of
his
feelings
,
and
had
laid
bare
his
agony
of
grief
in
the
presence
of
these
two
men
who
were
coming
to
see
him
by
his
desire
;
and
he
entrenched
himself
behind
stiff
barriers
of
self-control
,
through
which
he
hoped
no
appearance
of
emotion
would
force
its
way
in
the
conversation
he
anticipated
.
Nevertheless
,
when
the
servant
announced
that
two
men
were
there
by
appointment
to
speak
to
him
,
and
he
had
desired
that
they
might
be
shown
into
the
library
where
he
sat
,
any
watcher
might
have
perceived
by
the
trembling
hands
,
and
shaking
head
,
not
only
how
much
he
was
aged
by
the
occurrences
of
the
last
few
weeks
,
but
also
how
much
he
was
agitated
at
the
thought
of
the
impending
interview
.
But
he
so
far
succeeded
in
commanding
himself
at
first
,
as
to
appear
to
Jem
Wilson
and
Job
Legh
one
of
the
hardest
and
most
haughty
men
they
had
ever
spoken
to
,
and
to
forfeit
all
the
interest
which
he
had
previously
excited
in
their
minds
by
his
unreserved
display
of
deep
and
genuine
feeling
.
When
he
had
desired
them
to
be
seated
,
he
shaded
his
face
with
his
hand
for
an
instant
before
speaking
.
"
I
have
been
calling
on
Mr.
Bridgenorth
this
morning
,
"
said
he
,
at
last
;
"
as
I
expected
,
he
can
give
me
but
little
satisfaction
on
some
points
respecting
the
occurrence
on
the
18th
of
last
month
which
I
desire
to
have
cleared
up
.
Perhaps
you
two
can
tell
me
what
I
want
to
know
.
As
intimate
friends
of
Barton
's
you
probably
know
,
or
can
conjecture
a
good
deal
.
Have
no
scruple
as
to
speaking
the
truth
.
What
you
say
in
this
room
shall
never
be
named
again
by
me
.
Besides
,
you
are
aware
that
the
law
allows
no
one
to
be
tried
twice
for
the
same
offence
.
"
He
stopped
for
a
minute
,
for
the
mere
act
of
speaking
was
fatiguing
to
him
after
the
excitement
of
the
last
few
weeks
.
Job
Legh
took
the
opportunity
of
speaking
.
"
I
'm
not
going
to
be
affronted
either
for
myself
or
Jem
at
what
you
've
just
now
been
saying
about
the
truth
.
You
do
n't
know
us
,
and
there
's
an
end
o
n't
;
only
it
's
as
well
for
folk
to
think
others
good
and
true
until
they
're
proved
contrary
.
Ask
what
you
like
,
sir
,
I
'll
answer
for
it
we
'll
either
tell
truth
or
hold
our
tongues
.
"
"
I
beg
your
pardon
,
"
said
Mr.
Carson
,
slightly
bowing
his
head
