whoowned
the
park
,
"
replied
Michael
;
"
except
that
she
was
one
of
the
fine
folks
as
I
have
seen
at
Dowling
Lodge
,
but
I
should
like
to
hear
the
story
,
because
of
Miss
Martha
.
"
"
Why
the
short
and
the
long
of
it
was
,
that
there
was
a
poor
widow
called
Armstrong
—
"
Michael
started
so
violently
,
that
his
companion
stopped
.
"
Did
you
happen
to
know
her
,
my
lad
?
"
he
added
,
after
a
pause
.
"
Yes
,
sir
,
I
remember
her
very
well
—
but
please
to
go
on
.
"
"
Well
then
,
this
widow
Armstrong
had
two
sons
,
and
one
of
them
was
had
up
to
the
great
house
,
Dowling
Lodge
,
I
mean
,
for
some
nonsensical
reason
or
other
;
and
Sir
Matthew
pretended
to
make
the
greatest
fuss
in
the
world
about
him
,
and
the
whole
country
was
talking
about
it
.
But
for
some
offence
of
the
poor
boy
's
,
I
never
rightly
heard
what
,
the
old
sinner
determined
upon
sending
him
'
prentice
to
the
most
infernal
place
,
by
all
account
,
that
the
earth
has
got
to
be
ashamed
of
.
And
how
do
you
think
the
poor
widow
was
coaxed
over
to
sign
the
indentures
?
Why
by
your
friend
,
Miss
Martha
,
and
no
one
else
,
and
that
I
know
upon
the
best
authority
.
Well
,
'
tis
a
long
story
,
the
ins
and
outs
of
it
,
and
I
ca
n't
say
that
I
ever
rightly
understood
the
whole
,
but
this
I
know
to
be
fact
:
that
our
young
mistress
took
the
whole
thing
so
much
to
heart
,
that
she
actually
set
out
to
look
after
the
boy
;
but
when
she
got
to
the
murderous
place
the
poor
little
fellow
was
dead
!
And
what
did
she
do
then
,
dear
,
tender-hearted
lady
!
but
bring
back
a
pretty
little
girl
instead
of
him
,
because
,
as
we
all
guessed
,
she
was
determined
to
save
somebody
.
"
The
emotion
of
Michael
Armstrong
on
hearing
this
,
was
so
entirely
beyond
his
power
to
conquer
,
that
he
lost
all
capability
of
utterance
,
and
instead
of
asking
the
name
of
the
little
girl
—
an
inquiry
which
he
in
vain
strove
to
make
—
he
sat
pale
and
gasping
,
with
his
eyes
fixed
on
the
speaker
,
and
every
limb
trembling
.
"
The
Lord
have
mercy
on
us
!
what
is
the
matter
with
you
,
my
good
fellow
?
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
's
ci-devant
coachman
.
"
You
look
cruel
bad
!
Is
it
my
tale
as
turns
you
so
?
or
is
it
that
you
have
walked
too
much
and
too
fast
?
"
"
No
,
no
,
no
!
Pray
go
on
!
"
murmured
Michael
,
making
a
strong
effort
to
articulate
.
"
'
Tis
the
story
,
then
?
and
you
knowed
the
poor
Armstrongs
,
beyond
all
doubt
!
"
said
the
kind-hearted
coachman
.
"
Well
then
,
you
shall
hear
the
end
of
it
.
When
my
mistress
brought
back
the
news
of
the
little
fellow
's
death
,
his
poor
mother
,
who
was
but
a
sickly
,
cripply
sort
of
body
,
just
broke
her
heart
and
died
;
whereupon
Miss
Brotherton
took
home
the
other
boy
,
put
him
to
school
to
my
wife
,
and
then
took
to
teaching
him
herself
,
and
treated
him
for
all
the
world
as
if
he
had
been
her
own
brother
;
and
then
she
began
to
fancy
that
he
wanted
a
doctor
—
"
"
And
then
,
"
groaned
Michael
,
suddenly
interrupting
him
,
—
"
and
then
he
died
!
"
"
You
do
n't
say
so
?
"
said
the
coachman
,
in
an
accent
of
regret
.
"
Did
he
indeed
,
poor
boy
?
Well
now
,
I
'm
sorry
for
that
;
for
it
was
a
pleasure
to
see
him
growing
taller
and
stouter
every
day
,
almost
,
as
one
may
say
.
And
when
was
it
he
died
?
It
's
curious
that
we
should
never
have
heard
of
it
.
"
"
Heard
of
it
?
"
said
Michael
,
while
a
sort
of
wild
uncertainty
took
possession
of
his
mind
,
that
gave
him
the
feeling
of
one
whose
reason
threatened
to
leave
him
.
"
Heard
it
?
Why
did
you
want
to
hear
it
?
Could
you
not
see
it
,
and
know
it
,
if
he
was
living
in
the
same
house
with
you
?
"
"
For
certain
I
could
,
if
he
had
died
while
Miss
Brotherton
remained
at
the
park
;
but
that
he
did
not
,
for
I
drove
him
off
the
first
stage
myself
,
alive
and
well
,
and
looking
as
beautiful
as
he
always
did
,
poor
lad
,
for
he
was
to
be
sure
the
handsomest-faced
boy
,
that
ever
I
looked
upon
.
But
what
might
have
happened
to
him
afterwards
,
is
of
course
more
than
I
can
say
;
for
when
the
place
was
sold
,
and
all
of
us
paid
off
,
all
we
heard
was
,
that
our
dear
young
lady
was
set
off
to
travel
in
foreign
countries
,
and
had
left
pensions
to
every
one
of
her
servants
according
to
their
length
of
service
.
So
we
know
nothing
since
.
"
"
Is
there
no
one
can
tell
me
where
she
is
gone
,
and
in
what
land
my
brother
died
?
"
said
Michael
,
violently
agitated
.
"
Your
brother
?
"
said
his
companion
.
"
Who
do
you
mean
by
your
brother
,
my
lad
?
"
"
Teddy
!
—
my
brother
Edward
!
—
I
am
Michael
Armstrong
!
"
was
the
convulsive
reply
.
"
God
bless
my
heart
and
soul
!
And
you
be
the
boy
as
Miss
Brotherton
went
to
look
after
?
And
she
got
into
the
wrong
box
,
then
,
about
your
being
dead
?
Was
there
ever
any
thing
like
that
?
But
who
was
it
,
my
boy
,
that
told
you
as
your
brother
was
dead
?
"
"
A
woman
in
Ashleigh
—
one
living
in
the
house
where
my
mother
died
.
She
told
me
that
my
mother
was
dead
,
and
my
brother
too
.
"
"
Did
she
know
who
she
was
speaking
to
?
Did
she
know
you
was
Michael
Armstrong
?
"
said
the
old
coachman
with
quickness
.
"
No
,
she
knew
me
not
,
"
replied
Michael
;
"
but
she
knew
that
the
widow
Armstrong
and
her
boy
were
dead
.
"
"
Then
I
'll
be
hanged
if
I
believe
as
your
brother
is
dead
,
"
replied
the
other
eagerly
.
"
When
she
said
the
widow
's
boy
,
she
meant
you
,
I
'll
lay
my
life
on
it
;
and
there
is
nobody
in
Ashleigh
,
if
they
had
told
of
her
death
,
but
would
have
named
that
of
her
boy
too
;
but
it
would
have
always
been
meaning
you
,
because
every
body
knew
that
one
followed
close
upon
the
news
of
the
other
.
And
I
do
n't
believe
that
your
brother
's
dead
,
and
that
's
a
fact
.
"
Michael
clasped
his
hands
rigidly
together
,
and
closing
his
eyes
,
remained
so
long
motionless
,
that
his
good-natured
companion
became
alarmed
,
and
laying
his
hand
upon
the
poor
lad
's
arm
,
shook
him
gently
,
as
he
said
,
"
Any
how
,
my
good
fellow
,
there
is
no
cause
for
you
to
break
your
heart
with
thinking
about
it
all
.
Talking
about
your
poor
mother
,
and
her
love
of
you
,
has
made
you
turn
as
pale
as
a
sheet
;
and
natural
enough
,
too
,
perhaps
.
But
my
notion
that
your
brother
is
alive
and
well
,
ought
to
comfort
you
—
ought
n't
it
?
"
Michael
opened
his
eyes
,
and
fixing
them
on
his
companion
,
said
,
"
The
joy
of
it
is
more
than
I
can
bear
!
"
and
then
the
tears
bursting
forth
,
he
wept
copiously
;
a
timely
relief
,
for
which
he
had
great
reason
to
be
thankful
.
"
Well
,
well
,
I
do
n't
mind
seeing
you
cry
a
little
—
that
wo
n't
do
you
no
harm
;
and
thank
goodness
your
colour
is
coming
back
again
!
I
declare
I
thought
I
had
been
the
death
of
you
,
"
said
his
new
friend
.
"
But
I
'll
tell
you
something
more
,
and
that
is
the
name
of
him
as
knows
more
about
Miss
Brotherton
and
your
brother
too
,
I
'll
be
bold
to
say
,
than
any
body
in
the
whole
country
,
and
that
's
Parson
Bell
,
of
Fairly
.
"
"
And
where
is
Fairly
?
"
said
Michael
,
starting
up
.
"
How
long
shall
I
be
in
getting
there
?
The
hope
is
only
hope
yet
,
you
know
—
there
is
no
certainty
.
Edward
!
dear
,
dear
,
Edward
!
Is
it
God
's
pleasure
that
I
should
see
him
again
in
this
world
?
Is
it
possible
that
such
a
heavenly
dream
can
ever
come
true
?
Oh
!
how
often
have
I
sat
upon
the
hill
and
watched
the
clouds
,
and
thought
that
he
was
above
them
all
!
"
"
Poor
boy
!
But
'
twill
be
better
still
,
for
a
few
years
to
come
,
that
he
should
be
upon
the
earth
along
with
you
,
wo
n't
it
?
"
"
Where
is
Fairly
?
"
reiterated
Michael
.
"
How
long
shall
I
be
in
getting
there
?
"
"
Longer
than
you
'll
like
,
my
dear
boy
,
"
replied
the
coachman
.
"
It
's
a
good
sixteen
miles
from
this
very
house
;
I
should
not
wonder
if
they
was
to
charge
seventeen
,
and
you
must
not
think
of
trying
to
compass
that
to-night
,
for
you
are
not
in
any
wise
in
a
fit
condition
for
it
,
changing
colour
,
as
you
do
,
every
minute
.
Your
best
course
will
be
to
rest
here
for
the
night
,
and
set
off
again
by
times
to-morrow
morning
,
and
that
will
bring
you
in
easy
by
about
the
middle
of
the
day
,
you
know
.
"
"
Impossible
!
"
said
Michael
.
"
I
owe
you
more
than
I
am
able
to
thank
you
for
,
and
I
would
be
willing
to
show
my
gratitude
by
following
your
advice
—
only
,
sir
,
I
am
quite
sure
I
could
not
sleep
a
wink
.
And
I
do
n't
think
it
would
do
me
any
good
to
lie
tossing
from
side
to
side
,
unknowing
,
for
certain
,
whether
my
own
dear
Teddy
was
alive
or
dead
!
So
if
you
please
,
I
must
set
off
directly
,
that
I
may
know
the
best
and
the
worst
at
once
.
"
"
I
suppose
at
your
age
I
should
have
done
the
same
;
therefore
I
wo
n't
pretend
to
quarrel
with
you
for
it
,
"
replied
the
good
man
;
"
but
I
suppose
it
would
be
just
prudent
to
call
for
an
ink-horn
,
and
to
set
down
upon
a
bit
of
paper
the
name
of
the
good
clergyman
that
you
are
to
call
upon
,
as
well
as
his
place
of
residence
.
"
"
There
is
no
need
of
that
,
sir
,
"
said
Michael
;
"
Parson
Bell
,
of
Fairly
,
are
the
words
you
said
,
and
they
,
as
well
as
all
the
rest
you
have
spoken
,
seem
as
if
they
were
stamped
upon
my
very
heart
.
But
yet
,
before
I
start
,
I
should
like
to
use
the
ink-horn
too
,
that
I
might
write
a
line
or
so
to
my
good
master
.
I
know
he
will
be
troubled
in
his
mind
about
me
if
I
do
n't
get
back
,
and
I
do
n't
know
rightly
how
long
it
may
be
.
God
bless
him
,
good
man
!
"
continued
Michael
;
"
it
was
he
that
had
me
taught
to
write
,
and
he
sha
n't
be
left
with
any
doubts
or
fears
upon
his
mind
for
want
of
a
letter
from
me
.
"
This
was
a
measure
that
the
coachman
greatly
approved
,
and
observing
that
he
was
well
known
in
the
house
,
and
sure
to
be
minded
,
he
undertook
to
order
the
writing-materials
,
as
well
as
something
substantial
by
way
of
a
supper
;
declaring
that
though
he
had
come
into
his
young
friends
wild
scheme
of
walking
off
straight
away
for
Fairly
,
instead
of
putting
up
for
the
night
,
either
where
they
were
,
or
at
Leeds
,
he
should
not
part
with
him
without
a
quarrel
,
if
he
refused
to
accept
,
and
do
justice
to
the
good
cheer
he
should
provide
.
This
kindness
on
the
part
of
the
man
who
had
so
strongly
influenced
his
destiny
,
was
both
kindly
intentioned
and
wisely
devised
;
for
greatly
did
the
agitated
young
man
stand
in
need
of
recruited
strength
and
tranquillity
,
before
he
set
off
upon
a
new
expedition
,
which
was
to
lead
to
information
so
vitally
important
to
his
happiness
.
Though
it
was
somewhat
against
his
inclination
,
he
accepted
the
friendly
invitation
gratefully
,
and
the
materials
for
writing
being
set
before
him
,
he
addressed
the
following
epistle
to
Mr.
Thornton
:
"
Honoured
Master
!
"
Your
goodness
to
me
,
in
all
ways
,
would
make
any
abuse
of
it
on
my
part
a
heavy
crime
indeed
—
too
heavy
,
I
think
,
for
me
to
commit
,
or
you
to
suspect
me
of
.
But
I
cannot
be
at
the
suppertable
at
Neckerby
,
on
next
Saturday
night
,
according
to
my
promise
.
A
very
strange
thing
has
happened
to
me
,
dear
master
,
which
may
,
perhaps
,
come
to
nothing
,
and
in
that
case
I
know
you
will
hear
my
story
,
and
pity
me
too
much
to
think
of
anger
.
But
if
all
I
hope
comes
to
pass
,
your
generous
heart
will
rejoice
with
me
,
and
you
will
bless
your
own
goodness
,
for
bringing
me
to
the
knowledge
of
the
very
greatest
joy
that
ever
fell
to
the
lot
of
a
human
being
,
by
giving
me
this
holiday
.
"
I
am
,
honoured
Master
,
"
Your
faithful
and
grateful
servant
,
"
Michael
Armstrong
.
"
Having
finished
his
letter
,
and
committed
it
to
the
post
,
Michael
felt
somewhat
more
tranquil
,
and
endeavoured
to
assume
with
his
new
acquaintance
an
air
of
greater
composure
,
and
self-possession
.
But
his
heart
beat
,
his
temples
throbbed
,
his
thoughts
wandered
,
and
when
he
and
his
friendly
companion
sat
down
to
supper
,
the
poor
boy
felt
that
he
could
almost
as
easily
have
swallowed
the
board
itself
as
any
portion
of
the
substantial
fare
which
was
spread
upon
it
.
But
he
quaffed
a
long
and
refreshing
draught
from
a
pitcher
of
cold
water
,
and
putting
,
at
the
suggestion
of
the
worthy
coachman
,
a
crust
in
his
pocket
,
he
sallied
forth
with
the
agitating
consciousness
that
on
the
information
of
which
he
was
in
pursuit
,
hung
all
his
earthly
hopes
.
His
new
friend
shook
his
head
as
he
felt
his
feverish
hand
,
and
marked
his
heightened
colour
,
and
his
eager
eye
.
"
God
bless
you
,
boy
!
"
said
the
good
man
.
"
Remember
,
if
you
fall
sick
by
the
way
,
that
my
name
is
Richard
Smithson
,
that
I
live
at
Milford
,
near
Ashleigh
,
and
that
I
'll
hold
myself
ready
to
come
to
you
at
a
pinch
,
if
you
should
happen
to
have
need
of
me
.
And
here
,
Michael
Armstrong
,
are
three
sovereigns
,
that
I
give
you
to
keep
for
two
reasons
.
One
is
,
that
you
may
use
them
in
case
you
have
need
.
The
other
,
that
if
you
do
n't
want
them
,
I
shall
be
sure
to
see
you
,
when
you
bring
them
back
,
and
that
you
will
do
,
or
I
'll
never
trust
a
lad
's
face
more
;
and
now
good
bye
.
It
is
but
a
wildish
sort
of
boy
's
trick
though
,
setting
off
this
way
at
night
,
when
you
ought
to
be
in
bed
.
"
"
The
air
and
the
walk
will
do
me
more
good
than
all
the
beds
in
the
world
!
"
replied
Michael
.
"
God
bless
you
,
sir
!
See
me
you
shall
,
if
I
continue
to
live
;
"
and
so
saying
,
he
strode
forth
into
the
night
,
with
a
longing
for
greater
space
to
breathe
in
,
than
could
be
found
in
the
kitchen
of
the
Royal-oak
.
The
boy
was
right
as
to
the
effect
which
this
bodily
exertion
would
produce
upon
him
.
The
very
darkness
calmed
him
;
he
took
his
hat
off
that
the
cool
air
might
bathe
his
temples
with
its
dewy
breath
;
and
though
his
pace
was
rapid
,
and
scarcely
relaxed
for
a
moment
during
many
miles
,
the
action
of
his
pulse
became
more
healthy
,
and
the
aching
of
his
throbbing
temples
passed
away
.
All
he
now
seemed
to
fear
was
that
his
imagination
should
cheat
him
into
the
persuasion
that
all
he
wished
was
true
.
Edward
!
Fanny
!
(
for
of
her
identity
with
Miss
Brotherton
's
protégée
he
could
hardly
doubt
,
when
he
remembered
the
history
of
her
departure
from
the
Deep
Valley
)
—
these
names
seemed
to
ring
in
his
ears
,
and
to
be
inscribed
in
starlight
on
the
heavens
as
he
raised
his
eyes
towards
them
.
And
thus
the
sixteen
miles
were
traversed
before
he
had
half
chewed
the
cud
of
all
the
sweet
thoughts
that
thronged
upon
his
fancy
.
When
he
reached
Fairly
,
it
was
still
much
too
early
to
find
any
one
stirring
,
so
Michael
unceremoniously
walked
into
a
cart-shed
,
and
clambering
up
into
a
vehicle
that
had
the
sweet
savour
of
newly-carried
hay
to
recommend
it
,
he
placed
his
bundle
under
his
head
,
and
despite
both
hopes
and
fears
,
fell
into
a
sound
sleep
,
nor
waked
till
cocks
,
hens
,
cows
,
pigs
,
and
ploughboys
,
all
joined
in
chorus
to
arouse
him
.
CHAPTER
XXVIII
.
AN
IMPORTANT
INTERVIEW
—
DOUBTS
AND
FEARS
.
Michael
's
first
recollections
on
opening
his
eyes
were
not
of
the
clearest
kind
,
and
it
required
at
least
a
minute
's
looking
about
him
,
after
seating
himself
upright
in
the
cart
,
before
he
could
perfectly
understand
where
he
was
,
or
why
and
how
he
got
there
.
But
no
sooner
did
all
the
events
of
the
day
before
rush
back
upon
his
mind
,
than
he
felt
conscious
of
being
near
the
most
important
moment
of
his
life
.
Again
he
closed
his
eyes
,
but
not
to
sleep
,
and
fervently
prayed
that
whatever
might
be
the
tidings
which
awaited
him
,
he
might
have
strength
to
receive
and
bear
them
as
he
ought
.
Then
,
springing
from
his
resting-place
upon
the
ground
,
he
inquired
of
a
lad
near
him
the
way
to
Mr.
Bell
's
,
and
set
off
to
follow
the
directions
he
received
with
no
greater
delay
than
was
necessary
for
a
short
halt
beside
a
little
streamlet
on
the
way
,
which
offered
a
welcome
opportunity
of
washing
his
face
and
hands
before
he
petitioned
for
admission
to
the
presence
of
the
good
clergyman
,
to
whose
words
he
looked
forward
with
an
intensity
of
interest
which
almost
amounted
to
agony
.
Though
it
was
still
early
,
Mr.
Bell
was
already
in
his
garden
,
and
when
the
gate
opened
,
it
was
himself
who
turned
towards
it
to
learn
the
errand
of
the
young
stranger
.
Michael
felt
at
the
first
glance
that
the
gentleman
who
stood
before
him
was
the
person
from
whom
he
was
to
learn
whether
the
brother
he
had
so
long
mourned
as
dead
was
still
alive
,
and
he
trembled
so
violently
from
head
to
foot
that
he
could
not
articulate
a
word
.
"
What
ails
you
,
my
lad
?
"
said
Mr.
Bell
,
gently
laying
a
hand
upon
his
shoulder
,
and
looking
earnestly
in
his
face
.
"
You
have
not
the
look
of
one
who
has
done
mischief
,
or
else
I
could
fancy
that
you
had
some
terrible
tale
to
tell
.
Come
into
the
house
and
sit
down
,
my
boy
,
for
it
is
very
clear
you
are
not
quite
able
to
stand
.
"
Michael
,
still
silent
,
followed
his
considerate
host
into
the
house
,
and
thankfully
received
from
his
hands
a
glass
of
water
,
which
did
him
good
service
,
for
in
a
minute
or
two
he
was
able
to
say
,
"
I
want
you
to
tell
me
,
sir
—
may
God
give
me
strength
to
hear
your
answer
,
let
it
be
which
way
it
may
!
—
I
want
to
know
—
if
Edward
—
if
my
brother
,
Edward
Armstrong
,
is
alive
or
dead
?
"
But
notwithstanding
Michael
's
torturing
eagerness
to
hear
the
answer
,
he
put
his
hand
before
his
eyes
,
because
he
had
not
courage
to
bear
the
look
that
might
forestal
it
.
"
Your
brother
?
Edward
Armstrong
your
brother
?
Who
then
are
you
,
boy
,
in
the
name
of
Heaven
?
"
said
Mr.
Bell
,
eagerly
.
"
I
am
Michael
,
sir
,
Michael
Armstrong
.
But
oh
!
for
pity
's
sake
,
tell
me
what
I
ask
!
"
"
Yes
,
boy
,
yes
.
But
compose
yourself
,
my
dear
fellow
!
Edward
is
alive
,
and
your
friend
Fanny
Fletcher
too
.
"
Michael
sunk
from
his
chair
upon
his
knees
,
and
lifting
his
clasped
hands
towards
Heaven
,
seemed
breathing
thanksgivings
for
this
assured
confirmation
of
tidings
which
,
till
now
,
he
had
not
dared
to
believe
true
.
But
,
startled
as
he
was
,
the
anxiety
,
the
excitement
,
and
the
fatigue
of
the
preceding
night
and
day
,
had
been
more
than
enough
for
him
,
and
at
the
moment
when
every
thought
would
have
been
joy
,
and
every
sensation
delight
,
he
ceased
to
think
or
feel
at
all
,
—
the
colour
forsook
his
lips
,
his
eyes
closed
,
and
,
greatly
to
the
dismay
of
Mr.
Bell
,
he
sunk
prostrate
on
the
floor
.
No
time
was
lost
before
the
usual
means
of
restoring
suspended
life
were
administered
;
and
the
uncared-for
factory-boy
,
the
mountain-braced
Westmorland
shepherd
,
lay
extended
on
a
sofa
,
with
essences
at
his
nose
,
and
the
opening
of
his
dark
eyes
watched
for
,
as
tenderly
as
if
he
had
been
a
delicate
young
lady
.
A
deep-drawn
sigh
announced
to
Mr.
Bell
,
who
stood
by
,
anxiously
watching
him
,
that
his
remedies
had
been
successful
,
that
the
boy
so
long
mourned
as
dead
,
was
really
and
truly
alive
,
and
a
very
handsome
,
well-grown
fellow
into
the
bargain
.
"
This
is
a
strange
history
,
Michael
,
as
ever
I
chanced
to
hear
,
"
said
he
,
taking
the
boy
's
hand
,
and
ascertaining
that
his
pulse
again
made
'
healthful
music
.
'
"
Why
we
have
all
been
mourning
for
you
as
dead
for
this
many
a
year
,
and
now
you
drop
down
,
as
if
from
the
clouds
,
and
by
what
I
can
make
out
,
have
been
fancying
on
your
side
that
Edward
was
dead
too
.
The
first
thing
to
do
,
must
,
I
think
,
be
to
give
you
some
breakfast
,
and
then
,
if
you
are
strong
enough
,
you
shall
tell
me
how
all
this
has
come
to
pass
.
"
Full
as
his
heart
was
,
and
eagerly
as
he
longed
for
the
conversation
in
which
he
had
so
much
to
learn
,
as
well
as
to
tell
,
Michael
gratefully
submitted
to
this
arrangement
,
till
having
received
from
the
hands
of
the
deeply-interested
Mrs.
Bell
herself
the
refreshment
he
so
greatly
needed
,
he
felt
his
young
strength
return
,
and
if
he
trembled
as
he
turned
his
eyes
towards
his
kind
host
,
with
a
look
that
seemed
to
say
,
"
Now
,
sir
,
I
can
talk
to
you
,
"
it
was
from
eagerness
,
not
weakness
.
Mr.
Bell
understood
the
appeal
,
and
well
inclined
to
answer
it
,
said
,
"
Having
told
you
that
Edward
is
alive
and
well
,
my
dear
boy
,
and
only
wants
the
sight
that
I
see
now
to
make
him
perfectly
happy
,
I
think
you
ought
to
be
satisfied
,
and
not
expect
me
to
tell
you
any
more
till
my
curiosity
is
gratified
by
hearing
your
own
history
.
How
in
theworld
did
it
happen
,
Michael
,
that
when
Miss
Brotherton
went
to
the
Deep
Valley
Mills
,
on
purpose
to
look
for
you
,
she
should
come
back
persuaded
that
you
were
dead
,
though
the
charming
little
girl
she
brought
away
with
her
had
seen
you
there
,
and
seemed
to
know
you
well
?
"
Michael
Armstrong
told
his
own
story
more
succinctly
than
I
have
been
able
to
do
it
,
and
probably
much
better
too
;
for
he
beguiled
Mrs.
Bell
of
many
tears
as
she
listened
to
him
;
and
bare
as
the
sad
narrative
was
of
events
,
her
husband
also
hung
upon
every
word
of
it
,
as
if
,
contrary
to
the
theory
which
seemed
to
be
pretty
generally
established
in
his
neighbourhood
,
he
thought
the
feelings
and
the
sufferings
of
a
factory-child
might
be
capable
of
exciting
interest
.
When
the
history
had
reached
its
conclusion
,
and
Michael
had
fairly
brought
himself
into
Mr.
Bell
's
breakfast-parlour
,
he
paused
,
and
with
a
very
eloquent
look
of
entreaty
said
,
"
Now
,
sir
,
may
I
not
listen
to
you
?
"
"
Yes
,
my
dear
boy
,
"
replied
his
new
friend
,
in
the
happy
tone
with
which
a
kind
heart
inspires
words
calculated
to
give
pleasure
.
"
Yes
,
you
have
much
to
hear
,
and
a
wonderful
story
it
is
,
I
promise
you
.
But
it
shall
be
all
true
Michael
,
so
do
n't
fancy
that
I
am
telling
you
a
fairy
tale
,
and
that
Miss
Brotherton
is
the
fairy
.
But
first
tell
me
,
before
I
go
any
further
,
what
sort
of
a
boy
was
your
brother
Edward
when
you
saw
him
last
?
"
"
Oh
,
sir
!
he
was
the
dearest
,
kindest
fellow
that
ever
lived
!
"
replied
Michael
,
his
fine
eyes
beaming
with
tenderness
and
well-remembered
love
.
"
But
what
sort
of
a
boy
was
he
to
look
at
?
"
demanded
the
clergyman
.
Michael
closed
his
eyes
as
if
the
better
to
contemplate
the
inward
picture
engraven
on
his
memory
.
"
His
face
was
a
sweet
face
,
"
said
he
,
"
but
his
dear
limbs
were
crippled
.
He
was
a
slighter
boy
than
me
,
and
could
not
stand
the
labour
of
the
mill
;
and
I
fear
—
I
fear
,
"
he
added
,
shuddering
,
"
that
my
poor
Edward
must
live
and
die
a
cripple
.
"
"
What
is
your
opinion
about
that
,
my
dear
?
"
said
Mr.
Bell
,
turning
to
his
laughing
wife
.
"
Why
,
I
am
inclined
to
think
that
Michael
will
have
some
difficulty
in
identifying
his
brother
when
he
gets
to
him
,
"
she
replied
.
"
Instead
of
being
a
cripple
,
"
resumed
Mr.
Bell
,
"
I
suspect
that
your
brother
is
a
handsomer
fellow
than
you
are
,
Michael
.
Every
thing
promised
well
for
it
when
he
took
leave
of
us
,
and
since
then
my
wife
has
had
letters
from
Miss
Brotherton
,
which
do
not
speak
of
any
falling
off
in
his
improvement
.
"
"
Nay
,
"
said
the
lady
,
"
I
have
had
more
than
letters
to
speak
for
it
.
Shall
I
show
him
Miss
Brotherton
's
drawing
,
George
?
"
"
Most
certainly
,
my
dear
;
it
will
save
me
a
vast
deal
of
description
,
and
you
may
trust
to
Miss
Brotherton
's
pencil
,
Michael
,
as
implicitly
as
to
my
words
,
for
there
never
was
a
more
faithful
limner
.
"
Mrs.
Bell
then
opened
a
little
portfolio
,
secured
by
a
key
,
and
drew
thence
a
drawing
in
water-colours
,
the
composition
and
finish
of
which
would
have
done
no
discredit
to
a
professional
artist
.
How
the
stout
nerves
of
the
young
and
athletic
Michael
trembled
as
he
received
it
!
At
first
his
eyes
seemed
to
fail
him
,
the
outline
,
the
colouring
,
the
whole
group
was
indistinct
.
"
I
am
a
fool
,
sir
!
"
he
said
,
letting
the
hand
that
held
it
drop
beside
him
;
"
I
positively
cannot
see
.
"
"
I
do
n't
much
wonder
at
it
,
"
replied
Mr.
Bell
;
"
but
try
again
,
Michael
,
it
is
worth
looking
at
.
"
And
so
thought
Michael
,
as
he
once
more
placed
it
before
him
,
and
gazed
upon
it
with
an
eye
as
eager
as
that
of
Surrey
might
have
been
,
when
contemplating
the
magic
mirror
that
was
to
show
him
what
he
loved
"
in
life
and
limb
.
"
The
drawing
represented
a
terrace-walk
,
along
which
ran
a
handsome
stone
balustrade
partially
covered
by
vine-leaves
;
while
beneath
it
in
the
distance
,
stretched
to
a
far
horizon
a
glorious
river
,
careering
through
a
rich
and
varied
landscape
.
All
this
was
fair
to
look
upon
,
but
the
boy
's
eyes
saw
it
not
—
they
were
riveted
upon
two
figures
that
occupied
the
foreground
of
the
terrace
.
One
of
these
was
a
slender
girl
,
whose
bright
curls
seemed
just
released
from
the
restraint
of
a
straw-hat
which
she
held
in
her
hand
.
But
though
the
head
was
thus
uncovered
,
the
features
were
not
visible
,
for
the
other
hand
was
placed
upon
the
balustrade
,
over
which
she
hung
,
as
if
in
earnest
contemplation
of
some
object
below
.
But
the
head
of
the
other
figure
,
a
young
man
of
some
twenty
years
or
so
,
was
so
turned
as
fully
to
meet
the
spectator
's
eye
;
and
if
the
pencil
that
drew
it
flattered
not
,
it
was
one
of
the
handsomest
that
nature
ever
formed
.
The
large
expressive
eyes
,
beaming
with
mingled
softness
and
animation
,
were
directed
to
some
object
out
of
the
picture
,
but
at
no
great
distance
;
for
the
sweet
smile
that
played
about
the
mouth
seemed
to
indicate
that
he
was
listening
to
pleasant
words
from
some
well-loved
companion
.
The
figure
of
the
young
man
thus
represented
,
was
tall
and
graceful
.
His
dress
was
the
light
summer
garb
of
a
southern
climate
—
an
open
book
was
in
his
hand
,
his
straw
hat
lay
at
his
feet
,
beside
which
stood
a
basket
of
newly-gathered
grapes
,
and
a
small
Italian
greyhound
,
its
bright
eye
looking
in
the
same
direction
as
his
own
,
completed
the
group
,
which
spoke
in
every
part
of
it
a
sort
of
graceful
ease
and
enjoyment
,
that
it
was
very
pleasant
to
look
upon
.
"
Can
this
indeed
by
my
Edward
?
"
said
Michael
at
length
,
after
a
long
silent
examination
of
the
drawing
.
"
How
beautiful
!
—
how
noble
!
—
how
happy
—
how
healthful
—
how
intelligent
he
looks
!
Is
it
my
own
dear
,
pale
,
sickly
brother
?
Can
this
be
true
?
"
"
As
true
as
that
you
stand
there
to
look
at
it
,
"
replied
Mr.
Bell
.
"
Is
there
nothing
in
the
face
,
Michael
,
that
recalls
your
brother
to
you
?
"
"
Yes
,
sir
,
"
he
replied
quickly
;
"
the
eyes
and
the
sweet
smile
are
so
like
my
own
Edward
,
that
strange
as
it
is
to
see
him
so
healthy
,
tall
,
and
graceful
as
he
is
represented
here
,
and
looking
,
too
,
so
greatly
like
a
gentleman
,
I
do
quite
believe
that
this
was
never
drawn
for
any
one
but
him
;
for
never
,
never
since
I
saw
him
last
,
have
I
seen
such
eyes
,
or
such
a
smile
as
that
.
"
"
You
are
quite
right
there
,
Michael
.
The
face
is
one
not
easily
forgotten
,
and
I
can
trace
it
here
,
notwithstanding
all
the
change
of
age
and
circumstance
.
But
who
do
you
think
that
slender
girl
may
be
?
It
seems
a
pity
not
to
see
her
face
;
the
form
,
the
pretty
attitude
,
the
bright
waving
locks
,
all
plainly
tell
that
it
must
be
worth
looking
at
.
Can
you
guess
who
it
is
?
"
"
I
suppose
it
is
Fanny
Fletcher
,
"
replied
Michael
,
colouring
.
"
And
there
,
too
,
you
are
quite
right
.
But
does
it
not
puzzle
you
to
think
how
all
this
has
been
brought
about
?
How
does
it
happen
,
think
you
,
that
those
whom
you
remember
in
a
state
so
different
,
should
now
be
living
as
you
see
them
here
,
looking
as
if
their
existence
were
made
up
of
sunshine
and
sweet
air
?
"
"
And
now
again
I
shall
answer
,
as
they
say
the
fortune-tellers
do
,
"
replied
Michael
,
smiling
,
"
by
telling
you
,
sir
,
what
you
have
before
told
me
.
It
is
Miss
Brotherton
,
whose
name
I
well
remember
at
Dowling
Lodge
,
it
is
she
who
has
done
all
this
,
and
may
God
bless
her
for
it
!
But
yet
,
truly
,
it
still
seems
a
mystery
.
How
did
it
happen
,
sir
,
that
this
rich
young
lady
should
have
left
her
grand
house
,
and
all
her
fine
acquaintance
here
,
to
go
into
foreign
countries
with
two
poor
factory-children
?
"
"
You
may
well
marvel
at
it
,
Michael
,
for
it
is
no
common
act
.
But
will
you
not
think
it
something
stranger
still
,
if
I
declare
,
as
I
can
do
with
all
truth
,
that
you
are
yourself
the
primal
cause
of
it
?
"
said
Mr.
Bell
.
"
You
look
incredulous
,
yet
so
it
is
.
Do
you
remember
the
play
,
Michael
?
"
"
Sir
Matthew
's
play
?
"
cried
Michael
,
burying
his
face
in
his
hands
.
"
Oh
,
sir
!
can
I
ever
forget
it
?
"
"
It
was
a
vastly
gay
thing
,
too
,
"
returned
Mr.
Bell
,
smiling
,
"
and
all
the
performers
were
exceedingly
admired
;
but
you
do
not
seem
to
remember
it
with
any
great
pleasure
?
"
"
Pleasure
,
Mr.
Bell
?
"
returned
Michael
,
with
something
like
a
groan
;
"
I
have
suffered
a
good
deal
,
considering
how
few
years
I
had
lived
before
my
sufferings
were
over
;
but
,
excepting
the
coming
home
to
mother
's
,
and
finding
her
and
Teddy
gone
,
and
,
as
they
told
me
,
dead
—
both
dead
!
excepting
then
,
I
never
was
so
very
,
very
wretched
as
while
Sir
Matthew
was
making
me
practise
for
that
play
!
"
"
Do
you
remember
the
very
night
it
was
acted
,
when
you
,
and
he
,
and
Dr.
Crockley
were
in
a
room
by
yourselves
,
somewhere
behind
the
scenes
;
do
you
remember
,
Michael
,
his
beating
and
abusing
you
because
you
had
cried
upon
the
stage
?
"
"
As
well
as
if
it
had
happened
yesterday
,
"
replied
the
young
man
.
"
I
had
to
utter
false
and
lying
praise
about
him
,
and
something
I
am
sure
there
was
about
loving
him
as
well
as
my
dear
mother
.
That
I
could
not
bear
—
and
then
it
was
that
the
tears
burst
out
,
though
well
I
knew
what
I
should
pay
for
shedding
them
.
"
"
They
were
the
luckiest
tears
that
ever
boy
wept
,
so
pray
do
not
quarrel
with
them
,
"
replied
Mr.
Bell
.
"
While
you
were
paying
for
them
,
as
you
call
it
,
in
the
green-room
,
Miss
Brotherton
by
accident
heard
and
saw
every
thing
that
passed
;
and
from
that
hour
she
has
never
forgotten
you
,
Michael
,
though
more
than
seven
long
years
have
passed
,
if
I
mistake
not
,
during
which
you
have
never
profited
by
it
in
your
own
person
.
I
will
not
enter
now
into
any
description
of
what
her
feelings
were
.
An
accident
prevented
her
seeing
your
mother
immediately
,
and
when
she
did
,
my
poor
boy
,
you
were
already
beyond
the
reach
of
any
help
.
But
she
never
ceased
to
inquire
,
by
every
means
in
her
power
,
whither
you
had
been
conveyed
,
and
it
was
then
she
came
to
me
,
so
that
it
is
to
you
I
owe
the
pleasure
of
knowing
one
of
the
purest
and
noblest-hearted
human
beings
it
has
ever
been
my
lot
to
meet
with
.
It
was
in
consequence
of
—
not
information
,
for
I
had
none
to
give
—
but
of
a
hint
I
gave
her
as
to
the
nature
of
the
place
,
that
she
set
off
on
her
exploring
expedition
to
that
horrid
den
of
sin
and
suffering
,
the
Deep
Valley
Mills
,
in
Derbyshire
.
There
she
met
the
pretty
creature
whom
she
has
since
adopted
.
Little
Fanny
believed
that
you
were
dead
,
and
this
was
the
dismal
news
they
brought
to
Hoxley-lane
.
—
Your
poor
mother
,
Michael
!
But
let
it
comfort
you
to
know
that
every
want
and
every
hardship
were
relieved
from
the
first
hour
that
Miss
Brotherton
saw
her
—
and
she
died
with
the
comfort
of
knowing
that
her
poor
Edward
would
never
have
to
labour
more
.
Soon
after
her
death
,
Miss
Brotherton
took
your
brother
to
London
for
the
purpose
of
consulting
the
most
able
surgeons
about
his
lameness
.
Their
science
did
not
fail
them
;
for
they
predicted
that
with
proper
treatment
he
would
outgrow
it
—
and
so
he
has
,
completely
;
being
at
this
time
not
only
the
graceful
well-made
personage
you
see
him
represented
there
,
but
healthy
,
active
,
and
gifted
,
as
I
hear
,
with
a
most
rare
intelligence
.
For
reasons
which
it
is
not
very
difficulty
to
guess
,
Miss
Brotherton
thought
that
she
and
her
young
protégées
would
find
themselves
better
off
on
the
continent
than
in
Lancashire
;
and
from
the
time
she
first
left
Milford
Park
to
visit
London
,
she
has
never
returned
to
it
.
The
place
is
now
sold
,
and
Miss
Brotherton
has
no
longer
any
possessions
in
this
neighbourhood
.
And
now
my
dear
boy
,
I
think
I
have
told
you
all
,
excepting
the
exact
spot
where
they
now
are
;
and
this
I
cannot
do
,
because
our
last
letter
from
her
informed
us
that
they
were
just
setting
off
upon
a
tour
through
Italy
.
She
resided
some
time
ago
,
for
one
year
,
at
Paris
,
that
the
young
people
might
acquire
the
language
;
but
for
the
most
part
,
Germany
has
been
their
home
.
It
is
there
that
your
brother
has
received
his
education
,
and
I
think
it
very
probable
that
it
is
there
they
will
finally
settle
;
for
it
is
in
the
far-famed
valley
of
the
Rhingau
that
Miss
Brotherton
has
purchased
a
spacious
mansion
,
large
enough
,
as
she
tells
me
,
to
accommodate
half-a-dozen
rich
English
families
,
with
extensive
and
very
beautiful
grounds-around
it
,
and
all
capabilities
for
being
converted
into
a
delicious
residence
.
"
Here
he
ceased
,
and
it
was
several
minutes
before
poor
Michael
was
capable
of
uttering
a
single
word
in
return
.
The
mention
of
his
mother
—
the
hint
that
she
had
not
long
survived
the
hearing
he
was
dead
,
wrung
his
heart
anew
,
with
grief
as
fresh
as
if
he
had
lost
her
yesterday
;
and
spite
of
his
manly
stature
,
the
tears
flowed
silently
,
but
plenteously
,
down
his
cheeks
.
Yet
,
even
when
he
had
conquered
this
,
there
was
something
so
surprising
in
the
present
situation
of
his
brother
,
something
,
that
notwithstanding
all
the
fond
yearnings
of
his
own
heart
,
seemed
to
place
them
so
widely
asunder
,
that
the
joy
which
Mr.
Bell
looked
for
,
was
less
obvious
,
than
an
expression
of
almost
timid
embarrassment
,
as
he
said
,
"
Alas
,
sir
!
what
shall
I
seem
like
amongst
them
?
You
speak
of
my
dear
Edward
's
education
in
Germany
—
of
his
learning
a
foreign
language
in
France
—
while
I
!
—
my
best
,
and
truly
my
only
education
has
been
looking
at
nature
from
the
mountain
's
side
as
I
kept
sheep
,
and
all
my
learning
,
what
I
have
gathered
from
a
few
strangely-mixed
volumes
that
I
have
bought
or
borrowed
during
the
last
four
years
.
How
can
I
present
myself
before
them
?
How
they
can
welcome
me
?
"
"
Be
so
kind
,
my
dear
,
"
said
Mr.
Bell
to
his
wife
,
without
immediately
replying
to
Michael
's
question
,
—
"
be
so
kind
,
my
dear
,
as
to
find
Miss
Brotherton
's
last
letter
for
me
.
I
think
you
took
possession
of
it
,
and
I
doubt
not
have
preserved
it
among
other
treasures
of
the
same
kind
.
"
Mrs.
Bell
immediately
left
the
room
,
and
presently
returned
with
the
letter
in
her
hand
.
"
Take
that
letter
,
Michael
,
"
said
Mr.
Bell
;
"
take
it
into
the
garden
,
my
dear
boy
,
and
read
it
alone
,
and
without
interruption
.
You
will
find
a
shady
seat
where
you
may
be
very
comfortable
,
and
when
you
have
finished
the
perusal
come
into
my
study
,
and
tell
me
what
you
think
of
it
.
"
Michael
's
hand
trembled
as
he
took
the
letter
,
and
silently
obeying
the
instructions
he
received
,
he
walked
out
to
an
embowered
spot
where
he
could
not
be
seen
from
the
house
,
and
seating
himself
on
a
garden-bench
perused
the
following
letter
with
a
mixture
of
trepidation
and
eagerness
which
may
easily
be
imagined
:
"
Have
you
thought
it
long
since
last
you
heard
from
me
,
dear
friends
?
I
hope
you
have
,
for
it
has
seemed
very
long
to
me
since
last
I
wrote
to
you
.
But
what
a
thief
of
time
is
occupation
!
I
have
been
so
very
busy
in
drawing
plans
for
the
repairing
and
beautifying
my
old
castle
—
you
would
certainly
call
it
a
castle
in
England
—
and
so
constantly
called
upon
by
Edward
,
to
give
my
approval
to
his
carte
du
voyage
for
our
Italian
tour
,
and
by
Fanny
,
to
sanction
her
plans
for
our
future
flower-garden
,
and
by
Mrs.
Tremlett
to
settle
some
point
of
enormous
difficulty
respecting
the
packing
up
of
the
things
to
be
left
,
and
the
things
to
be
taken
,
that
though
day
by
day
I
have
told
myself
,
for
at
least
a
month
past
,
that
I
was
behaving
most
abominably
in
not
writing
,
I
have
never
before
found
a
leisure
hour
to
set
about
it
.
But
if
I
have
not
written
,
I
have
drawn
for
you
—
witness
the
view
from
my
beautiful
terrace
which
I
shall
send
with
this
letter
.
I
wish
I
could
have
put
my
own
phiz
in
it
to
show
you
how
healthy
and
well
I
look
;
but
unfortunately
,
you
know
,
there
is
no
point
of
sight
from
which
an
artist
can
catch
a
peep
at
himself
without
the
aid
of
a
looking-glass
,
and
though
I
pretty
nearly
live
upon
my
terrace
,
I
have
not
yet
taken
either
to
sleeping
or
dressing
there
,
so
no
mirror
was
at
hand
.
But
instead
of
myself
I
have
given
you
Edward
;
sometimes
I
do
feel
a
little
glorious
as
I
look
at
him
,
and
remember
the
delicate
pale
face
and
feeble
limbs
that
greeted
my
first
sight
of
him
in
Hoxley-lane
.
He
is
now
—
but
you
will
laugh
at
me
if
I
attempt
to
describe
him
in
words
—
the
sketch
I
send
is
no
bad
likeness
,
and
may
give
you
a
tolerably
correct
idea
of
the
alteration
that
has
taken
place
.
As
to
my
sweet
Fanny
,
though
the
attempt
would
have
been
a
bold
one
,
I
meant
to
have
given
you
a
likeness
of
her
too
,
but
her
attitude
was
so
picturesquely
pretty
as
she
stood
,
unconscious
of
what
I
was
about
,
that
I
contented
myself
with
the
back
of
her
curly
head
—
you
shall
have
her
face
another
time
.
"
How
can
I
be
sufficiently
thankful
to
Providence
for
having
redeemed
my
isolated
existence
from
the
state
of
uselessness
in
which
I
vegetated
before
I
met
Edward
Armstrong
and
Fanny
Fletcher
!
Not
an
hour
now
passes
by
me
,
without
leaving
behind
it
some
trace
of
my
having
advanced
in
the
precious
labour
of
making
these
two
beloved
beings
happier
.
Were
they
merely
ordinary
young
people
,
with
average
hearts
and
average
capacities
,
I
should
still
bless
Heaven
with
a
grateful
heart
,
for
having
permitted
me
to
be
the
means
of
changing
their
condition
,
from
one
of
great
suffering
to
a
life
of
innocent
enjoyment
.
But
as
it
is
,
I
know
not
how
to
be
thankful
enough
!
"
It
seems
to
me
,
dear
friends
,
however
much
I
increase
my
acquaintance
with
other
human
beings
,
that
Edward
and
Fanny
are
the
noblest
creatures
in
the
world
.
Is
it
that
suffering
,
being
of
necessity
a
part
of
our
earthly
nature
,
we
cannot
arrive
at
the
perfect
development
of
all
our
faculties
without
it
?
Where
it
arrives
in
later
life
,
perhaps
,
the
effect
,
though
inwardly
healthful
,
may
not
show
fruits
so
beautiful
.
There
is
in
the
minds
of
both
of
them
,
a
brightness
of
intelligence
,
and
a
delicious
calm
of
temper
that
I
have
never
met
elsewhere
.
It
is
as
if
a
heavy
weight
that
had
been
painfully
crushing
them
,
was
suddenly
removed
,
causing
all
the
ordinary
sensations
of
human
existence
to
be
felt
as
a
luxury
.
Young
as
they
are
,
they
are
full
of
instruction
,
right
thinking
,
pure
feeling
,
and
a
firmness
of
integrity
which
it
is
the
best
joy
of
my
life
to
contemplate
—
and
all
this
built
on
so
firm
a
foundation
of
religious
principle
,
that
I
can
have
no
fears
for
its
endurance
.
After
this
,
it
would
be
very
weak
and
womanish
folly
to
dwell
much
on
their
personal
advantages
,
or
even
on
the
peculiar
charm
of
their
manners
and
conversation
—
yet
they
are
gifts
which
bring
a
charm
,
to
which
it
is
difficult
to
be
quite
insensible
.
"
Is
it
not
strange
,
dear
friends
,
that
being
such
as
I
describe
them
,
and
having
passed
so
large
a
portion
of
their
lives
together
in
the
mutual
contemplation
of
each
other
's
excellence
,
is
it
not
strange
that
they
should
not
by
this
time
be
lovers
,
instead
of
friends
?
Yet
such
is
not
the
case
.
That
they
love
each
other
sincerely
is
most
true
,
and
I
could
give
a
thousand
proofs
that
either
would
at
all
times
gladly
renounce
amusement
or
pleasure
of
any
kind
,
for
the
sake
of
the
other
;
but
they
are
not
in
love
.
If
I
did
not
believe
it
impossible
,
considering
the
age
of
the
parties
when
they
parted
,
I
should
think
that
Fanny
's
little
heart
had
been
buried
in
the
grave
of
Michael
,
the
poor
little
fellow
,
whose
early
sufferings
under
the
tender
patronage
of
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
,
first
roused
my
sleepy
existence
into
action
.
She
cannot
yet
hear
his
name
mentioned
,
without
betraying
a
degree
of
emotion
that
it
is
painful
to
witness
;
and
when
,
as
sometimes
happens
,
Edward
is
taken
for
her
brother
,
it
seems
to
delight
her
.
'
Yes
,
yes
,
indeed
he
is
my
brother
!
I
love
him
as
such
;
and
if
you
ask
him
,
he
will
tell
you
that
I
am
to
him
a
dear
and
loving
sister
,
'
I
have
heard
her
say
,
and
if
Edward
had
been
asked
,
I
do
believe
he
would
have
answered
,
and
truly
too
,
in
the
same
strain
.
"
Edward
is
now
twenty-one
,
and
my
pretty
Fanny
nineteen
;
but
,
notwithstanding
the
variety
of
captivating
young
people
with
whom
they
are
perpetually
associating
,
I
cannot
believe
that
the
heart
of
either
has
as
yet
received
any
tender
impression
—
though
in
more
cases
than
one
,
I
have
had
reason
to
know
that
they
have
not
been
looked
at
with
indifference
.
Yet
,
sometimes
I
am
puzzled
about
Edward
!
I
think
he
is
less
gay
and
joyous
than
he
used
to
be
.
At
any
time
,
indeed
,
the
name
of
Michael
has
ever
been
sufficient
to
bring
an
expression
of
profound
and
hopeless
sorrow
upon
his
fine
countenance
,
which
it
wrings
my
heart
to
see
;
for
,
alas
!
how
vain
must
be
all
my
affection
,
all
sisterly
love
,
to
help
him
there
!
But
,
incontestably
of
late
,
his
spirits
have
been
less
gay
than
formerly
.
This
,
to
tell
you
the
truth
,
is
the
only
drawback
to
the
happiness
I
enjoy
.
Could
Fanny
and
Edward
learn
to
forget
poor
Michael
,
I
should
hardly
have
a
wish
left
;
but
I
have
little
hope
of
this
—
his
memory
,
I
truly
believe
is
too
deeply
engraven
on
their
hearts
,
for
any
subsequent
events
to
efface
it
.
Sometimes
,
when
I
meditate
on
this
sadly-enduring
sorrow
,
I
fancy
that
I
should
rejoice
if
they
were
both
of
them
to
fall
in
love
,
as
a
cure
for
it
.
But
,
alas
!
whenever
that
happens
,
what
a
breaking
up
of
happiness
it
will
be
!
for
I
can
hardly
hope
to
find
a
continental
wife
or
husband
for
my
adopted
children
,
sufficiently
English
in
habits
and
character
,
to
permit
my
inviting
them
to
make
a
part
of
my
family
.
Yet
marry
abroad
they
must
,
I
think
,
if
they
marry
at
all
—
for
I
will
never
by
my
own
free
will
expose
them
to
the
mortification
likely
to
ensue
upon
such
an
explanation
respecting
their
origin
,
as
must
be
the
consequence
of
any
matrimonial
negotiation
in
England
.
On
the
continent
,
the
ample
fortunes
they
will
possess
,
with
their
good
education
,
and
great
natural
advantages
,
will
suffice
to
make
them
very
desirable
alliances
to
almost
any
one
.
But
these
are
anxieties
,
which
though
they
must
come
upon
me
sooner
or
later
,
I
suppose
,
I
shall
endeavour
to
push
from
me
,
and
forget
as
long
as
I
can
.
"
And
now
I
must
bid
you
farewell
;
for
during
the
next
month
,
or
perhaps
longer
,
our
course
will
be
directed
by
circumstances
that
we
are
not
fully
acquainted
with
as
yet
.
But
I
will
write
as
soon
as
I
can
tell
you
with
certainty
where
your
letters
can
reach
us
.
"
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
Edward
,
and
Fanny
,
send
affectionate
greetings
to
you
all
.
And
should
it
fall
in
your
way
to
see
,
or
convey
a
message
to
poor
Martha
Dowling
,
I
will
beg
you
to
tell
her
that
I
shall
ever
remember
her
with
great
affection
and
esteem
.
Adieu
!
"
Ever
dear
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Bell
,
"
Your
grateful
and
affectionate
,
"
Mary
Brotherton
.
"
Did
one
reading
of
this
epistle
suffice
for
Michael
?
did
two
?
did
three
?
It
is
difficult
to
say
,
for
he
remained
in
his
shady
and
obscure
retreat
so
long
,
that
Mr.
Bell
,
notwithstanding
his
previous
determination
not
to
disturb
him
,
began
to
think
that
it
was
time
to
see
whether
all
the
good
news
it
contained
had
not
killed
him
with
joy
.
And
when
he
reached
the
bench
,
Michael
still
sat
with
the
precious
letter
in
his
hand
,
and
his
eyes
fixed
upon
it
,
so
that
it
appeared
as
if
he
had
not
yet
finished
the
perusal
of
it
.
Michael
looked
up
as
Mr.
Bell
approached
him
,
and
immediately
rising
,
stepped
forward
to
receive
him
.
It
was
not
,
however
,
any
wild
excess
of
joy
that
his
features
expressed
,
but
there
were
traces
of
very
strong
emotion
on
his
countenance
,
and
his
hand
trembled
as
he
stretched
it
forth
to
receive
that
which
was
kindly
extended
towards
him
.
"
You
have
remained
too
long
alone
,
my
dear
boy
,
in
this
cold
nook
,
"
said
Mr.
Bell
,
taking
the
young
man
's
arm
within
his
own
,
and
leading
him
towards
the
house
.
"
What
makes
you
look
so
pale
,
Michael
?
You
are
not
ill
,
I
hope
?
"
"
No
,
sir
,
I
think
not
,
"
was
the
reply
,
"
but
I
can
hardly
tell
you
how
I
feel
.
At
one
moment
the
idea
that
my
dear
brother
still
lives
,
and
that
it
is
possible
I
may
again
see
him
,
hear
him
,
hold
him
in
my
arms
,
seems
to
make
me
too
happy
to
breathe
—
and
then
again
,
a
sort
of
doubt
and
sadness
takes
hold
upon
me
,
and
I
do
not
feel
as
if
it
were
possible
I
could
ever
make
one
in
the
happy
party
on
the
terrace
.
"
"
And
why
not
,
Michael
?
"
demanded
Mr.
Bell
somewhat
reproachfully
;
"
after
reading
that
letter
,
can
you
find
it
in
your
heart
to
doubt
that
the
party
on
the
terrace
would
receive
you
joyfully
?
"
"
Will
not
the
happiness
be
too
great
?
"
cried
Michael
.
"
Oh
!
how
can
I
deserve
it
?
"
"
Not
by
doubting
the
goodness
or
the
affection
of
those
who
love
you
,
"
replied
Mr.
Bell
.
"
But
come
,
I
must
not
preach
to
you
now
,
I
believe
,
for
I
suspect
that
you
are
not
in
a
condition
to
profit
by
it
.
Come
into
the
house
,
sit
down
,
and
grow
reasonable
as
fast
as
you
can
,
and
then
we
will
talk
of
the
time
and
the
mode
in
which
you
must
set
off
to
join
your
family
—
for
your
family
they
are
,
and
will
be
,
Michael
,
you
may
depend
upon
it
.
"
"
Can
I
throw
myself
upon
Miss
Brotherton
,
sir
,
without
her
permission
?
"
demanded
Michael
,
while
his
paleness
was
changed
for
a
moment
into
a
glow
of
the
deepest
red
.
"
I
am
afraid
you
have
a
very
proud
heart
,
Michael
,
"
said
Mr.
Bell
,
looking
at
him
;
"
and
that
is
not
right
,
it
is
not
christianlike
.
"
"
Oh
,
Mr.
Bell
!
"
replied
Michael
,
with
strong
feeling
,
"
have
I
not
already
eaten
the
bitter
bread
of
dependence
,
and
can
I
,
at
my
age
,
and
with
my
power
to
labour
,
submit
to
it
again
?
"
"
You
have
a
notion
then
,
young
man
,
that
benefits
conferred
by
a
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
,
and
a
Miss
Brotherton
,
are
the
same
thing
?
"
said
Mr.
Bell
.
"
Not
so
,
sir
,
"
replied
Michael
,
"
I
cannot
doubt
that
she
who
wrote
this
letter
,
must
be
both
great
and
good
,
and
I
well
know
that
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
was
neither
.
But
I
only
know
Miss
Brotherton
as
one
of
the
fine
folks
visiting
at
his
house
,
and
I
cannot
feel
that
I
should
like
to
start
out
suddenly
upon
her
,
from
the
tomb
,
as
it
would
seem
,
appearing
to
expect
that
she
should
adopt
me
too
,
as
she
has
done
my
brother
Edward
.
"
"
Well
,
Michael
,
I
must
not
blame
you
for
this
,
because
I
believe
it
is
very
natural
;
yet
,
nevertheless
,
I
feel
quite
sure
that
you
will
forget
all
such
notions
when
you
see
Miss
Brotherton
,
"
returned
Mr.
Bell
,
smiling
.
Michael
shook
his
head
,
but
he
returned
the
smile
,
though
rather
languidly
;
and
when
they
had
reached
the
house
,
and
were
again
seated
in
the
study
,
he
said
,
"
What
does
Miss
Brotherton
mean
,
sir
,
by
calling
Miss
Martha
Dowling
'
poor
Martha
?
'
I
trust
that
no
misfortune
has
befallen
her
?
she
was
very
kind
to
me
,
and
I
shall
always
love
her
,
although
her
name
is
Dowling
.
"
"
