.Now
her
heart
failed
her
for
an
instant
;
but
still
she
was
not
daunted
from
her
purpose
,
painful
as
its
fulfilment
was
sure
to
be
.
She
laid
her
hand
on
his
arm
.
As
she
expected
,
after
a
momentary
glance
at
the
person
who
thus
endeavoured
to
detain
him
,
he
made
an
effort
to
shake
it
off
,
and
pass
on
.
But
trembling
as
she
was
,
she
had
provided
against
this
by
a
firm
and
unusual
grasp
.
"
You
must
listen
to
me
,
Jem
Wilson
,
"
she
said
,
with
almost
an
accent
of
command
.
"
Go
away
,
missis
;
I
've
nought
to
do
with
you
,
either
in
hearkening
,
or
talking
.
"
He
made
another
struggle
.
"
You
must
listen
,
"
she
said
again
,
authoritatively
,
"
for
Mary
Barton
's
sake
.
"
The
spell
of
her
name
was
as
potent
as
that
of
the
mariner
's
glittering
eye
.
"
He
listened
like
a
three-year
child
.
"
"
I
know
you
care
enough
for
her
to
wish
to
save
her
from
harm
.
"
He
interrupted
his
earnest
gaze
into
her
face
,
with
the
exclamation
—
"
And
who
can
yo
be
to
know
Mary
Barton
,
or
to
know
that
she
's
ought
to
me
?
"
There
was
a
little
strife
in
Esther
's
mind
for
an
instant
,
between
the
shame
of
acknowledging
herself
,
and
the
additional
weight
to
her
revelation
which
such
acknowledgment
would
give
.
Then
she
spoke
.
"
Do
you
remember
Esther
,
the
sister
of
John
Barton
's
wife
?
the
aunt
to
Mary
?
And
the
Valentine
I
sent
you
last
February
ten
years
?
"
"
Yes
,
I
mind
her
well
!
But
yo
are
not
Esther
,
are
you
?
"
He
looked
again
into
her
face
,
and
seeing
that
indeed
it
was
his
boyhood
's
friend
,
he
took
her
hand
,
and
shook
it
with
a
cordiality
that
forgot
the
present
in
the
past
.
"
Why
,
Esther
!
Where
han
ye
been
this
many
a
year
?
Where
han
ye
been
wandering
that
we
none
of
us
could
find
you
out
?
"
The
question
was
asked
thoughtlessly
,
but
answered
with
fierce
earnestness
.
"
Where
have
I
been
?
What
have
I
been
doing
?
Why
do
you
torment
me
with
questions
like
these
?
Can
you
not
guess
?
But
the
story
of
my
life
is
wanted
to
give
force
to
my
speech
,
afterwards
I
will
tell
it
you
.
Nay
!
do
n't
change
your
fickle
mind
now
,
and
say
you
do
n't
want
to
hear
it
.
You
must
hear
it
,
and
I
must
tell
it
;
and
then
see
after
Mary
,
and
take
care
she
does
not
become
like
me
.
As
she
is
loving
now
,
so
did
I
love
once
;
one
above
me
far
.
"
She
remarked
not
,
in
her
own
absorption
,
the
change
in
Jem
's
breathing
,
the
sudden
clutch
at
the
wall
which
told
the
fearfully
vivid
interest
he
took
in
what
she
said
.
"
He
was
so
handsome
,
so
kind
!
Well
,
the
regiment
was
ordered
to
Chester
(
did
I
tell
you
he
was
an
officer
?
)
,
and
he
could
not
bear
to
part
from
me
,
nor
I
from
him
,
so
he
took
me
with
him
.
I
never
thought
poor
Mary
would
have
taken
it
so
to
heart
!
I
always
meant
to
send
for
her
to
pay
me
a
visit
when
I
was
married
;
for
,
mark
you
!
he
promised
me
marriage
.
They
all
do
.
Then
came
three
years
of
happiness
.
I
suppose
I
ought
not
to
have
been
happy
,
but
I
was
.
I
had
a
little
girl
,
too
.
Oh
!
the
sweetest
darling
that
ever
was
seen
!
But
I
must
not
think
of
her
,
"
putting
her
hand
wildly
up
to
her
forehead
,
"
or
I
shall
go
mad
;
I
shall
.
"
"
Do
n't
tell
me
any
more
about
yoursel
,
"
said
Jem
,
soothingly
.
"
What
!
you
're
tired
already
,
are
you
?
but
I
'll
tell
you
;
as
you
've
asked
for
it
,
you
shall
hear
it
.
I
wo
n't
recall
the
agony
of
the
past
for
nothing
.
I
will
have
the
relief
of
telling
it
.
Oh
,
how
happy
I
was
!
"
—
sinking
her
voice
into
a
plaintive
child-like
manner
.
"
It
came
like
a
shot
on
me
when
one
day
he
came
to
me
and
told
me
he
was
ordered
to
Ireland
,
and
must
leave
me
behind
;
at
Bristol
we
then
were
.
"
Jem
muttered
some
words
;
she
caught
their
meaning
,
and
in
a
pleading
voice
continued
,
"
Oh
,
do
n't
abuse
him
;
do
n't
speak
a
word
against
him
!
You
do
n't
know
how
I
love
him
yet
;
yet
,
when
I
am
sunk
so
low
.
You
do
n't
guess
how
kind
he
was
.
He
gave
me
fifty
pound
before
we
parted
,
and
I
knew
he
could
ill
spare
it
.
Do
n't
,
Jem
,
please
,
"
as
his
muttered
indignation
rose
again
.
For
her
sake
he
ceased
.
"
I
might
have
done
better
with
the
money
;
I
see
now
.
But
I
did
not
know
the
value
of
money
.
Formerly
I
had
earned
it
easily
enough
at
the
factory
,
and
as
I
had
no
more
sensible
wants
,
I
spent
it
on
dress
and
on
eating
.
While
I
lived
with
him
,
I
had
it
for
asking
;
and
fifty
pounds
would
,
I
thought
,
go
a
long
way
.
So
I
went
back
to
Chester
,
where
I
'd
been
so
happy
,
and
set
up
a
small-ware
shop
,
and
hired
a
room
near
.
We
should
have
done
well
,
but
alas
!
alas
!
my
little
girl
fell
ill
,
and
I
could
not
mind
my
shop
and
her
too
;
and
things
grew
worse
and
worse
.
I
sold
my
goods
any
how
to
get
money
to
buy
her
food
and
medicine
;
I
wrote
over
and
over
again
to
her
father
for
help
,
but
he
must
have
changed
his
quarters
,
for
I
never
got
an
answer
.
The
landlord
seized
the
few
bobbins
and
tapes
I
had
left
,
for
shop-rent
;
and
the
person
to
whom
the
mean
little
room
,
to
which
we
had
been
forced
to
remove
,
belonged
,
threatened
to
turn
us
out
unless
his
rent
was
paid
;
it
had
run
on
many
weeks
,
and
it
was
winter
,
cold
bleak
winter
;
and
my
child
was
so
ill
,
so
ill
,
and
I
was
starving
.
And
I
could
not
bear
to
see
her
suffer
,
and
forgot
how
much
better
it
would
be
for
us
to
die
together
;
—
oh
her
moans
,
her
moans
,
which
money
would
give
me
the
means
of
relieving
!
So
I
went
out
into
the
street
,
one
January
night
—
Do
you
think
God
will
punish
me
for
that
?
"
she
asked
with
wild
vehemence
,
almost
amounting
to
insanity
,
and
shaking
Jem
's
arm
in
order
to
force
an
answer
from
him
.
But
before
he
could
shape
his
heart
's
sympathy
into
words
,
her
voice
had
lost
its
wildness
,
and
she
spoke
with
the
quiet
of
despair
.
"
But
it
's
no
matter
!
I
've
done
that
since
,
which
separates
us
as
far
asunder
as
heaven
and
hell
can
be
.
"
Her
voice
rose
again
to
the
sharp
pitch
of
agony
.
"
My
darling
!
my
darling
!
even
after
death
I
may
not
see
thee
,
my
own
sweet
one
!
She
was
so
good
—
like
a
little
angel
.
What
is
that
text
,
I
do
n't
remember
,
—
that
text
mother
used
to
teach
me
when
I
sat
on
her
knee
long
ago
;
it
begins
,
'
Blessed
are
the
pure
'
"
—
"
Blessed
are
the
pure
in
heart
,
for
they
shall
see
God
.
"
"
Ay
,
that
's
it
!
It
would
break
mother
's
heart
if
she
knew
what
I
am
now
—
it
did
break
Mary
's
heart
,
you
see
.
And
now
I
recollect
it
was
about
her
child
I
wanted
so
to
see
you
,
Jem
.
You
know
Mary
Barton
,
do
n't
you
?
"
said
she
,
trying
to
collect
her
thoughts
.
Yes
,
Jem
knew
her
.
How
well
,
his
beating
heart
could
testify
!
"
Well
,
there
's
something
to
do
for
her
;
I
forget
what
;
wait
a
minute
!
She
is
so
like
my
little
girl
;
"
said
she
,
raising
her
eyes
,
glistening
with
unshed
tears
,
in
search
of
the
sympathy
of
Jem
's
countenance
.
He
deeply
pitied
her
;
but
oh
!
how
he
longed
to
recall
her
mind
to
the
subject
of
Mary
,
and
the
lover
above
her
in
rank
,
and
the
service
to
be
done
for
her
sake
.
But
he
controlled
himself
to
silence
.
After
awhile
,
she
spoke
again
,
and
in
a
calmer
voice
.
"
When
I
came
to
Manchester
(
for
I
could
not
stay
in
Chester
after
her
death
)
,
I
found
you
all
out
very
soon
.
And
yet
I
never
thought
my
poor
sister
was
dead
.
I
suppose
I
would
not
think
so
.
I
used
to
watch
about
the
court
where
John
lived
,
for
many
and
many
a
night
,
and
gather
all
I
could
about
them
from
the
neighbours
'
talk
;
for
I
never
asked
a
question
.
I
put
this
and
that
together
,
and
followed
one
,
and
listened
to
the
other
;
many
's
the
time
I
've
watched
the
policeman
off
his
beat
,
and
peeped
through
the
chink
of
the
window-shutter
to
see
the
old
room
,
and
sometimes
Mary
or
her
father
sitting
up
late
for
some
reason
or
another
.
I
found
out
Mary
went
to
learn
dress-making
,
and
I
began
to
be
frightened
for
her
;
for
it
's
a
bad
life
for
a
girl
to
be
out
late
at
night
in
the
streets
,
and
after
many
an
hour
of
weary
work
,
they
're
ready
to
follow
after
any
novelty
that
makes
a
little
change
.
But
I
made
up
my
mind
,
that
bad
as
I
was
,
I
could
watch
over
Mary
and
perhaps
keep
her
from
harm
.
So
I
used
to
wait
for
her
at
nights
,
and
follow
her
home
,
often
when
she
little
knew
any
one
was
near
her
.
There
was
one
of
her
companions
I
never
could
abide
,
and
I
'm
sure
that
girl
is
at
the
bottom
of
some
mischief
.
By-and-bye
,
Mary
's
walks
homewards
were
not
alone
.
She
was
joined
soon
after
she
came
out
,
by
a
man
;
a
gentleman
.
I
began
to
fear
for
her
,
for
I
saw
she
was
light-hearted
,
and
pleased
with
his
attentions
;
and
I
thought
worse
of
him
for
having
such
long
talks
with
that
bold
girl
I
told
you
of
.
But
I
was
laid
up
for
a
long
time
with
spitting
of
blood
;
and
could
do
nothing
.
I
'm
sure
it
made
me
worse
,
thinking
about
what
might
be
happening
to
Mary
.
And
when
I
came
out
,
all
was
going
on
as
before
,
only
she
seemed
fonder
of
him
than
ever
;
and
oh
Jem
!
her
father
wo
n't
listen
to
me
,
and
it
's
you
must
save
Mary
!
You
're
like
a
brother
to
her
,
and
maybe
could
give
her
advice
and
watch
over
her
,
and
at
any
rate
John
will
hearken
to
you
;
only
he
's
so
stern
and
so
cruel
.
"
She
began
to
cry
a
little
at
the
remembrance
of
his
harsh
words
;
but
Jem
cut
her
short
by
his
hoarse
,
stern
inquiry
,
"
Who
is
this
spark
that
Mary
loves
?
Tell
me
his
name
!
"
"
It
's
young
Carson
,
old
Carson
's
son
,
that
your
father
worked
for
.
"
There
was
a
pause
.
She
broke
the
silence
.
"
Oh
!
Jem
,
I
charge
you
with
the
care
of
her
!
I
suppose
it
would
be
murder
to
kill
her
,
but
it
would
be
better
for
her
to
die
than
to
live
to
lead
such
a
life
as
I
do
.
Do
you
hear
me
,
Jem
?
"
"
Yes
!
I
hear
you
.
It
would
be
better
.
Better
we
were
all
dead
.
"
This
was
said
as
if
thinking
aloud
;
but
he
immediately
changed
his
tone
,
and
continued
,
"
Esther
,
you
may
trust
to
my
doing
all
I
can
for
Mary
.
That
I
have
determined
on
.
And
now
listen
to
me
!
you
loathe
the
life
you
lead
,
else
you
would
not
speak
of
it
as
you
do
.
Come
home
with
me
.
Come
to
my
mother
.
She
and
my
aunt
Alice
live
together
.
I
will
see
that
they
give
you
a
welcome
.
And
to-morrow
I
will
see
if
some
honest
way
of
living
cannot
be
found
for
you
.
Come
home
with
me
.
"
She
was
silent
for
a
minute
,
and
he
hoped
he
had
gained
his
point
.
Then
she
said
,
"
God
bless
you
,
Jem
,
for
the
words
you
have
just
spoken
.
Some
years
ago
you
might
have
saved
me
,
as
I
hope
and
trust
you
will
yet
save
Mary
.
But
it
is
too
late
now
;
—
too
late
,
"
she
added
,
with
accents
of
deep
despair
.
Still
he
did
not
relax
his
hold
.
"
Come
home
,
"
he
said
.
"
I
tell
you
,
I
cannot
.
I
could
not
lead
a
virtuous
life
if
I
would
.
I
should
only
disgrace
you
.
If
you
will
know
all
,
"
said
she
,
as
he
still
seemed
inclined
to
urge
her
,
"
I
must
have
drink
.
Such
as
live
like
me
could
not
bear
life
if
they
did
not
drink
.
It
's
the
only
thing
to
keep
us
from
suicide
.
If
we
did
not
drink
,
we
could
not
stand
the
memory
of
what
we
have
been
,
and
the
thought
of
what
we
are
,
for
a
day
.
If
I
go
without
food
,
and
without
shelter
,
I
must
have
my
dram
.
Oh
!
you
do
n't
know
the
awful
nights
I
have
had
in
prison
for
want
of
it
!
"
said
she
,
shuddering
,
and
glaring
round
with
terrified
eyes
,
as
if
dreading
to
see
some
spiritual
creature
,
with
dim
form
,
near
her
.
"
It
is
so
frightful
to
see
them
,
"
whispering
in
tones
of
wildness
,
although
so
low
spoken
.
"
There
they
go
round
and
round
my
bed
the
whole
night
through
.
My
mother
,
carrying
little
Annie
(
I
wonder
how
they
got
together
)
and
Mary
—
and
all
looking
at
me
with
their
sad
,
stony
eyes
;
oh
Jem
!
it
is
so
terrible
!
They
do
n't
turn
back
either
,
but
pass
behind
the
head
of
the
bed
,
and
I
feel
their
eyes
on
me
everywhere
.
If
I
creep
under
the
clothes
I
still
see
them
;
and
what
is
worse
,
"
hissing
out
her
words
with
fright
,
"
they
see
me
.
Do
n't
speak
to
me
of
leading
a
better
life
—
I
must
have
drink
.
I
cannot
pass
to-night
without
a
dram
;
I
dare
not
.
"
Jem
was
silent
from
deep
sympathy
.
Oh
!
could
he
,
then
,
do
nothing
for
her
!
She
spoke
again
,
but
in
a
less
excited
tone
,
although
it
was
thrillingly
earnest
.
"
You
are
grieved
for
me
!
I
know
it
better
than
if
you
told
me
in
words
.
But
you
can
do
nothing
for
me
.
I
am
past
hope
.
You
can
yet
save
Mary
.
You
must
.
She
is
innocent
,
except
for
the
great
error
of
loving
one
above
her
in
station
.
Jem
!
you
will
save
her
?
"
With
heart
and
soul
,
though
in
few
words
,
Jem
promised
that
if
aught
earthly
could
keep
her
from
falling
,
he
would
do
it
.
Then
she
blessed
him
,
and
bade
him
good-night
.
"
Stay
a
minute
,
"
said
he
,
as
she
was
on
the
point
of
departure
.
"
I
may
want
to
speak
to
you
again
.
I
mun
know
where
to
find
you
—
where
do
you
live
?
"
She
laughed
strangely
.
"
And
do
you
think
one
sunk
so
low
as
I
am
has
a
home
?
Decent
,
good
people
have
homes
.
We
have
none
.
No
,
if
you
want
me
,
come
at
night
,
and
look
at
the
corners
of
the
streets
about
here
.
The
colder
,
the
bleaker
,
the
more
stormy
the
night
,
the
more
certain
you
will
be
to
find
me
.
For
then
,
"
she
added
,
with
a
plaintive
fall
in
her
voice
,
"
it
is
so
cold
sleeping
in
entries
,
and
on
door-steps
,
and
I
want
a
dram
more
than
ever
.
"
Again
she
rapidly
turned
off
,
and
Jem
also
went
on
his
way
.
But
before
he
reached
the
end
of
the
street
,
even
in
the
midst
of
the
jealous
anguish
that
filled
his
heart
,
his
conscience
smote
him
.
He
had
not
done
enough
to
save
her
.
One
more
effort
,
and
she
might
have
come
.
Nay
,
twenty
efforts
would
have
been
well
rewarded
by
her
yielding
.
He
turned
back
,
but
she
was
gone
.
In
the
tumult
of
his
other
feelings
,
his
self-reproach
was
deadened
for
the
time
.
But
many
and
many
a
day
afterwards
he
bitterly
regretted
his
omission
of
duty
;
his
weariness
of
well-doing
.
Now
,
the
great
thing
was
to
reach
home
,
and
solitude
.
Mary
loved
another
!
Oh
!
how
should
he
bear
it
?
He
had
thought
her
rejection
of
him
a
hard
trial
,
but
that
was
nothing
now
.
He
only
remembered
it
,
to
be
thankful
he
had
not
yielded
to
the
temptation
of
trying
his
fate
again
,
not
in
actual
words
,
but
in
a
meeting
,
where
her
manner
should
tell
far
more
than
words
,
that
her
sweeter
smiles
,
her
dainty
movements
,
her
pretty
household
ways
,
were
all
to
be
reserved
to
gladden
another
's
eyes
and
heart
.
And
he
must
live
on
;
that
seemed
the
strangest
.
That
a
long
life
(
and
he
knew
men
did
live
long
,
even
with
deep
,
biting
sorrow
corroding
at
their
hearts
)
must
be
spent
without
Mary
;
nay
,
with
the
consciousness
she
was
another
's
!
That
hell
of
thought
he
would
reserve
for
the
quiet
of
his
own
room
,
the
dead
stillness
of
night
.
He
was
on
the
threshold
of
home
now
.
He
entered
.
There
were
the
usual
faces
,
the
usual
sights
.
He
loathed
them
,
and
then
he
cursed
himself
because
he
loathed
them
.
His
mother
's
love
had
taken
a
cross
turn
,
because
he
had
kept
the
tempting
supper
she
had
prepared
for
him
waiting
until
it
was
nearly
spoilt
.
Alice
,
her
dulled
senses
deadening
day
by
day
,
sat
mutely
near
the
fire
;
her
happiness
,
bounded
by
the
circle
of
the
consciousness
of
the
presence
of
her
foster
child
,
knowing
that
his
voice
repeated
what
was
passing
to
her
deafened
ear
,
that
his
arm
removed
each
little
obstacle
to
her
tottering
steps
.
And
Will
,
out
of
the
very
kindness
of
his
heart
,
talked
more
and
more
merrily
than
ever
.
He
saw
Jem
was
downcast
,
and
fancied
his
rattling
might
cheer
him
;
at
any
rate
,
it
drowned
his
aunt
's
muttered
grumblings
,
and
in
some
measure
concealed
the
blank
of
the
evening
.
At
last
,
bed-time
came
;
and
Will
withdrew
to
his
neighbouring
lodging
;
and
Jane
and
Alice
Wilson
had
raked
the
fire
,
and
fastened
doors
and
shutters
,
and
pattered
up
stairs
,
with
their
tottering
foot-steps
,
and
shrill
voices
.
Jem
,
too
,
went
to
the
closet
termed
his
bed-room
.
There
was
no
bolt
to
the
door
;
but
by
one
strong
effort
of
his
right
arm
,
a
heavy
chest
was
moved
against
it
,
and
he
could
sit
down
on
the
side
of
his
bed
,
and
think
.
Mary
loved
another
!
That
idea
would
rise
uppermost
in
his
mind
,
and
had
to
be
combated
in
all
its
forms
of
pain
.
It
was
,
perhaps
,
no
great
wonder
that
she
should
prefer
one
so
much
above
Jem
in
the
external
things
of
life
.
But
the
gentleman
;
why
did
he
,
with
his
range
of
choice
among
the
ladies
of
the
land
,
why
did
he
stoop
down
to
carry
off
the
poor
man
's
darling
?
With
all
the
glories
of
the
garden
at
his
hand
,
why
did
he
prefer
to
cull
the
wild-rose
,
—
Jem
's
own
fragrant
wild-rose
?
His
own
!
Oh
!
never
now
his
own
!
—
Gone
for
evermore
!
Then
uprose
the
guilty
longing
for
blood
!
—
The
frenzy
of
jealousy
!
—
Some
one
should
die
.
He
would
rather
Mary
were
dead
,
cold
in
her
grave
,
than
that
she
were
another
's
.
A
vision
of
her
pale
,
sweet
face
,
with
her
bright
hair
all
bedabbled
with
gore
,
seemed
to
float
constantly
before
his
aching
eyes
.
But
hers
were
ever
open
,
and
contained
,
in
their
soft
,
deathly
look
,
such
mute
reproach
!
What
had
she
done
to
deserve
such
cruel
treatment
from
him
?
She
had
been
wooed
by
one
whom
Jem
knew
to
be
handsome
,
gay
,
and
bright
,
and
she
had
given
him
her
love
.
That
was
all
!
It
was
the
wooer
who
should
die
.
Yes
,
die
,
knowing
the
cause
of
his
death
.
Jem
pictured
him
(
and
gloated
on
the
picture
)
,
lying
smitten
,
yet
conscious
;
and
listening
to
the
upbraiding
accusation
of
his
murderer
.
How
he
had
left
his
own
rank
,
and
dared
to
love
a
maiden
of
low
degree
;
and
—
oh
!
stinging
agony
of
all
—
how
she
,
in
return
,
had
loved
him
!
Then
the
other
nature
spoke
up
,
and
bade
him
remember
the
anguish
he
should
so
prepare
for
Mary
!
At
first
he
refused
to
listen
to
that
better
voice
;
or
listened
only
to
pervert
.
He
would
glory
in
her
wailing
grief
!
he
would
take
pleasure
in
her
desolation
of
heart
!
No
!
he
could
not
,
said
the
still
small
voice
.
It
would
be
worse
,
far
worse
,
to
have
caused
such
woe
,
than
it
was
now
to
bear
his
present
heavy
burden
.
But
it
was
too
heavy
,
too
grievous
to
be
borne
,
and
live
.
He
would
slay
himself
,
and
the
lovers
should
love
on
,
and
the
sun
shine
bright
,
and
he
with
his
burning
,
woeful
heart
would
be
at
rest
.
"
Rest
that
is
reserved
for
the
people
of
God
.
"
Had
he
not
promised
with
such
earnest
purpose
of
soul
,
as
makes
words
more
solemn
than
oaths
,
to
save
Mary
from
becoming
such
as
Esther
?
Should
he
shrink
from
the
duties
of
life
,
into
the
cowardliness
of
death
?
Who
would
then
guard
Mary
,
with
her
love
and
her
innocence
?
Would
it
not
be
a
goodly
thing
to
serve
her
,
although
she
loved
him
not
;
to
be
her
preserving
angel
,
through
the
perils
of
life
;
and
she
,
unconscious
all
the
while
?
He
braced
up
his
soul
,
and
said
to
himself
,
that
with
God
's
help
he
would
be
that
earthly
keeper
.
And
now
the
mists
and
the
storms
seemed
clearing
away
from
his
path
,
though
it
still
was
full
of
stinging
thorns
.
Having
done
the
duty
nearest
to
him
(
of
reducing
the
tumult
of
his
own
heart
to
something
like
order
)
,
the
second
became
more
plain
before
him
.
Poor
Esther
's
experience
had
led
her
,
perhaps
,
too
hastily
to
the
conclusion
,
that
Mr.
Carson
's
intentions
were
evil
towards
Mary
;
at
least
she
had
given
no
just
ground
for
the
fears
she
entertained
that
such
was
the
case
.
It
was
possible
,
nay
,
to
Jem
's
heart
,
very
probable
,
that
he
might
only
be
too
happy
to
marry
her
.
She
was
a
lady
by
right
of
nature
,
Jem
thought
;
in
movement
,
grace
,
and
spirit
.
what
was
birth
to
a
Manchester
manufacturer
,
many
of
whom
glory
,
and
justly
too
,
in
being
the
architects
of
their
own
fortunes
?
And
,
as
far
as
wealth
was
concerned
,
judging
another
by
himself
,
Jem
could
only
imagine
it
a
great
privilege
to
lay
it
at
the
feet
of
the
loved
one
.
Harry
Carson
's
mother
had
been
a
factory
girl
;
so
,
after
all
,
what
was
the
great
reason
for
doubting
his
intentions
towards
Mary
?
There
might
probably
be
some
little
awkwardness
about
the
affair
at
first
:
Mary
's
father
having
such
strong
prejudices
on
the
one
hand
;
and
something
of
the
same
kind
being
likely
to
exist
on
the
part
of
Mr.
Carson
's
family
.
But
Jem
knew
he
had
power
over
John
Barton
's
mind
;
and
it
would
be
something
to
exert
that
power
in
promoting
Mary
's
happiness
,
and
to
relinquish
all
thought
of
self
in
so
doing
.
Oh
!
why
had
Esther
chosen
him
for
this
office
?
It
was
beyond
his
strength
to
act
rightly
!
Why
had
she
singled
him
out
?
The
answer
came
when
he
was
calm
enough
to
listen
for
it
.
Because
Mary
had
no
other
friend
capable
of
the
duty
required
of
him
;
the
duty
of
a
brother
,
as
Esther
imagined
him
to
be
in
feeling
,
from
his
long
friendship
.
He
would
be
unto
her
as
a
brother
.
As
such
,
he
ought
to
ascertain
Harry
Carson
's
intentions
towards
her
in
winning
her
affections
.
He
would
ask
him
,
straightforwardly
,
as
became
man
speaking
to
man
,
not
concealing
,
if
need
were
,
the
interest
he
felt
in
Mary
.
Then
,
with
the
resolve
to
do
his
duty
to
the
best
of
his
power
,
peace
came
into
his
soul
;
he
had
left
the
windy
storm
and
tempest
behind
.
Two
hours
before
day-dawn
he
fell
asleep
.
CHAPTER
XV
.
A
VIOLENT
MEETING
BETWEEN
THE
RIVALS
.
"
What
thoughtful
heart
can
look
into
this
gulf
That
darkly
yawns
'
twixt
rich
and
poor
,
And
not
find
food
for
saddest
meditation
!
Can
see
,
without
a
pang
of
keenest
grief
,
Them
fiercely
battling
(
like
some
natural
foes
)
Whom
God
had
made
,
with
help
and
sympathy
,
To
stand
as
brothers
,
side
by
side
,
united
!
Where
is
the
wisdom
that
shall
bridge
this
gulf
,
And
bind
them
once
again
in
trust
and
love
?
"
"
Love-Truths
.
"
We
must
return
to
John
Barton
.
Poor
John
!
He
never
got
over
his
disappointing
journey
to
London
.
The
deep
mortification
he
then
experienced
(
with
,
perhaps
,
as
little
selfishness
for
its
cause
as
mortification
ever
had
)
was
of
no
temporary
nature
;
indeed
,
few
of
his
feelings
were
.
Then
came
a
long
period
of
bodily
privation
;
of
daily
hunger
after
food
;
and
though
he
tried
to
persuade
himself
he
could
bear
want
himself
with
stoical
indifference
,
and
did
care
about
it
as
little
as
most
men
,
yet
the
body
took
its
revenge
for
its
uneasy
feelings
.
The
mind
became
soured
and
morose
,
and
lost
much
of
its
equipoise
.
It
was
no
longer
elastic
,
as
in
the
days
of
youth
,
or
in
times
of
comparative
happiness
;
it
ceased
to
hope
.
And
it
is
hard
to
live
on
when
one
can
no
longer
hope
.
The
same
state
of
feeling
which
John
Barton
entertained
,
if
belonging
to
one
who
had
had
leisure
to
think
of
such
things
,
and
physicians
to
give
names
to
them
,
would
have
been
called
monomania
;
so
haunting
,
so
incessant
,
were
the
thoughts
that
pressed
upon
him
.
I
have
somewhere
read
a
forcibly
described
punishment
among
the
Italians
,
worthy
of
a
Borgia
.
The
supposed
or
real
criminal
was
shut
up
in
a
room
,
supplied
with
every
convenience
and
luxury
;
and
at
first
mourned
little
over
his
imprisonment
.
But
day
by
day
he
became
aware
that
the
space
between
the
walls
of
his
apartment
was
narrowing
,
and
then
he
understood
the
end
.
Those
painted
walls
would
come
into
hideous
nearness
,
and
at
last
crush
the
life
out
of
him
.
And
so
day
by
day
,
nearer
and
nearer
,
came
the
diseased
thoughts
of
John
Barton
.
They
excluded
the
light
of
heaven
,
the
cheering
sounds
of
earth
.
They
were
preparing
his
death
.
It
is
true
,
much
of
their
morbid
power
might
be
ascribed
to
the
use
of
opium
.
But
before
you
blame
too
harshly
this
use
,
or
rather
abuse
,
try
a
hopeless
life
,
with
daily
cravings
of
the
body
for
food
.
Try
,
not
alone
being
without
hope
yourself
,
but
seeing
all
around
you
reduced
to
the
same
despair
,
arising
from
the
same
circumstances
;
all
around
you
telling
(
though
they
use
no
words
or
language
)
,
by
their
looks
and
feeble
actions
,
that
they
are
suffering
and
sinking
under
the
pressure
of
want
.
Would
you
not
be
glad
to
forget
life
,
and
its
burdens
?
And
opium
gives
forgetfulness
for
a
time
.
It
is
true
they
who
thus
purchase
it
pay
dearly
for
their
oblivion
;
but
can
you
expect
the
uneducated
to
count
the
cost
of
their
whistle
?
Poor
wretches
!
They
pay
a
heavy
price
.
Days
of
oppressive
weariness
and
languor
,
whose
realities
have
the
feeble
sickliness
of
dreams
;
nights
,
whose
dreams
are
fierce
realities
of
agony
;
sinking
health
,
tottering
frames
,
incipient
madness
,
and
worse
,
the
consciousness
of
incipient
madness
;
this
is
the
price
of
their
whistle
.
But
have
you
taught
them
the
science
of
consequences
?
John
Barton
's
overpowering
thought
,
which
was
to
work
out
his
fate
on
earth
,
was
rich
and
poor
;
why
are
they
so
separate
,
so
distinct
,
when
God
has
made
them
all
?
It
is
not
His
will
,
that
their
interests
are
so
far
apart
.
Whose
doing
is
it
?
And
so
on
into
the
problems
and
mysteries
of
life
,
until
,
bewildered
and
lost
,
unhappy
and
suffering
,
the
only
feeling
that
remained
clear
and
undisturbed
in
the
tumult
of
his
heart
,
was
hatred
to
the
one
class
and
keen
sympathy
with
the
other
.
But
what
availed
his
sympathy
?
No
education
had
given
him
wisdom
;
and
without
wisdom
,
even
love
,
with
all
its
effects
,
too
often
works
but
harm
.
He
acted
to
the
best
of
his
judgment
,
but
it
was
a
widely-erring
judgment
.
The
actions
of
the
uneducated
seem
to
me
typified
in
those
of
Frankenstein
,
that
monster
of
many
human
qualities
,
ungifted
with
a
soul
,
a
knowledge
of
the
difference
between
good
and
evil
.
The
people
rise
up
to
life
;
they
irritate
us
,
they
terrify
us
,
and
we
become
their
enemies
.
Then
,
in
the
sorrowful
moment
of
our
triumphant
power
,
their
eyes
gaze
on
us
with
a
mute
reproach
.
Why
have
we
made
them
what
they
are
;
a
powerful
monster
,
yet
without
the
inner
means
for
peace
and
happiness
?
John
Barton
became
a
Chartist
,
a
Communist
,
all
that
is
commonly
called
wild
and
visionary
.
Ay
!
but
being
visionary
is
something
.
It
shows
a
soul
,
a
being
not
altogether
sensual
;
a
creature
who
looks
forward
for
others
,
if
not
for
himself
.
And
with
all
his
weakness
he
had
a
sort
of
practical
power
,
which
made
him
useful
to
the
bodies
of
men
to
whom
he
belonged
.
He
had
a
ready
kind
of
rough
Lancashire
eloquence
,
arising
out
of
the
fulness
of
his
heart
,
which
was
very
stirring
to
men
similarly
circumstanced
,
who
liked
to
hear
their
feelings
put
into
words
.
He
had
a
pretty
clear
head
at
times
,
for
method
and
arrangement
;
a
necessary
talent
to
large
combinations
of
men
.
And
what
perhaps
more
than
all
made
him
relied
upon
and
valued
,
was
the
consciousness
which
every
one
who
came
in
contact
with
him
felt
,
that
he
was
actuated
by
no
selfish
motives
;
that
his
class
,
his
order
,
was
what
he
stood
by
,
not
the
rights
of
his
own
paltry
self
.
For
even
in
great
and
noble
men
,
as
soon
as
self
comes
into
prominent
existence
,
it
becomes
a
mean
and
paltry
thing
.
A
little
time
before
this
,
there
had
come
one
of
those
occasions
for
deliberation
among
the
employed
,
which
deeply
interested
John
Barton
;
and
the
discussions
concerning
which
had
caused
his
frequent
absence
from
home
of
late
.
I
am
not
sure
if
I
can
express
myself
in
the
technical
terms
of
either
masters
or
workmen
,
but
I
will
try
simply
to
state
the
case
on
which
the
latter
deliberated
.
An
order
for
coarse
goods
came
in
from
a
new
foreign
market
.
It
was
a
large
order
,
giving
employment
to
all
the
mills
engaged
in
that
species
of
manufacture
:
but
it
was
necessary
to
execute
it
speedily
,
and
at
as
low
prices
as
possible
,
as
the
masters
had
reason
to
believe
a
duplicate
order
had
been
sent
to
one
of
the
continental
manufacturing
towns
,
where
there
were
no
restrictions
on
food
,
no
taxes
on
building
or
machinery
,
and
where
consequently
they
dreaded
that
the
goods
could
be
made
at
a
much
lower
price
than
they
could
afford
them
for
;
and
that
,
by
so
acting
and
charging
,
the
rival
manufacturers
would
obtain
undivided
possession
of
the
market
.
It
was
clearly
their
interest
to
buy
cotton
as
cheaply
,
and
to
beat
down
wages
as
low
as
possible
.
And
in
the
long
run
the
interests
of
the
workmen
would
have
been
thereby
benefited
.
Distrust
each
other
as
they
may
,
the
employers
and
the
employed
must
rise
or
fall
together
.
There
may
be
some
difference
as
to
chronology
,
none
as
to
fact
.
But
the
masters
did
not
choose
to
make
all
these
facts
known
.
They
stood
upon
being
the
masters
,
and
that
they
had
a
right
to
order
work
at
their
own
prices
,
and
they
believed
that
in
the
present
depression
of
trade
,
and
unemployment
of
hands
,
there
would
be
no
great
difficulty
in
getting
it
done
.
Now
let
us
turn
to
the
workmen
's
view
of
the
question
.
The
masters
(
of
the
tottering
foundation
of
whose
prosperity
they
were
ignorant
)
seemed
doing
well
,
and
like
gentlemen
,
"
lived
at
home
in
ease
,
"
while
they
were
starving
,
gasping
on
from
day
to
day
;
and
there
was
a
foreign
order
to
be
executed
,
the
extent
of
which
,
large
as
it
was
,
was
greatly
exaggerated
;
and
it
was
to
be
done
speedily
.
Why
were
the
masters
offering
such
low
wages
under
these
circumstances
?
Shame
upon
them
!
It
was
taking
advantage
of
their
work-people
being
almost
starved
;
but
they
would
starve
entirely
rather
than
come
into
such
terms
.
It
was
bad
enough
to
be
poor
,
while
by
the
labour
of
their
thin
hands
,
the
sweat
of
their
brows
,
the
masters
were
made
rich
;
but
they
would
not
be
utterly
ground
down
to
dust
.
No
!
they
would
fold
their
hands
,
and
sit
idle
,
and
smile
at
the
masters
,
whom
even
in
death
they
could
baffle
.
With
Spartan
endurance
they
determined
to
let
the
employers
know
their
power
,
by
refusing
to
work
.
So
class
distrusted
class
,
and
their
want
of
mutual
confidence
wrought
sorrow
to
both
.
The
masters
would
not
be
bullied
,
and
compelled
to
reveal
why
they
felt
it
wisest
and
best
to
offer
only
such
low
wages
;
they
would
not
be
made
to
tell
that
they
were
even
sacrificing
capital
to
obtain
a
decisive
victory
over
the
continental
manufacturers
.
And
the
workmen
sat
silent
and
stern
with
folded
hands
,
refusing
to
work
for
such
pay
.
There
was
a
strike
in
Manchester
.
Of
course
it
was
succeeded
by
the
usual
consequences
.
Many
other
Trades
'
Unions
,
connected
with
different
branches
of
business
,
supported
with
money
,
countenance
,
and
encouragement
of
every
kind
,
the
stand
which
the
Manchester
power-loom
weavers
were
making
against
their
masters
.
Delegates
from
Glasgow
,
from
Nottingham
,
and
other
towns
,
were
sent
to
Manchester
,
to
keep
up
the
spirit
of
resistance
;
a
committee
was
formed
,
and
all
the
requisite
officers
elected
;
chairman
,
treasurer
,
honorary
secretary
:
—
among
them
was
John
Barton
.
The
masters
,
meanwhile
,
took
their
measures
.
They
placarded
the
walls
with
advertisements
for
power-loom
weavers
.
The
workmen
replied
by
a
placard
in
still
larger
letters
,
stating
their
grievances
.
The
masters
met
daily
in
town
,
to
mourn
over
the
time
(
so
fast
slipping
away
)
for
the
fulfilment
of
the
foreign
orders
;
and
to
strengthen
each
other
in
their
resolution
not
to
yield
.
If
they
gave
up
now
,
they
might
give
up
always
.
It
would
never
do
.
And
amongst
the
most
energetic
of
the
masters
,
the
Carsons
,
father
and
son
,
took
their
places
.
It
is
well
known
,
that
there
is
no
religionist
so
zealous
as
a
convert
;
no
masters
so
stern
,
and
regardless
of
the
interests
of
their
work-people
,
as
those
who
have
risen
from
such
a
station
themselves
.
This
would
account
for
the
elder
Mr.
Carson
's
determination
not
to
be
bullied
into
yielding
;
not
even
to
be
bullied
into
giving
reasons
for
acting
as
the
masters
did
.
It
was
the
employer
's
will
,
and
that
should
be
enough
for
the
employed
.
Harry
Carson
did
not
trouble
himself
much
about
the
grounds
for
his
conduct
.
He
liked
the
excitement
of
the
affair
.
He
liked
the
attitude
of
resistance
.
He
was
brave
,
and
he
liked
the
idea
of
personal
danger
,
with
which
some
of
the
more
cautious
tried
to
intimidate
the
violent
among
the
masters
.
Meanwhile
,
the
power-loom
weavers
living
in
the
more
remote
parts
of
Lancashire
,
and
the
neighbouring
counties
,
heard
of
the
masters
'
advertisements
for
workmen
;
and
in
their
solitary
dwellings
grew
weary
of
starvation
,
and
resolved
to
come
to
Manchester
.
Foot-sore
,
way-worn
,
half-starved
looking
men
they
were
,
as
they
tried
to
steal
into
town
in
the
early
dawn
,
before
people
were
astir
,
or
late
in
the
dusk
of
evening
.
And
now
began
the
real
wrong-doing
of
the
Trades
'
Unions
.
As
to
their
decision
to
work
,
or
not
,
at
such
a
particular
rate
of
wages
,
that
was
either
wise
or
unwise
;
all
error
of
judgment
at
the
worst
.
But
they
had
no
right
to
tyrannise
over
others
,
and
tie
them
down
to
their
own
procrustean
bed
.
Abhorring
what
they
considered
oppression
in
the
masters
,
why
did
they
oppress
others
?
Because
,
when
men
get
excited
,
they
know
not
what
they
do
.
Judge
,
then
,
with
something
of
the
mercy
of
the
Holy
One
,
whom
we
all
love
.
In
spite
of
policemen
set
to
watch
over
the
safety
of
the
poor
country
weavers
,
—
in
spite
of
magistrates
,
and
prisons
,
and
severe
punishments
,
—
the
poor
depressed
men
tramping
in
from
Burnley
,
Padiham
,
and
other
places
,
to
work
at
the
condemned
"
Starvation
Prices
,
"
were
waylaid
,
and
beaten
,
and
left
almost
for
dead
by
the
road-side
.
The
police
broke
up
every
lounging
knot
of
men
:
—
they
separated
quietly
,
to
reunite
half-a-mile
further
out
of
town
.
Of
course
the
feeling
between
the
masters
and
workmen
did
not
improve
under
these
circumstances
.
Combination
is
an
awful
power
.
It
is
like
the
equally
mighty
agency
of
steam
;
capable
of
almost
unlimited
good
or
evil
.
But
to
obtain
a
blessing
on
its
labours
,
it
must
work
under
the
direction
of
a
high
and
intelligent
will
;
incapable
of
being
misled
by
passion
,
or
excitement
.
The
will
of
the
operatives
had
not
been
guided
to
the
calmness
of
wisdom
.
So
much
for
generalities
.
Let
us
now
return
to
individuals
.
A
note
,
respectfully
worded
,
although
its
tone
of
determination
was
strong
,
had
been
sent
from
the
power-loom
weavers
,
requesting
that
a
"
deputation
"
of
them
might
have
a
meeting
with
the
masters
,
to
state
the
conditions
they
must
have
fulfilled
before
they
would
end
the
turn-out
.
They
thought
they
had
attained
a
sufficiently
commanding
position
to
dictate
.
John
Barton
was
appointed
one
of
the
deputation
.
The
masters
agreed
to
this
meeting
,
being
anxious
to
end
the
strife
,
although
undetermined
among
themselves
how
far
they
should
yield
,
or
whether
they
should
yield
at
all
.
Some
of
the
old
,
whose
experience
had
taught
them
sympathy
,
were
for
concession
.
Others
,
white-headed
men
too
,
had
only
learnt
hardness
and
obstinacy
from
the
days
of
the
years
of
their
lives
,
and
sneered
at
the
more
gentle
and
yielding
.
The
younger
men
were
one
and
all
for
an
unflinching
resistance
to
claims
urged
with
so
much
violence
.
Of
this
party
Harry
Carson
was
the
leader
.
But
like
all
energetic
people
,
the
more
he
had
to
do
the
more
time
he
seemed
to
find
.
With
all
his
letter-writing
,
his
calling
,
his
being
present
at
the
New
Bailey
,
when
investigations
of
any
case
of
violence
against
knob-sticks
[
44
]
were
going
on
,
he
beset
Mary
more
than
ever
.
She
was
weary
of
her
life
for
him
.
From
blandishments
he
had
even
gone
to
threats
—
threats
that
whether
she
would
or
not
she
should
be
his
;
he
showed
an
indifference
that
was
almost
insulting
to
every
thing
that
might
attract
attention
and
injure
her
character
.
And
still
she
never
saw
Jem
.
She
knew
he
had
returned
home
.
She
heard
of
him
occasionally
through
his
cousin
,
who
roved
gaily
from
house
to
house
,
finding
and
making
friends
everywhere
.
But
she
never
saw
him
.
What
was
she
to
think
?
Had
he
given
her
up
?
Were
a
few
hasty
words
,
spoken
in
a
moment
of
irritation
,
to
stamp
her
lot
through
life
?
At
times
she
thought
that
she
could
bear
this
meekly
,
happy
in
her
own
constant
power
of
loving
.
For
of
change
or
of
forgetfulness
she
did
not
dream
.
Then
at
other
times
her
state
of
impatience
was
such
,
that
it
required
all
her
self-restraint
to
prevent
her
from
going
and
seeking
him
out
,
and
(
as
man
would
do
to
man
,
or
woman
to
woman
)
begging
him
to
forgive
her
hasty
words
,
and
allow
her
to
retract
them
,
and
bidding
him
accept
of
the
love
that
was
filling
her
whole
heart
.
She
wished
Margaret
had
not
advised
her
against
such
a
manner
of
proceeding
;
she
believed
it
was
her
friend
's
words
that
seemed
to
make
such
a
simple
action
impossible
,
in
spite
of
all
the
internal
urgings
.
But
a
friend
's
advice
is
only
thus
powerful
,
when
it
puts
into
language
the
secret
oracle
of
our
souls
.
It
was
the
whisperings
of
her
womanly
nature
that
caused
her
to
shrink
from
any
unmaidenly
action
,
not
Margaret
's
counsel
.
All
this
time
,
this
ten
days
or
so
,
of
Will
's
visit
to
Manchester
,
there
was
something
going
on
which
interested
Mary
even
now
,
and
which
,
in
former
times
,
would
have
exceedingly
amused
and
excited
her
.
She
saw
as
clearly
as
if
told
in
words
,
that
the
merry
,
random
,
boisterous
sailor
had
fallen
deeply
in
love
with
the
quiet
,
prim
,
somewhat
plain
Margaret
:
she
doubted
if
Margaret
was
aware
of
it
,
and
yet
,
as
she
watched
more
closely
,
she
began
to
think
some
instinct
made
the
blind
girl
feel
whose
eyes
were
so
often
fixed
upon
her
pale
face
;
that
some
inner
feeling
made
the
delicate
and
becoming
rose-flush
steal
over
her
countenance
.
She
did
not
speak
so
decidedly
as
before
;
there
was
a
hesitation
in
her
manner
,
that
seemed
to
make
her
very
attractive
;
as
if
something
softer
,
more
loveable
than
excellent
sense
,
were
coming
in
as
a
motive
for
speech
;
her
eyes
had
always
been
soft
,
and
were
in
no
ways
disfigured
by
her
blindness
,
and
now
seemed
to
have
a
new
charm
,
as
they
quivered
under
their
white
down-cast
lids
.
She
must
be
conscious
,
thought
Mary
,
—
heart
answering
heart
.
Will
's
love
had
no
blushings
,
no
downcast
eyes
,
no
weighing
of
words
;
it
was
as
open
and
undisguised
as
his
nature
;
yet
he
seemed
afraid
of
the
answer
its
acknowledgment
might
meet
with
.
It
was
Margaret
's
angelic
voice
that
had
entranced
him
,
and
which
made
him
think
of
her
as
a
being
of
some
other
sphere
,
that
he
feared
to
woo
.
So
he
tried
to
propitiate
Job
in
all
manner
of
ways
.
He
went
over
to
Liverpool
to
rummage
in
his
great
sea-chest
for
the
flying-fish
(
no
very
odorous
present
by
the
way
)
.
He
hesitated
over
a
child
's
caul
for
some
time
,
which
was
,
in
his
eyes
,
a
far
greater
treasure
than
any
Exocetus
.
What
use
could
it
be
of
to
a
landsman
?
Then
Margaret
's
voice
rang
in
his
ears
;
and
he
determined
to
sacrifice
it
,
his
most
precious
possession
,
to
one
whom
she
loved
,
as
she
did
her
grandfather
.
It
was
rather
a
relief
to
him
,
when
,
having
put
it
and
the
flying-fish
together
in
a
brown
paper
parcel
,
and
sat
upon
them
for
security
all
the
way
in
the
railroad
,
he
found
that
Job
was
so
indifferent
to
the
precious
caul
,
that
he
might
easily
claim
it
again
.
He
hung
about
Margaret
,
till
he
had
received
many
warnings
and
reproaches
from
his
conscience
in
behalf
of
his
dear
aunt
Alice
's
claims
upon
his
time
.
He
went
away
,
and
then
he
bethought
him
of
some
other
little
word
with
Job
.
And
he
turned
back
,
and
stood
talking
once
more
in
Margaret
's
presence
,
door
in
hand
,
only
waiting
for
some
little
speech
of
encouragement
to
come
in
and
sit
down
again
.
But
as
the
invitation
was
not
given
,
he
was
forced
to
leave
at
last
,
and
go
and
do
his
duty
.
Four
days
had
Jem
Wilson
watched
for
Mr.
Harry
Carson
without
success
;
his
hours
of
going
and
returning
to
his
home
were
so
irregular
,
owing
to
the
meetings
and
consultations
among
the
masters
,
which
were
rendered
necessary
by
the
turn-out
.
On
the
fifth
,
without
any
purpose
on
Jem
's
part
,
they
met
.
It
was
the
workmen
's
dinner-hour
,
the
interval
between
twelve
and
one
;
when
the
streets
of
Manchester
are
comparatively
quiet
,
for
a
few
shopping
ladies
and
lounging
gentlemen
count
for
nothing
in
that
busy
,
bustling
,
living
place
.
Jem
had
been
on
an
errand
for
his
master
,
instead
of
returning
to
his
dinner
;
and
in
passing
along
a
lane
,
a
road
(
called
,
in
compliment
to
the
intentions
of
some
future
builder
,
a
street
)
,
he
encountered
Harry
Carson
,
the
only
person
,
as
far
as
he
saw
beside
himself
,
treading
the
unfrequented
path
.
Along
one
side
ran
a
high
broad
fence
,
blackened
over
by
coal-tar
,
and
spiked
and
stuck
with
pointed
nails
at
the
top
,
to
prevent
any
one
from
climbing
over
into
the
garden
beyond
.
By
this
fence
was
the
foot-path
.
The
carriage
road
was
such
as
no
carriage
,
no
,
not
even
a
cart
,
could
possibly
have
passed
along
,
without
Hercules
to
assist
in
lifting
it
out
of
the
deep
clay
ruts
.
On
the
other
side
of
the
way
was
a
dead
brick
wall
;
and
a
field
after
that
,
where
there
was
a
sawpit
,
and
joiner
's
shed
.
Jem
's
heart
beat
violently
when
he
saw
the
gay
,
handsome
young
man
approaching
,
with
a
light
,
buoyant
step
.
This
,
then
,
was
he
whom
Mary
loved
.
It
was
,
perhaps
,
no
wonder
;
for
he
seemed
to
the
poor
smith
so
elegant
,
so
well-appointed
,
that
he
felt
his
superiority
in
externals
,
strangely
and
painfully
,
for
an
instant
.
Then
something
uprose
within
him
,
and
told
him
,
that
"
a
man
's
a
man
for
a
'
that
,
for
a
'
that
,
and
twice
as
much
as
a
'
that
.
"
And
he
no
longer
felt
troubled
by
the
outward
appearance
of
his
rival
.
Harry
Carson
came
on
,
lightly
bounding
over
the
dirty
places
with
almost
a
lad
's
buoyancy
.
To
his
surprise
the
dark
,
sturdy-looking
artisan
stopped
him
by
saying
respectfully
,
"
May
I
speak
a
word
wi
'
you
,
sir
?
"
"
Certainly
,
my
good
man
,
"
looking
his
astonishment
;
then
finding
that
the
promised
speech
did
not
come
very
quickly
,
he
added
,
"
But
make
haste
,
for
I
'm
in
a
hurry
.
"
Jem
had
cast
about
for
some
less
abrupt
way
of
broaching
the
subject
uppermost
in
his
mind
than
he
now
found
himself
obliged
to
use
.
With
a
husky
voice
that
trembled
as
he
spoke
,
he
said
,
"
I
think
,
sir
,
yo
're
keeping
company
wi
'
a
young
woman
called
Mary
Barton
?
"
A
light
broke
in
upon
Harry
Carson
's
mind
,
and
he
paused
before
he
gave
the
answer
for
which
the
other
waited
.
Could
this
man
be
a
lover
of
Mary
's
?
And
(
strange
,
stinging
thought
)
could
he
be
beloved
by
her
,
and
so
have
caused
her
obstinate
rejection
of
himself
?
He
looked
at
Jem
from
head
to
foot
,
a
black
,
grimy
mechanic
,
in
dirty
fustian
clothes
,
strongly
built
,
and
awkward
(
according
to
the
dancing-master
)
;
then
he
glanced
at
himself
,
and
recalled
the
reflection
he
had
so
lately
quitted
in
his
bed-room
.
It
was
impossible
.
No
woman
with
eyes
could
choose
the
one
when
the
other
wooed
.
It
was
Hyperion
to
a
Satyr
.
That
quotation
came
aptly
;
he
forgot
"
That
a
man
's
a
man
for
a
'
that
.
"
And
yet
here
was
a
clue
,
which
he
had
often
wanted
,
to
her
changed
conduct
towards
him
.
If
she
loved
this
man
.
If
—
he
hated
the
fellow
,
and
longed
to
strike
him
.
He
would
know
all
.
"
Mary
Barton
!
let
me
see
.
Ay
,
that
is
the
name
of
the
girl
.
An
arrant
flirt
,
the
little
hussy
is
;
but
very
pretty
.
Ay
,
Mary
Barton
is
her
name
.
"
Jem
bit
his
lips
.
Was
it
then
so
;
that
Mary
was
a
flirt
,
the
giddy
creature
of
whom
he
spoke
?
He
would
not
believe
it
,
and
yet
how
he
wished
the
suggestive
words
unspoken
.
That
thought
must
keep
now
,
though
.
Even
if
she
were
,
the
more
reason
for
there
being
some
one
to
protect
her
;
poor
,
faulty
darling
.
"
She
's
a
good
girl
,
sir
,
though
may
be
a
bit
set
up
with
her
beauty
;
but
she
's
her
father
's
only
child
,
sir
,
and
—
"
he
stopped
;
he
did
not
like
to
express
suspicion
,
and
yet
he
was
determined
he
would
be
certain
there
was
ground
for
none
.
What
should
he
say
?
"
Well
,
my
fine
fellow
,
and
what
have
I
to
do
with
that
?
It
's
but
loss
of
my
time
,
and
yours
,
too
,
if
you
've
only
stopped
me
to
tell
me
Mary
Barton
is
very
pretty
;
I
know
that
well
enough
.
"
He
seemed
as
though
he
would
have
gone
on
,
but
Jem
put
his
black
,
working
,
right
hand
upon
his
arm
to
detain
him
.
The
haughty
young
man
shook
it
off
,
and
with
his
glove
pretended
to
brush
away
the
sooty
contamination
that
might
be
left
upon
his
light
great-coat
sleeve
.
The
little
action
aroused
Jem
.
"
I
will
tell
you
in
plain
words
what
I
have
got
to
say
to
you
,
young
man
.
It
's
been
telled
me
by
one
as
knows
,
and
has
seen
,
that
you
walk
with
this
same
Mary
Barton
,
and
are
known
to
be
courting
her
;
and
her
as
spoke
to
me
about
it
,
thinks
as
how
Mary
loves
you
.
That
may
be
,
or
may
not
.
But
I
'm
an
old
friend
of
hers
,
and
her
father
's
;
and
I
just
wished
to
know
if
you
mean
to
marry
the
girl
.
Spite
of
what
you
said
of
her
lightness
,
I
ha
'
known
her
long
enough
to
be
sure
she
'll
make
a
noble
wife
for
any
one
,
let
him
be
what
he
may
;
and
I
mean
to
stand
by
her
like
a
brother
;
and
if
you
mean
rightly
,
you
'll
not
think
the
worse
on
me
for
what
I
've
now
said
;
and
if
—
but
no
,
I
'll
not
say
what
I
'll
do
to
the
man
who
wrongs
a
hair
of
her
head
.
He
shall
rue
it
the
longest
day
he
lives
,
that
's
all
.
Now
,
sir
,
what
I
ask
of
you
is
this
.
If
you
mean
fair
and
honourable
by
her
,
well
and
good
;
but
if
not
,
for
your
own
sake
as
well
as
hers
,
leave
her
alone
,
and
never
speak
to
her
more
.
"
Jem
's
voice
quivered
with
the
earnestness
with
which
he
spoke
,
and
he
eagerly
waited
for
some
answer
.
Harry
Carson
,
meanwhile
,
instead
of
attending
very
particularly
to
the
purpose
the
man
had
in
addressing
him
,
was
trying
to
gather
from
his
speech
what
was
the
real
state
of
the
case
.
He
succeeded
so
far
as
to
comprehend
that
Jem
inclined
to
believe
that
Mary
loved
his
rival
;
and
consequently
,
that
if
the
speaker
were
attached
to
her
himself
,
he
was
not
a
favoured
admirer
.
The
idea
came
into
Mr.
Carson
's
mind
,
that
perhaps
,
after
all
,
Mary
loved
him
in
spite
of
her
frequent
and
obstinate
rejections
;
and
that
she
had
employed
this
person
(
whoever
he
was
)
to
bully
him
into
marrying
her
.
He
resolved
to
try
and
ascertain
more
correctly
the
man
's
relation
to
her
.
Either
he
was
a
lover
,
and
if
so
,
not
a
favoured
one
(
in
which
case
Mr.
Carson
could
not
at
all
understand
the
man
's
motives
for
interesting
himself
in
securing
her
marriage
)
;
or
he
was
a
friend
,
an
accomplice
,
whom
she
had
employed
to
bully
him
.
So
little
faith
in
goodness
have
the
mean
and
selfish
!
"
Before
I
make
you
into
my
confidant
,
my
good
man
,
"
said
Mr.
Carson
,
in
a
contemptuous
tone
,
"
I
think
it
might
be
as
well
to
inquire
your
right
to
meddle
with
our
affairs
.
Neither
Mary
nor
I
,
as
I
conceive
,
called
you
in
as
a
mediator
.
"
He
paused
;
he
wanted
a
distinct
answer
to
this
last
supposition
.
None
came
;
so
he
began
to
imagine
he
was
to
be
threatened
into
some
engagement
,
and
his
angry
spirit
rose
.
"
And
so
,
my
fine
fellow
,
you
will
have
the
kindness
to
leave
us
to
ourselves
,
and
not
meddle
with
what
does
not
concern
you
.
If
you
were
a
brother
,
or
father
of
hers
,
the
case
might
have
been
different
.
As
it
is
,
I
can
only
consider
you
an
impertinent
meddler
.
"
Again
he
would
have
passed
