thesight
of
which
conjured
up
so
delightful
a
picture
of
the
manner
in
which
they
should
return
,
and
the
joy
it
would
be
her
lot
to
confer
,
and
to
witness
,
that
the
pretty
eyes
of
the
heiress
sparkled
through
tears
of
pleasure
,
and
she
would
not
have
exchanged
her
present
expedition
for
the
best
party
of
pleasure
that
ever
was
devised
by
man
.
A
considerable
part
of
the
way
was
the
same
as
that
followed
by
Mr.
Parsons
when
he
conveyed
Michael
to
the
factory
,
and
need
not
be
again
described
.
The
tranquil
loneliness
of
that
portion
of
the
road
which
ran
along
the
stream
,
before
it
made
the
turn
which
brought
the
hideous
prison-house
in
sight
,
lulled
her
spirits
into
a
state
that
but
ill
prepared
her
for
the
aspect
of
the
grim
,
desolate-looking
dwelling
into
whose
recesses
she
was
about
to
penetrate
;
and
when
it
suddenly
became
visible
,
something
like
a
groan
escaped
her
.
"
I
hope
that
jolt
did
n't
hurt
you
,
ma'am
?
"
said
the
miller
,
turning
towards
her
.
"
Here
we
are
,
safe
and
sound
,
and
that
's
half
my
bargain
,
at
any
rate
.
"
The
vehicle
drew
up
to
a
small
door
in
the
exterior
wall
of
the
extensive
enclosure
in
which
the
buildings
stood
;
Mr.
Smith
threw
the
reins
upon
the
neck
of
his
horse
,
and
bringing
his
stout
person
cautiously
to
the
ground
,
offered
his
services
to
assist
the
two
ladies
in
doing
the
same
.
Miss
Brotherton
trembled
as
she
stood
waiting
till
the
miller
's
summons
at
the
door
should
be
answered
.
Now
that
the
moment
was
come
which
was
to
decide
the
question
of
her
success
or
failure
,
she
no
longer
felt
the
same
confidence
which
had
cheered
her
while
the
trial
was
still
distant
,
and
her
heart
sunk
with
anticipated
disappointment
.
Several
minutes
of
irksome
delay
gave
her
time
to
dwell
on
these
oppressive
forebodings
;
and
when
the
door
was
at
length
slowly
and
cautiously
opened
by
Mr.
Woodcomb
himself
,
her
pale
face
spoke
such
painful
anxiety
,
that
the
suspicious
guardian
of
the
unholy
spot
was
comforted
from
the
satisfactory
conviction
that
her
tale
was
true
,
and
that
she
came
not
under
any
false
pretences
to
look
at
that
which
he
considered
it
to
be
the
first
duty
of
his
life
to
conceal
.
"
Good
morning
,
Smith
—
all
's
right
,
and
all
's
ready
for
you
.
Walk
in
,
ladies
,
if
you
please
,
"
said
the
stern
manager
,
relaxing
his
habitual
frown
,
and
intending
to
be
extremely
gracious
.
Mary
and
her
friend
stepped
forward
,
and
heard
the
stout
lock
and
two
heavy
bolts
secured
behind
them
.
"
This
way
,
ladies
,
this
way
,
if
you
please
;
there
is
no
need
to
trouble
you
to
enter
the
factory
,
which
,
do
what
we
will
to
keep
it
nice
,
can
never
be
quite
free
from
dust
.
You
are
a
trifle
after
your
time
,
Mr.
Smith
,
but
it
's
no
matter
;
dinner
time
is
over
,
but
if
the
ladies
will
walk
into
this
room
they
shall
have
all
satisfaction
.
Howsomever
,
as
the
young
uns
is
again
at
work
,
I
ca
n't
well
stop
the
mills
to
march
'
em
in
all
together
.
Nevertheless
,
I
do
n't
see
but
it
may
be
quite
as
agreeable
,
or
may
be
more
,
for
the
ladies
to
look
at
'
em
one
or
two
at
a
time
.
"
Miss
Brotherton
did
not
attempt
to
speak
,
but
placed
herself
in
a
chair
near
the
open
door
,
and
bent
her
head
to
indicate
that
she
was
satisfied
with
the
proposed
arrangement
.
"
You
had
best
walk
this
way
with
me
,
Mr.
Smith
,
"
said
the
amiable
Woodcomb
,
"
the
ladies
look
quite
agitated
,
as
is
but
natural
,
and
would
sooner
be
without
strangers
I
do
n't
doubt
.
"
A
proposal
which
truly
was
a
welcome
one
to
all
parties
—
for
Mrs.
Tremlett
and
Mary
longed
to
be
at
liberty
to
speak
without
restraint
—
Mr.
Smith
was
thirsting
for
his
accustomed
mug
of
ale
,
and
the
manager
himself
bursting
to
make
a
few
inquiries
respecting
his
mysterious
visiters
.
"
Have
you
seen
the
colour
of
their
money
yet
,
friend
Smith
?
"
—
were
the
first
words
uttered
as
they
crossed
the
court
.
"
Twenty
good
pounds
,
"
replied
the
miller
,
expressively
patting
the
pocket
where
the
treasure
lay
,
"
and
given
as
freely
as
if
it
had
been
twenty
pence
—
out
of
a
full
pocket-book
,
too
,
Mr.
Woodcomb
,
I
can
tell
you
that
—
and
I
can
tell
you
besides
,
that
your
money
's
as
sure
as
the
bank
,
and
your
customer
one
as
is
thinking
of
her
own
concerns
and
not
of
yours
.
"
"
That
's
what
I
'm
judging
too
,
Mr.
Smith
.
One
can
see
in
a
minute
if
folks
eyes
are
roving
here
and
there
,
up
and
down
,
to
take
account
of
all
they
can
see
.
God
grant
that
those
poor
whey-faced
females
may
find
what
they
want
,
and
we
shall
both
of
us
have
made
a
good
day
's
work
of
it
.
I
sha'
n't
wish
the
thing
talked
of
,
that
's
a
fact
,
not
but
what
I
shall
be
ready
with
an
answer
,
if
I
'm
troubled
with
questions
.
People
as
have
money
to
throw
about
,
like
these
folks
,
are
not
to
be
put
off
with
a
short
word
,
and
a
lock
turned
in
their
faces
.
It
may
n't
chance
once
in
a
century
that
any
such
should
trouble
themselves
concerning
the
cart-loads
of
live
lumber
as
we
takes
off
to
relieve
the
overstocked
parishes
.
But
now
it
is
come
to
pass
,
in
course
we
must
manage
to
get
through
it
quietly
—
so
I
'm
not
without
my
answer
,
Mr.
Smith
,
if
the
squire
should
hear
of
it
,
and
make
a
riot
.
"
"
No
,
to
be
sure
you
ar
n't
—
besides
there
's
no
need
to
say
nothing
,
"
replied
the
miller
.
Mr.
Woodcomb
,
in
answer
to
this
,
gave
an
assenting
nod
,
and
an
approving
smile
.
"
Now
then
,
my
man
,
"
said
he
,
more
gaily
than
he
often
uttered
any
thing
,
"
sit
you
down
here
,
and
you
shall
presently
have
a
snack
and
a
mug
to
keep
you
company
.
I
'll
see
myself
to
the
turning
in
a
few
of
the
hands
at
a
time
,
to
be
looked
at
.
For
I
have
been
thinking
the
matter
over
,
Master
Miller
,
and
I
judge
it
will
make
ten
times
less
talk
and
tumult
that
way
,
than
if
they
were
all
turned
out
at
once
.
I
'll
have
out
a
few
boys
and
girls
together
,
chance-like
,
just
as
they
come
—
and
ten
to
one
nobody
but
Poulet
will
find
out
that
there
's
any
thing
more
going
on
than
some
job
,
as
I
wants
to
get
done
.
"
Mr.
Woodcomb
accordingly
proceeded
to
the
different
parts
of
the
large
establishment
,
and
contrived
,
without
stopping
the
work
any
where
,
to
perform
the
task
he
had
undertaken
.
As
the
selected
children
came
forth
from
the
various
rooms
,
he
told
them
to
cross
the
court
to
the
'
prentice-house
,
where
they
would
find
one
as
wanted
to
look
at
them
,
adding
an
order
to
come
back
again
as
quick
as
light
,
"
if
they
did
n't
wish
to
be
strapped
dead
.
"
Whenever
such
promises
were
made
,
Mr.
Woodcomb
was
known
to
be
strictly
a
man
of
his
word
;
and
Mary
and
her
friend
had
soon
gazed
with
anxious
eyes
and
shuddering
hearts
upon
a
greater
number
of
half-starved
trembling
little
wretches
,
than
could
possibly
have
been
made
to
pass
before
them
in
an
equally
short
space
of
time
,
by
any
other
mode
or
process
whatever
.
They
came
so
quickly
in
succession
,
however
,
that
no
interval
was
left
in
which
Miss
Brotherton
and
her
faithful
attendant
could
exchange
a
word
on
the
melancholy
panorama
of
human
misery
that
passed
before
them
.
Strange
and
unwonted
as
was
the
spectacle
of
"
two
ladies
sitting
in
the
'
prentice-house
,
"
the
cowed
and
frightened
children
,
for
the
most
part
did
little
more
than
stand
before
her
with
eyes
and
mouth
wide
open
for
a
single
minute
,
and
then
start
off
again
,
while
Mary
herself
aided
the
celerity
of
the
process
by
a
shake
of
the
head
,
and
a
wave
of
the
hand
,
which
indicated
plainly
enough
that
they
were
not
to
stay
,
but
go
.
"
What
a
multitude
,
nurse
Tremlett
!
"
she
exclaimed
at
length
,
her
spirits
worn
with
repeated
disappointments
,
and
the
contemplation
of
the
wretched
creatures
for
whom
she
knew
she
brought
no
help
.
"
The
train
seems
endless
!
"
The
old
woman
returned
her
a
speaking
look
,
and
whispered
in
her
ear
—
"
Could
you
not
question
them
,
Mary
?
Might
not
this
dismal
work
be
shortened
by
your
asking
them
if
the
boy
is
here
?
They
ca
n't
have
any
reason
to
hide
him
.
They
ca
n't
be
agents
of
Sir
Matthew
.
"
Mary
took
the
hint
,
and
said
to
the
next
young
skeleton
that
presented
itself
—
"
Can
you
tell
me
if
there
is
a
boy
here
named
Michael
Armstrong
?
"
The
result
was
a
stupid
and
silent
stare
,
and
,
without
answering
,
the
child
darted
off
like
the
rest
.
Thrice
she
repeated
the
question
,
but
with
no
better
success
,
for
two
out
of
the
three
were
among
those
newly
arrived
to
supply
vacancies
caused
by
the
late
mortality
,
and
the
third
from
working
and
sleeping
in
another
chamber
,
had
never
heard
poor
Michael
's
name
.
"
No
!
"
was
pronounced
by
this
one
,
"
No
,
ma'am
,
"
by
the
two
new
comers
,
and
Mary
's
heart
almost
failing
her
,
she
resumed
her
silent
examination
.
In
truth
there
was
in
most
of
the
unhappy
faces
that
thus
presented
themselves
,
such
a
look
of
blighted
intellect
,
and
dogged
apathy
,
that
she
clung
to
the
ever-lessening
hope
of
seeing
the
boy
appear
,
in
preference
to
any
further
questioning
.
And
thus
the
coming
and
going
lasted
for
another
half-hour
without
a
word
being
spoken
.
At
length
the
sad
monotony
of
the
spectacle
was
broken
,
at
least
to
the
eyes
of
Mary
,
by
the
appearance
of
a
little
girl
,
who
though
pale
and
lamentably
thin
,
had
not
yet
lost
thereby
the
sweet
expression
of
her
delicate
features
,
neither
had
the
soul
within
yielded
to
the
paralyzing
influence
of
the
hopeless
,
helpless
,
unvarying
misery
by
which
she
was
surrounded
.
Her
soft
gray
eyes
still
retained
their
eloquent
power
of
speaking
,
and
the
look
of
surprise
,
mixed
with
something
that
was
almost
approaching
to
pleasure
,
with
which
she
fixed
them
upon
Mary
's
face
caused
her
to
make
a
sudden
movement
to
detain
her
,
as
the
child
,
following
the
example
of
the
rest
,
was
turning
away
.
At
first
this
movement
was
caused
entirely
by
the
interest
which
the
little
creature
herself
inspired
—
but
it
almost
immediately
occurred
to
her
,
that
here
,
at
length
,
there
was
a
chance
of
receiving
a
rational
and
intelligent
answer
to
any
question
she
might
ask
;
and
such
strength
did
this
idea
gain
as
she
continued
to
look
at
the
child
,
that
she
told
Mrs.
Tremlett
to
stop
the
approach
of
those
who
were
coming
on
,
and
by
keeping
them
waiting
in
the
court
for
a
minute
or
two
,
to
give
her
time
to
see
if
she
could
not
learn
something
from
this
most
interesting-looking
little
creature
.
Mrs.
Tremlett
showed
that
she
too
thought
something
might
now
be
hoped
for
,
and
with
great
alacrity
stepped
out
into
the
court
to
meet
the
fresh
arrivals
,
shutting
,
to
Mary
's
extreme
satisfaction
,
the
door
of
the
room
behind
her
.
"
My
dear
little
girl
!
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
,
taking
the
child
's
pale
and
slender
hand
in
hers
,
"
How
came
you
in
this
sad
place
?
You
do
not
look
as
if
you
were
used
to
it
.
"
"
Not
for
very
long
,
ma'am
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
But
you
have
been
here
during
the
few
last
weeks
?
"
"
I
have
been
here
for
several
months
,
"
answered
the
little
girl
.
"
Can
you
tell
me
"
—
and
Mary
almost
gasped
as
she
asked
the
question
—
"
Can
you
tell
me
,
if
there
be
a
boy
here
called
Michael
Armstrong
?
"
The
look
of
modest
and
well-pleased
curiosity
with
which
the
soft
eyes
were
fixed
on
Mary
's
face
,
was
instantly
changed
for
an
expression
of
deep
anguish
—
for
a
few
moments
no
reply
was
uttered
,
and
large
tears
were
already
chasing
each
other
down
her
cheeks
before
the
trembling
child
found
voice
to
speak
;
at
last
she
uttered
,
almost
in
a
whisper
,
and
still
looking
through
her
tears
in
Mary
's
face
—
"
Michael
Armstrong
is
dead
!
"
"
Dead
!
—
Oh
,
do
not
say
so
!
"
cried
Mary
,
in
a
voice
so
shrill
as
to
reach
the
ears
of
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
who
immediately
opening
the
door
,
close
to
which
she
had
been
stationed
,
entered
in
dismay
,
exclaiming
,
"
What
is
the
matter
,
Mary
?
For
Heaven
's
sake
,
tell
me
,
was
it
you
who
cried
out
in
such
a
piercing
voice
?
"
Several
of
the
children
,
who
were
by
this
time
assembled
in
the
court
,
followed
at
her
heels
,
thrusting
open
the
door
,
and
staring
at
the
scene
before
them
.
"
Shut
the
door
,
Nurse
Tremlett
!
—
Send
them
away
—
send
them
all
away
—
I
have
no
further
need
to
see
them
!
"
said
poor
Mary
,
weeping
from
sorrow
,
disappointment
,
and
complete
prostration
of
spirits
.
Before
she
spoke
another
word
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
obeyed
her
instructions
,
and
gently
pushing
back
the
curious
throng
,
closed
and
bolted
the
door
.
"
Now
tell
me
then
,
my
poor
dear
child
,
what
new
sorrow
has
come
upon
you
?
Sure
nothing
dreadful
has
happened
to
the
poor
little
fellow
?
"
"
Nurse
Tremlett
,
he
is
dead
!
"
replied
Mary
,
weeping
afresh
,
as
if
the
boy
had
indeed
been
her
brother
.
"
Lack-a-day
for
his
poor
mother
!
"
cried
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
"
these
are
bad
tidings
to
take
home
with
us
,
after
all
our
trouble
and
pains
.
Oh
,
Mary
,
dear
,
I
wish
you
had
never
left
your
home
!
"
"
Say
not
so
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
"
said
Mary
,
recovering
herself
,
"
certainty
is
ever
better
than
doubt
—
and
here
,
here
is
one
I
may
still
save
from
misery
.
What
is
your
name
,
my
dear
child
,
and
who
was
it
sent
you
to
this
dreadful
place
?
"
"
My
name
is
Fanny
Fletcher
,
"
said
the
little
girl
,
"
and
it
was
mother
's
parish
that
sent
me
here
as
soon
as
she
was
dead
.
"
"
Have
you
no
other
friends
?
—
no
relations
any
where
who
could
take
care
of
you
?
"
demanded
Miss
Brotherton
,
with
quickness
.
"
No
,
ma'am
,
nobody
,
"
replied
Fanny
;
but
,
in
saying
this
,
the
child
ceased
to
weep
,
and
,
young
as
she
was
,
an
expression
of
such
hopeless
,
yet
enduring
composure
took
possession
of
her
beautiful
features
,
that
Mary
's
memory
instantly
applied
to
her
Byron
's
thrilling
words
—
"
My
thoughts
their
dungeon
know
too
well
;
Back
to
my
breast
the
wanderers
shrink
,
And
bleed
within
their
secret
cell
.
"
"
Tell
me
,
Fanny
,
"
she
said
,
"
tell
me
quickly
,
should
you
not
like
to
come
away
from
this
place
?
I
came
here
to
take
away
poor
Michael
Armstrong
.
I
was
to
pay
money
for
taking
him
,
and
I
will
pay
it
now
for
you
,
if
you
will
tell
me
that
you
wish
to
come
,
and
will
be
a
good
girl
to
me
.
"
"
Poor
Michael
!
"
said
Fanny
,
while
her
tears
again
began
to
flow
.
"
Speak
,
Fanny
!
shall
I
take
you
with
me
?
"
cried
Mary
,
impatiently
,
for
she
heard
without
the
door
the
sound
of
a
heavy
step
approaching
.
Fanny
Fletcher
heard
it
too
,
and
an
almost
ghastly
paleness
spread
itself
over
her
face
and
lips
,
she
seemed
chocking
,
and
perfectly
unable
to
articulate
,
but
clasping
her
hands
together
,
and
dropping
on
her
knees
before
Miss
Brotherton
,
raised
her
eloquent
eyes
to
her
face
with
a
look
which
required
no
commentary
.
"
Open
the
door
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
!
"
said
Mary
.
"
Do
n't
you
hear
the
knocking
?
This
is
the
child
I
shall
take
away
with
me
,
"
she
added
in
a
whisper
,
and
with
a
look
that
her
friend
perfectly
understood
.
Mrs.
Tremlett
opened
the
door
,
and
the
well-pleased
Mr.
Woodcomb
stood
before
them
.
"
That
's
well
,
"
he
said
,
looking
at
the
kneeling
child
,
and
at
Mary
,
whose
arm
encircled
her
neck
,
with
an
air
of
great
complacency
.
"
I
thought
by
what
those
said
,
as
you
sent
back
without
looking
at
'
em
,
that
you
had
found
what
you
wanted
.
And
now
,
ladies
,
I
hope
you
remember
the
conditions
.
"
"
Do
not
doubt
it
,
sir
,
"
replied
Miss
Brotherton
,
instantly
drawing
forth
her
pocket-book
.
Here
is
a
note
of
one
hundred
pounds
to
repay
the
trouble
I
have
given
you
,
and
here
,
a
second
of
the
same
value
to
atone
for
the
loss
of
Fanny
's
labour
.
"
"
All
right
,
ma'am
,
"
said
Mr.
Woodcomb
,
very
graciously
,
"
and
if
you
had
but
told
me
that
it
was
a
little
girl
,
with
a
very
pretty
face
,
and
that
her
name
was
Fanny
,
I
could
have
saved
you
all
your
trouble
,
for
we
do
n't
happen
to
have
another
that
would
answer
to
that
description
.
"
"
I
have
taken
no
trouble
,
sir
,
that
I
at
all
regret
,
"
replied
Miss
Brotherton
,
"
but
I
am
anxious
to
set
off
on
my
return
without
any
further
loss
of
time
.
Will
you
have
the
kindness
to
inquire
if
Mr.
Smith
is
ready
?
"
"
I
do
n't
doubt
,
ma'am
,
but
he
will
be
ready
to
obey
orders
,
though
the
horse
have
hardly
been
baited
well
yet
.
Howsomever
,
those
as
pay
well
generally
looks
to
have
things
done
in
a
little
less
time
than
other
folks
;
and
it
's
very
right
and
fair
that
so
it
should
be
.
If
a
horse
can
stand
,
he
ought
to
go
,
if
his
owner
is
well
paid
—
there
is
no
doubt
of
it
.
"
"
I
should
be
sorry
to
distress
the
horse
,
"
said
Mary
,
"
and
if
he
be
not
sufficiently
rested
,
we
must
wait
.
"
"
At
your
pleasure
,
ladies
,
at
your
pleasure
.
Pray
sit
down
and
make
yourselves
comfortable
.
And
of
course
your
ladyship
would
like
to
have
this
pretty
little
girl
here
made
as
decent
as
we
can
manage
;
the
dirtiest
part
of
her
clothes
can
be
changed
easy
,
though
the
missis
of
the
'
prentice-house
being
lately
dead
,
puts
us
out
a
little
in
our
management
.
However
,
if
little
Miss
Fanny
,
as
we
must
call
her
now
,
will
please
to
come
up
stairs
with
me
,
I
can
make
her
look
a
deal
better
,
I
will
answer
for
it
.
"
Fanny
Fletcher
having
been
raised
from
her
kneeling
position
by
the
hand
of
Miss
Brotherton
,
still
continued
to
hold
that
hand
tightly
,
and
the
young
lady
now
felt
so
strong
a
compression
of
her
fingers
,
and
was
at
the
same
time
conscious
of
so
tremulous
a
movement
in
the
person
of
the
child
,
as
she
nestled
closely
to
her
,
that
she
felt
persuaded
the
proposal
of
Mr.
Woodcomb
had
frightened
her
.
"
You
are
very
kind
,
"
she
replied
,
drawing
the
child
,
sordid
as
its
wretched
garments
were
,
still
closer
to
her
,
"
you
are
very
kind
,
sir
.
But
I
shall
prefer
taking
her
away
,
exactly
as
I
first
looked
upon
her
.
"
"
Dear
me
!
only
to
think
of
that
now
!
That
's
the
beauty
of
what
's
called
natural
affection
!
Then
if
you
will
please
to
keep
seated
I
'll
go
tell
Miller
Smith
as
you
're
ready
,
and
all
the
business
done
,
so
as
he
may
set
off
as
soon
as
he
is
able
.
"
Mary
again
thanked
him
for
his
civility
,
but
felt
disposed
to
think
that
he
might
have
executed
his
mission
more
satisfactorily
,
when
he
returned
in
about
three
minutes
,
with
the
assurance
that
Master
Smith
would
be
ready
to
start
in
little
less
than
an
hour
.
An
hour
at
that
moment
seemed
to
Miss
Brotherton
an
almost
interminable
space
of
time
;
she
felt
painfully
conscious
of
being
,
"
confined
and
pent
up
"
with
sin
and
suffering
.
Heated
,
agitated
,
and
impatient
—
panting
for
the
fresh
air
,
and
longing
to
question
her
little
purchased
protégée
,
concerning
poor
Michael
,
she
determined
to
walk
forward
on
the
road
they
had
that
morning
traversed
,
and
letting
Mr.
Smith
and
his
cart
overtake
them
.
"
Should
you
dislike
walking
on
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
?
"
she
said
.
"
My
head
aches
,
and
I
am
sure
nothing
will
relieve
me
but
a
walk
.
"
"
I
should
like
it
too
,
my
dear
,
"
replied
her
observant
companion
,
looking
anxiously
in
her
face
,
and
perfectly
understanding
her
feelings
.
"
Walk
,
ladies
!
"
exclaimed
Mr.
Woodcomb
,
looking
exceedingly
shocked
,
"
ladies
such
as
you
to
walk
out
upon
our
wild
moors
?
Oh
dear
no
!
That
is
quite
impossible
!
"
This
was
said
to
prove
at
once
his
tender
care
of
personages
possessing
the
power
of
dispensing
hundreds
,
and
to
show
that
he
was
not
unacquainted
with
the
refinements
of
polite
society
;
but
this
civilly-intended
opposition
to
their
exit
produced
on
his
hearers
an
effect
very
different
from
what
he
intended
.
That
Fanny
Fletcher
should
tremble
at
the
mention
of
delay
was
not
extraordinary
,
but
that
Mary
should
hear
again
,
in
fancy
,
the
grating
sound
of
the
locks
and
bars
,
which
had
closed
behind
her
as
she
entered
,
and
feel
a
sick
qualm
at
her
heart
,
as
if
she
were
betrayed
,
and
doomed
to
remain
in
that
hateful
spot
against
her
will
,
showed
that
her
nerves
had
indeed
been
severely
shaken
,
and
that
her
heroism
had
more
of
zeal
than
strength
in
it
.
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
too
,
looked
exceedingly
annoyed
,
though
certainly
without
the
same
lively
recollection
of
the
bolts
and
bars
;
but
she
was
so
accustomed
to
consult
the
wishes
of
her
young
companion
,
and
to
feel
at
ease
herself
only
when
she
saw
her
so
,
that
she
too
coloured
with
impatience
,
and
sustaining
admirably
her
character
of
aunt
,
said
,
"
I
beg
pardon
,
sir
,
but
I
know
my
niece
's
constitution
so
well
,
that
I
am
quite
sure
the
jolting
of
that
rough
cart
would
not
do
for
her
just
at
present
.
She
is
a
great
walker
,
and
a
mile
or
so
,
creeping
along
in
the
fresh
air
,
will
do
her
a
deal
of
good
.
"
"
In
course
you
know
best
,
ladies
,
and
I
ca
n't
,
for
certain
,
take
the
liberty
to
oppose
.
But
,
by
your
leave
,
I
'll
just
mention
your
plan
to
Mr.
Smith
before
you
start
,
and
then
,
maybe
he
'll
be
for
pushing
on
his
horse
a
little
.
"
So
saying
,
Mr.
Woodcomb
left
them
;
when
Mary
,
turning
to
the
little
girl
,
said
,
"
Have
you
any
bonnet
and
shawl
to
put
on
,
Fanny
?
"
"
I
do
n't
know
,
"
replied
the
child
.
"
Not
know
?
How
can
that
be
,
Fanny
?
"
"
Because
I
have
never
been
out
of
the
doors
since
I
first
came
into
them
,
"
said
Fanny
.
"
Poor
dear
!
I
wish
they
would
not
keep
you
here
any
longer
—
this
is
quite
intolerable
!
"
said
Mary
,
again
opening
the
door
,
and
looking
impatiently
across
the
dismal
court
.
"
Keep
me
here
?
"
murmured
the
little
girl
,
in
a
voice
of
the
most
evident
terror
.
"
Do
you
think
they
will
keep
me
here
?
"
"
No
,
no
,
my
poor
child
,
they
shall
not
keep
you
here
,
"
said
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
kindly
.
"
Here
come
the
two
men
together
.
"
Fanny
did
not
venture
to
look
at
them
,
but
Mary
did
;
and
again
,
in
spite
of
her
reason
,
she
felt
terrified
at
the
idea
that
she
was
in
their
power
.
Mr.
Woodcomb
,
indeed
,
looked
smiling
and
obsequious
as
before
,
but
in
the
countenance
of
the
burly
miller
there
was
something
of
opposition
and
displeasure
that
she
could
not
understand
.
"
Setting
off
walking
,
miss
,
is
very
like
bilking
your
driver
,
"
said
he
,
with
considerably
more
bluntness
than
civility
.
"
What
does
he
mean
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
?
"
said
Mary
,
turning
pale
.
"
You
had
better
pay
the
gentleman
before
you
set
out
,
my
dear
.
That
's
what
you
mean
to
say
,
is
n't
it
,
sir
?
"
"
Why
surely
,
ma'am
,
it
would
be
more
like
doing
business
,
"
replied
the
man
,
looking
a
little
ashamed
of
himself
.
"
Is
that
all
?
"
said
Mary
,
inexpressibly
relieved
,
and
drawing
out
her
ready
purse
with
such
cheerful
alacrity
,
that
could
the
hearts
of
the
two
men
before
whom
she
stood
have
been
read
,
there
might
have
been
found
in
both
a
strong
inclination
to
profit
by
it
a
little
further
.
"
That
,
I
think
,
sir
,
is
the
sum
you
named
for
the
hire
of
your
vehicle
?
"
said
Mary
,
extending
her
hand
with
two
sovereigns
towards
him
.
Mr.
Timothy
Smith
took
the
money
,
but
certainly
thought
that
if
that
sharp-eyed
rogue
Woodcomb
had
been
further
he
might
have
hit
upon
some
excuse
for
demanding
more
.
As
it
was
,
however
,
he
could
not
venture
it
,
and
with
a
rather
surly
inclination
of
the
head
,
pocketed
the
gold
,
and
left
the
room
.
"
Now
then
,
sir
,
if
you
please
,
"
said
the
still
frightened
Mary
,
"
we
will
wish
you
good
morning
.
"
"
Yes
,
ma'am
,
surely
,
you
can
go
if
you
please
.
Only
perhaps
you
might
like
,
for
the
honour
of
your
young
relation
here
,
to
leave
some
little
gratuity
to
be
divided
as
a
little
treat
among
her
late
companions
?
"
Mary
looked
in
his
face
,
and
the
sort
of
half-ashamed
glance
with
which
the
extortioner
watched
the
effect
of
his
words
,
appeared
to
her
so
sinister
,
that
with
a
sudden
feeling
of
something
like
rational
alarm
,
she
remembered
that
she
had
only
a
few
shillings
left
in
her
purse
,
and
that
again
to
open
in
his
presence
her
still
well-filled
pocket-book
,
might
be
dangerous
.
"
Aunt
Tremlett
,
have
you
any
money
to
lend
me
?
"
she
said
,
at
the
same
time
drawing
out
again
her
almost
empty
purse
.
"
I
am
very
sorry
I
have
only
these
few
shillings
left
;
but
I
will
willingly
send
you
five
pounds
,
sir
,
for
the
purpose
you
mention
,
if
the
miller
will
take
the
trouble
of
bringing
it
to
you
.
"
"
Oh
!
It
's
no
matter
,
ladies
.
Pray
do
not
trouble
yourselves
any
more
about
it
,
"
replied
Woodcomb
,
keeping
his
eyes
,
however
,
furtively
directed
towards
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
who
was
still
engaged
in
seeking
for
money
in
the
recesses
of
a
very
large
pocket
.
"
I
have
two
pounds
and
a
few
shillings
,
my
dear
,
"
said
the
old
lady
,
at
length
placing
her
little
leathern
purse
in
Mary
's
hand
.
"
That
will
do
,
that
will
do
perfectly
,
"
said
the
worshipper
of
Mammon
,
with
an
air
and
tone
of
the
most
amiable
liberality
,
but
at
the
same
time
stretching
out
his
hand
,
in
which
he
received
the
entire
contents
,
uncounted
,
of
Mrs.
Tremlett
's
purse
,
which
Miss
Brotherton
unclasped
,
and
emptied
into
it
.
Had
she
studied
the
man
's
character
for
years
,
she
could
not
have
devised
any
manoeuvre
so
likely
to
hasten
the
unlocking
the
door
which
enclosed
them
as
thus
emptying
their
two
purses
before
his
eyes
.
He
now
moved
forward
of
his
own
accord
,
drew
forth
from
the
pocket
of
his
coat
the
massive
key
,
applied
it
with
a
large
,
strong
,
and
effective
hand
,
to
the
enormous
lock
,
drew
back
the
heavy
bolts
,
and
finally
threw
wide
the
hateful
door
.
The
three
females
passed
through
it
with
no
lingering
steps
,
and
heard
it
close
heavily
behind
them
,
with
feelings
assuredly
very
different
in
degree
,
but
in
so
far
the
same
,
that
each
one
as
she
stepped
over
the
threshold
,
breathed
a
prayer
that
she
might
never
repass
it
again
.
CHAPTER
XXIV
.
THE
WALK
PROVES
TOO
FATIGUING
TO
ONE
OF
THE
PARTY
,
BUT
NOT
TO
MISS
BROTHERTON
—
SHE
WANDERS
FURTHER
,
AND
MEETS
WITH
AN
ADVENTURE
,
BUT
AT
LAST
RETURNS
IN
SAFETY
TO
HER
INN
—
A
JOURNEY
HOMEWARD
,
AND
A
FACT
RELATED
WITHOUT
ORNAMENT
.
It
is
but
a
dreary
and
desolate
landscape
which
greets
the
eye
immediately
without
the
walls
of
the
Deep
Valley
factory
;
but
to
all
who
are
happy
enough
to
feel
that
they
are
quitting
those
hideous
walls
for
ever
,
it
can
hardly
fail
to
convey
a
sense
of
beauty
,
freshness
,
and
freedom
,
sufficient
to
expand
the
heart
with
admiration
and
delight
.
Mary
felt
disposed
to
bound
along
the
grassy
path
beside
the
stream
with
the
joyous
playfulness
of
a
child
,
and
rather
than
have
re-entered
that
creaking
door
again
,
would
have
been
tempted
,
like
another
Undine
,
to
plunge
into
the
water
,
and
take
her
chance
of
finding
quarters
less
hateful
beneath
its
rippling
wave
.
Mrs.
Tremlett
breathed
more
freely
,
and
seemed
to
have
recovered
the
elastic
step
of
youth
,
as
she
moved
briskly
on
.
But
compared
with
what
was
passing
in
the
breast
of
the
ragged
,
dirty
little
creature
that
walked
beside
them
,
their
feelings
were
most
earthly
cold
and
dull
.
Her
small
hand
was
still
clasped
in
that
of
Miss
Brotherton
,
who
felt
that
the
child
was
urging
her
onward
,
even
faster
than
she
was
inclined
to
go
,
while
her
head
upturned
towards
the
towering
heights
which
hemmed
them
in
,
seemed
eagerly
seeking
an
outlet
from
the
region
that
her
soul
abhorred
.
"
You
are
glad
,
dear
Fanny
,
are
you
not
,
to
know
that
you
have
left
that
frightful
place
?
"
said
Mary
,
kindly
pressing
the
little
emaciated
hand
she
held
in
hers
.
The
child
stopped
short
in
her
hurried
walk
,
and
looking
up
in
her
deliverer
's
face
,
with
a
doubting
anxious
look
that
it
was
painful
to
see
,
murmured
very
softly
,
and
as
if
fearing
to
be
overheard
from
within
the
walls
,
"
Shall
I
never
,
never
go
back
again
?
"
"
No
,
never
Fanny
!
Do
you
think
I
would
be
so
cruel
as
to
take
you
back
?
"
said
Mary
.
"
I
do
not
know
if
it
is
not
all
a
dream
,
"
replied
the
child
.
"
I
have
dreamed
that
I
saw
green
grass
,
and
felt
the
air
upon
my
face
,
before
.
"
"
Do
not
be
afraid
,
Fanny
!
You
are
not
dreaming
now
,
"
returned
Mary
.
"
Run
on
,
and
gather
that
fine
large
stalk
of
foxglove
.
You
never
saw
such
a
gay
flower
as
that
in
your
dreams
,
did
you
?
"
The
little
girl
sprang
forward
,
and
falling
upon
her
knees
on
the
grass
,
plucked
the
tall
flower
,
and
pressed
it
to
her
lips
,
and
to
her
heart
.
But
though
this
was
a
childish
action
,
it
was
not
done
childishly
:
there
was
an
appearance
of
deep
feeling
,
and
even
of
devotion
in
her
look
and
attitude
which
strongly
awakened
Mary
's
interest
,
and
when
the
little
creature
rose
again
,
and
holding
the
flower
in
one
hand
,
slid
the
other
once
more
into
that
of
her
new
friend
,
the
heart
of
that
friend
yearned
towards
her
with
newly-awakened
tenderness
.
But
when
she
spoke
to
her
,
and
endeavoured
to
lead
her
into
conversation
,
the
attempt
entirely
failed
.
There
are
many
who
might
have
felt
disappointed
and
chilled
by
this
;
but
Mary
Brotherton
had
truer
sympathy
,
and
as
,
from
time
to
time
,
she
felt
a
loving
contraction
of
Fanny
's
little
fingers
upon
her
own
,
and
sometimes
caught
her
looking
up
,
as
if
by
stealth
into
her
face
,
she
felt
no
misgivings
as
to
the
cause
of
her
silence
,
but
loved
her
the
better
from
knowing
that
her
heart
was
too
full
to
speak
.
They
all
,
and
as
if
moved
by
one
common
impulse
,
walked
quickly
forward
as
long
as
their
road
continued
along
the
margin
of
the
stream
;
but
when
it
turned
round
the
steep
hill
's
base
,
and
began
to
mount
,
their
pace
relaxed
,
Mary
felt
that
her
little
companion
dragged
on
her
steps
with
labour
,
and
perceived
that
Mrs.
Tremlett
was
out
of
breath
.
"
Let
us
sit
down
under
this
ash-tree
,
and
wait
for
the
jolly
miller
,
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
,
"
it
cannot
be
very
long
,
I
think
,
before
he
overtakes
us
.
"
This
proposal
was
the
more
amiable
,
because
,
in
the
first
place
,
Mary
could
herself
have
run
from
the
bottom
of
that
steep
hill
to
the
top
,
almost
without
perceiving
that
it
was
any
hill
at
all
;
and
in
the
next
,
she
so
exceedingly
disliked
both
the
miller
and
his
cart
,
that
had
she
consulted
her
own
inclinations
alone
,
she
would
probably
have
preferred
retracing
the
whole
way
on
foot
.
But
very
gladly
was
her
proposal
for
rest
accepted
,
by
both
her
old
and
young
companion
,
and
long
did
they
remain
seated
under
their
pleasant
canopy
before
they
any
of
them
grew
weary
of
it
;
till
at
length
,
after
consulting
her
watch
,
Miss
Brotherton
expressed
a
doubt
whether
the
fat
miller
and
his
lazy
steed
intended
to
overtake
them
at
all
.
"
Good
gracious
,
my
dear
!
do
you
really
think
so
?
"
said
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
considerably
alarmed
.
"
Why
,
Mary
,
we
shall
never
get
back
to
Mrs.
Prescot
's
without
him
!
"
"
I
hope
I
may
be
mistaken
,
my
dear
old
woman
,
"
said
her
kind
mistress
,
affectionately
;
"
for
I
fear
such
a
walk
would
be
too
much
for
you
.
But
when
I
remember
that
he
is
paid
,
and
remember
,
likewise
,
how
very
little
he
seemed
actuated
by
any
motive
,
save
that
of
sordid
interest
,
I
confess
that
I
do
think
it
very
probable
he
means
to
leave
us
in
the
lurch
.
"
"
Then
let
us
walk
on
,
Miss
Mary
,
without
saying
a
word
more
about
it
.
The
shadows
are
beginning
to
grow
long
already
,
and
you
sha
n't
be
kept
out
half
the
night
by
my
laziness
.
Come
along
,
little
girl
.
"
With
these
words
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
raised
herself
from
between
two
comfortable
roots
,
which
had
made
her
an
excellent
arm-chair
;
but
the
little
girl
whom
she
summoned
to
do
likewise
,
though
she
exerted
herself
to
get
on
her
feet
,
seemed
hardly
able
to
stand
.
"
My
poor
Fanny
,
you
are
quite
knocked
up
!
"
exclaimed
Miss
Brotherton
,
looking
at
her
with
great
anxiety
.
"
How
in
the
world
shall
we
ever
be
able
to
get
her
on
?
"
"
It
is
only
because
I
have
not
been
used
to
walk
lately
,
"
said
Fanny
;
"
that
is
,
not
as
we
have
been
walking
now
.
Our
work
keeps
us
always
on
our
legs
,
and
that
makes
them
bend
about
so
,
when
I
try
to
walk
;
but
I
can
walk
though
it
hurts
me
,
and
I
think
it
would
be
better
to
die
outright
in
getting
on
,
rather
than
rest
so
near
the
factory
—
so
,
please
ma'am
,
I
'm
quite
ready
to
go
on
.
"
And
again
the
party
set
off
,
but
the
difficulty
with
which
the
little
Fanny
got
along
became
more
obvious
at
every
step
,
and
it
soon
became
evident
that
to
get
as
far
as
Mrs.
Prescot
's
would
be
impossible
.
The
dilemma
was
not
a
pleasant
one
.
They
were
still
in
a
part
of
the
road
so
little
frequented
,
that
it
was
probable
they
might
wait
for
hours
without
obtaining
assistance
from
any
passer
by
,
nor
did
either
Mrs.
Tremlett
or
Mary
recollect
to
have
seen
any
dwelling
nearer
than
the
high-road
,
from
which
they
were
still
at
a
considerable
distance
.
The
distress
of
the
little
girl
was
painful
to
witness
.
At
the
very
moment
when
the
dark
cloud
which
had
seemed
to
settle
upon
her
was
withdrawn
,
and
hope
gradually
and
with
difficulty
,
as
to
eyes
long
unaccustomed
to
its
light
,
began
to
reach
her
;
at
that
very
moment
her
strength
failed
,
and
a
sensation
,
like
the
sickness
of
death
,
rendered
every
attempt
at
further
exertion
impossible
.
"
I
must
stay
here
,
"
she
said
;
"
it
is
the
will
of
God
.
"
"
No
,
no
,
Fanny
,
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
,
seating
herself
beside
her
,
and
letting
the
languid
little
head
drop
upon
her
bosom
;
"
you
have
no
reason
to
think
that
,
while
I
have
a
thousand
to
believe
the
contrary
.
It
is
a
most
strange
chance
which
has
brought
me
here
,
and
placed
you
in
my
hands
—
this
was
by
the
will
of
God
,
and
I
will
not
believe
it
has
so
chanced
,
only
that
I
may
see
you
die
.
"
"
You
must
not
stay
here
,
"
said
Fanny
,
feebly
;
"
night
will
come
presently
,
and
you
must
go
fast
to
get
home
.
Do
not
be
sorry
for
me
—
but
,
indeed
,
I
think
I
am
as
bad
as
Michael
was
,
when
he
fell
sick
,
and
was
carried
away
to
die
.
"
"
Did
you
see
—
"
began
Mary
,
eagerly
;
but
suddenly
stopping
herself
,
she
added
,
"
Not
now
my
poor
Fanny
,
you
must
not
tell
me
about
it
now
—
when
I
have
got
you
strong
and
well
at
my
own
home
,
we
will
talk
of
poor
Michael
.
Try
now
,
to
think
how
glad
you
will
be
when
we
have
got
you
home
,
and
all
our
difficulties
are
over
!
But
something
must
be
done
,
I
know
,
my
poor
child
,
before
this
can
be
.
How
had
we
best
act
in
this
dilemma
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
?
Do
you
think
you
shall
have
courage
to
remain
with
this
poor
child
while
I
run
on
,
and
endeavour
to
find
some
house
where
we
may
get
assistance
?
"
"
Alone
,
Miss
Mary
?
"
replied
the
good
woman
,
looking
terribly
alarmed
.
"
How
can
I
let
you
set
off
in
a
strange
,
wild
country
like
this
,
with
nobody
to
take
care
of
you
?
Let
us
go
together
.
Mary
;
nothing
can
hurt
this
little
girl
,
you
know
,
while
we
are
away
.
"
"
Think
it
over
once
more
,
dear
Tremlett
,
"
said
Mary
,
"
and
then
I
believe
you
will
perceive
that
there
is
more
chance
of
your
being
useful
to
her
,
than
to
me
.
I
shall
get
on
faster
without
you
,
good
nurse
,
and
with
a
lighter
heart
than
if
I
took
you
for
company
,
while
this
little
creature
was
left
with
nothing
but
her
own
melancholy
thoughts
and
childish
terrors
to
comfort
her
.
"
"
Then
I
will
stay
,
"
said
the
poor
woman
,
sighing
heavily
:
"
but
just
think
,
Miss
Mary
,
how
I
shall
feel
till
you
come
back
again
!
"
"
I
will
not
loiter
to
amuse
myself
,
"
replied
her
young
mistress
with
a
cheering
smile
;
"
and
now
take
my
place
,
and
let
this
poor
little
head
rest
on
your
shoulder
.
"
"
She
shall
lie
down
on
that
bit
of
level
turf
yonder
,
with
her
head
upon
my
lap
,
"
said
the
old
nurse
,
tenderly
assisting
Mary
to
lift
her
up
.
"
God
bless
you
,
my
dear
good
soul
!
I
will
be
quickly
back
again
,
"
replied
her
grateful
mistress
.
"
How
much
more
you
show
you
love
me
now
,
than
if
you
insisted
upon
walking
after
me
.
There
!
she
lies
as
nicely
as
if
she
were
in
bed
.
If
our
faithless
miller
makes
his
appearance
,
keep
him
and
his
cart
till
I
come
back
;
tell
him
he
shall
have
more
gold
,
and
he
will
stand
waiting
beside
you
,
as
gentle
as
a
lamb
.
"
Having
said
these
comforting
words
,
Mary
instened
onward
and
was
speedily
out
of
sight
.
Having
reached
the
top
of
the
hill
,
she
looked
anxiously
round
in
search
of
a
human
dwelling
,
but
nothing
met
her
eye
,
but
barren
moor-land
,
which
at
some
distance
showed
symptoms
of
cultivation
,
being
enclosed
in
patches
by
low
stone
walls
,
and
here
and
there
the
fragment
of
a
stunted
hawthorn
fence
,
which
seemed
to
sustain
a
hungry
life
with
difficulty
.
Making
her
way
across
the
rude
and
imperfectly-formed
sunk
fence
,
which
marked
the
boundary
of
the
cart-road
,
along
which
they
had
travelled
in
the
morning
,
Mary
found
herself
on
a
level
of
some
extent
,
but
without
the
slightest
track
to
direct
her
steps
amidst
the
long
parched
grass
,
and
frequent
stones
with
which
it
was
covered
.
"
This
will
never
do
!
I
may
walk
here
till
I
have
completely
lamed
myself
,
without
a
chance
of
meeting
any
living
soul
,
"
thought
Mary
,
stopping
short
;
"
I
shall
do
better
by
making
for
the
high-road
at
once
.
"
And
having
so
decided
,
she
turned
about
to
retrace
her
steps
,
and
regain
the
road
;
but
ere
she
reched
it
,
a
sort
of
hillock
at
a
little
distance
caught
her
eye
,
and
wishing
to
take
advantage
of
its
elevation
,
for
the
purpose
of
reconnoitring
,
she
turned
aside
to
reach
it
.
Her
approach
to
it
was
from
the
east
,
and
a
dazzling
sunset
was
in
her
eyes
,
as
she
made
her
way
up
the
rugged
side
of
what
looked
like
one
of
the
tumuli
which
served
as
resting-places
for
human
bones
,
ere
churchyards
yawned
for
them
.
Greatly
was
she
startled
on
reaching
the
top
of
it
,
to
perceive
on
the
western
side
,
crouching
in
a
hollow
that
looked
as
if
it
had
been
excavated
by
the
shelter-seeking
sheep
,
a
strange
wild
figure
,
whose
dress
,
as
she
looked
down
upon
it
,
left
its
sex
doubtful
.
The
fragment
of
a
hat
,
and
the
remnant
of
a
jacket
were
evidently
intended
,
by
their
original
construction
,
for
the
use
of
the
nobler
sex
,
while
something
resembling
a
petticoat
enveloping
the
lower
half
of
the
figure
,
suggested
the
probability
that
the
masculine
portion
of
the
attire
was
worn
by
sufferance
,
and
not
by
right
.
Mary
's
light
step
among
the
matted
tufts
of
coarse
vegetation
which
covered
the
thin
soil
,
had
not
been
heard
,
and
she
stood
looking
down
upon
her
doubtful
neighbour
with
the
advantage
of
being
herself
unseen
.
"
There
goes
another
day
!
"
said
a
voice
,
which
though
harsh
and
aged
,
was
unmistakably
female
;
"
and
the
silly
soul
has
got
to
wait
for
another
.
"
Glad
to
find
that
her
unexpected
companion
in
this
most
desolate
spot
,
was
of
the
safer
,
because
the
weaker
portion
of
the
human
race
,
the
wandering
heiress
determined
to
address
her
;
but
deemed
it
wisest
to
approach
her
visibly
,
instead
of
startling
the
poor
soul
by
speaking
to
her
unexpectedly
from
the
spot
where
she
stood
.
For
this
purpose
,
she
gently
descended
from
her
elevation
,
and
making
a
little
circuit
,
presented
herself
before
the
eyes
of
the
sun-gazer
.
The
old
woman
,
for
such
she
was
,
sat
nose
and
knees
together
,
in
a
sort
of
hole
which
completely
sheltered
her
in
every
direction
but
the
west
;
and
from
the
earnest
manner
in
which
her
dim
eyes
were
fixed
upon
the
last
bright
rays
of
the
setting
sun
,
it
seemed
as
if
her
lair
was
chosen
on
purpose
to
look
upon
it
.
The
appearance
of
Mary
seemed
to
startle
her
,
but
not
much
;
for
after
looking
at
her
for
a
minute
as
if
she
examined
her
person
with
difficulty
,
because
her
eyes
were
dazzled
by
the
object
on
which
she
had
before
been
gazing
,
she
said
,
pointing
a
stick
that
she
held
towards
the
point
whence
the
bright
orb
had
just
disappeared
,
"
Who
be
you
,
coming
to
spy
out
old
Sally
at
her
devotions
?
"
"
I
want
to
find
a
house
,
my
good
woman
,
for
I
have
left
a
poor
child
very
ill
at
a
short
distance
from
hence
;
I
want
to
find
people
who
can
help
me
to
remove
her
.
"
"
There
are
no
people
here
,
"
said
the
old
woman
,
in
a
gentle
but
melancholy
voice
,
and
turning
her
eyes
round
the
desolate
moor
as
if
in
confirmation
of
the
assertion
.
"
But
perhaps
you
may
be
able
to
tell
me
where
I
can
find
some
one
?
"
"
O
dear
!
O
dear
!
there
is
no
want
of
finding
for
such
as
you
.
Just
go
upon
the
high-road
and
turn
yourself
about
,
and
say
,
'
Come
to
me
,
'
and
you
'll
be
seeing
'
em
flock
in
,
right
and
left
,
and
north
and
south
,
all
bowing
and
scraping
as
genteel
as
possible
.
'
Tis
only
me
as
lives
in
a
hole
,
and
prays
to
the
sun
every
night
to
be
so
kind
as
not
to
wake
me
the
next
morning
;
'
tis
only
me
that
never
sees
any
body
.
I
am
the
only
woman
in
all
the
world
—
all
the
rest
have
got
their
death
in
the
factories
.
"
There
are
many
circumstances
of
more
danger
,
that
are
infinitely
less
appalling
than
meeting
,
when
out
of
sight
of
every
other
human
being
,
a
poor
frail
shattered
remnant
of
humanity
with
a
disordered
wit
.
Mary
shuddered
as
the
wild
speech
of
this
poor
creature
confirmed
the
idea
of
insanity
which
her
appearance
suggested
,
and
her
first
impulse
was
to
turn
and
run
.
But
her
steps
were
stayed
by
the
shrill
,
trembling
voice
of
the
old
woman
,
who
in
an
accent
,
the
most
helpless
and
forlorn
,
called
after
her
,
"
One
minute
—
only
stay
one
minute
!
Let
me
look
at
you
one
minute
!
"
Mary
turned
again
,
and
all
feeling
of
terror
was
lost
in
pity
as
she
beheld
the
miserable
little
crippled
figure
which
was
hobbling
towards
her
.
Her
height
hardly
reached
that
of
an
ordinary
child
of
twelve
years
old
,
her
gait
showed
that
her
legs
were
dreadfully
deformed
,
her
uncouth
garments
hung
about
her
in
tatters
,
and
as
she
painfully
rolled
herself
at
every
step
round
the
stick
by
whose
aid
she
was
supported
,
it
was
hardly
possible
to
conceive
a
more
complete
image
of
poverty
and
decrepitude
,
than
her
whole
appearance
offered
.
"
Do
not
hurry
so
!
"
cried
Mary
,
every
idea
of
alarm
lost
in
contemplating
her
suffering
helplessness
.
"
I
will
not
go
yet
,
if
you
wish
me
to
stay
.
"
They
were
now
close
together
,
and
the
shaking
creature
looked
up
in
her
face
,
with
a
soft
,
silly
smile
,
that
had
all
the
woful
innocence
of
imbecility
.
With
a
small
,
skinny
hand
that
was
delicatelypale
,
and
perfectly
clean
,
she
took
the
end
of
Mary
's
silk
scarfand
gazed
upon
it
in
a
sort
of
ecstasy
.
"
Oh
,
fine
!
oh
,
pretty
,
pretty
,
pretty
!
"
she
exclaimed
,
smoothing
and
patting
it
with
her
hand
,
as
if
it
had
been
a
tame
and
favourite
bird
.
"
I
think
,
"
she
added
,
with
a
sagacious
nod
,
"
that
I
know
where
you
come
from
.
This
is
just
the
things
,
I
know
,
that
they
wear
in
heaven
—
I
think
I
know
where
you
come
from
.
"
Then
breaking
into
what
sounded
like
a
genuine
laugh
,
she
again
repeated
,
"
I
think
I
know
where
you
come
from
—
that
is
what
the
overlooker
man
said
to
me
,
"
she
added
,
lowering
her
voice
to
a
whisper
,
"
when
he
caught
me
running
away
from
the
factory
.
It
is
not
so
very
long
ago
—
I
can
tell
you
all
about
it
,
if
you
would
like
to
hear
—
and
it
is
not
like
the
rest
of
the
things
you
know
,
"
touching
her
forehead
with
her
forefinger
;
"
I
do
n't
tell
that
backwards
and
forwards
,
nonsense-fashion
,
like
the
other
things
I
talk
about
—
that
was
beat
in
upon
my
brain
by
the
blacksmith
,
and
nothing
can
ever
take
it
out
again
,
they
say
,
till
one
of
the
angels
does
it
in
heaven
.
It
used
to
pain
me
a
good
deal
,
"
she
continued
,
taking
off
her
hat
,
and
laying
her
open
palm
on
the
top
of
her
head
,
"
but
since
I
took
to
sitting
on
my
throne
there
,
as
the
folks
call
it
,
and
gathered
the
dew
morning
and
night
to
put
upon
it
,
the
pain
is
a
deal
better
.
"
"
I
cannot
hear
your
story
now
,
"
said
Mary
,
gently
,
"
because
there
is
a
poor
sick
girl
on
the
side
of
the
hill
that
wants
me
very
bad
—
she
comes
from
the
factory
too
,
and
she
is
too
ill
to
walk
—
can
you
tell
me
where
I
can
find
any
body
to
help
me
carry
her
?
"
"
Come
from
the
factory
,
is
she
?
Dear
,
dear
,
dear
,
dear
!
She
will
be
sure
to
die
,
you
may
depend
upon
it
—
they
all
do
die
,
except
me
.
Do
n't
you
fancy
that
you
'll
ever
take
her
back
alive
,
it
was
only
I
that
could
bear
that
,
and
I
was
burnt
in
the
head
for
it
,
as
I
told
you
.
"
"
I
do
not
want
to
take
her
back
,
"
said
Mary
,
"
I
want
to
help
her
.
Where
do
you
live
?
Are
there
any
houses
or
people
near
this
place
?
Now
,
be
a
good
woman
,
and
take
me
where
I
can
find
somebody
to
help
us
.
"
"
Yes
,
I
will
,
"
replied
the
poor
creature
,
in
a
tone
which
convinced
Miss
Brotherton
that
she
understood
her
,
and
at
the
same
time
beginning
to
hobble
on
before
her
towards
the
road
.
Nothing
probably
less
pressing
,
and
less
hopeless
than
her
present
position
could
have
tempted
Mary
to
trust
herself
to
such
a
guide
;
yet
she
felt
a
strange
sort
of
confidence
that
the
old
woman
knew
what
she
was
about
,
and
though
aware
that
the
experiment
was
rather
a
desperate
one
,
determined
to
follow
wherever
her
feeble
guide
should
lead
,
certain
,
at
least
,
that
the
distance
could
not
be
very
great
.
There
was
,
however
,
much
more
strength
and
power
of
locomotion
in
the
little
cripple
than
she
gave
her
credit
for
.
Having
contrived
to
crawl
through
the
grassy
dyke
that
fenced
the
moor
,
she
crossed
the
road
obliquely
,
and
making
her
way
through
a
very
imperfect
hedge
of
furze
and
quickset
,
hobbled
on
across
a
bit
of
miserably
arid
stubble
,
which
presently
descended
abruptly
,
and
led
to
a
tuft
of
stunted
elder-bushes
,
besides
which
stood
a
small
farm-house
,
with
its
cow-yard
,
barns
,
and
ricks
.
Surprised
and
delighted
to
find
herself
so
near
a
human
dwelling
,
Mary
had
hardly
patience
to
restrain
her
steps
to
the
pace
of
her
poor
guide
,
nevertheless
she
had
not
the
heart
to
leave
her
,
for
there
was
an
expression
of
pride
and
pleasure
in
the
woman
's
eye
as
she
turned
round
from
time
to
time
as
they
advanced
,
which
she
felt
it
would
be
most
cruel
to
check
by
showing
that
she
could
do
without
her
.
So
it
was
together
that
they
reached
the
bottom
of
the
steep
descent
,
and
together
that
they
entered
the
kitchen
of
the
farm-house
,
where
a
very
decent-looking
,
middle-aged
woman
was
engaged
in
preparing
supper
.
She
looked
exceedingly
surprised
at
the
appearance
of
Miss
Brotherton
,
and
for
a
moment
turned
her
eyes
from
her
to
her
companion
,
and
back
again
,
with
an
air
that
was
almost
bewildered
;
but
soon
recovering
herself
she
courtesied
with
much
respect
,
and
said
,
"
I
hope
you
have
n't
been
scared
,
ma'am
,
by
falling
in
with
this
poor
cretur
?
She
is
as
harmless
as
a
baby
.
"
"
Oh
,
no
!
"
replied
Mary
,
"
she
has
been
very
kind
to
me
,
for
she
has
brought
me
here
,
where
I
should
never
have
been
able
to
get
without
her
,
the
house
is
so
completely
concealed
—
and
I
want
help
,
ma'am
,
very
much
indeed
.
"
"
You
have
n't
met
no
accident
,
I
hope
?
"
said
the
good
woman
,
kindly
,
and
ceasing
her
notable
operations
,
she
drew
forward
a
wooden
chair
for
her
guest
to
sit
upon
.
"
Thank
you
very
much
,
"
said
the
young
lady
,
seating
herself
.
"
Yet
it
is
not
rest
I
most
want
.
I
have
a
little
girl
with
me
whom
I
have
left
by
the
side
of
the
road
that
leads
from
the
mills
;
she
is
too
weak
and
ill
to
get
on
,
and
I
hope
you
will
be
able
to
lend
me
some
conveyance
—
a
cart
,
a
waggon
,
any
thing
to
take
her
as
far
as
the
King
's
Head
,
three
or
four
miles
I
suppose
from
hence
,
upon
the
turnpike-road
:
I
would
pay
well
for
it
.
"
"
From
the
mills
?
"
repeated
the
woman
staring
"
Yes
;
from
the
place
called
Deep
Valley
Mill
,
"
replied
Mary
,
"
perhaps
rather
more
than
a
mile
from
here
.
"
"
Oh
!
ma'am
,
I
know
the
Deep
Valley
Mill
well
enough
,
"
was
the
answer
.
"
All
Mr.
Woodcomb
's
own
butter
and
milk
comes
from
here
.
That
is
not
the
difficulty
.
But
we
sha
n't
like
to
have
nothing
to
do
with
carrying
away
any
child
from
there
.
"
"
You
need
fear
nothing
on
that
point
,
"
replied
Miss
Brotherton
,
eagerly
,
"
I
have
paid
for
permission
to
bring
this
child
away
.
"
"
That
alters
the
case
for
certain
.
But
—
I
ask
your
pardon
,
ma'am
,
—
