byhis
vindictive
nature
as
a
victim
to
his
hatred
.
Whether
as
a
rival
in
his
munificence
,
or
a
champion
against
his
hate
,
it
was
pretty
certain
that
her
interference
would
render
her
obnoxious
to
her
pompous
neighbour
's
displeasure
,
and
this
she
had
no
inclination
to
encounter
if
she
could
help
it
.
For
though
at
this
moment
she
felt
within
her
a
strength
and
firmness
of
purpose
not
easily
shaken
,
the
poor
girl
knew
that
she
stood
alone
in
the
world
,
with
no
friend
to
support
her
more
powerful
than
nurse
Tremlett
,
and
nothing
but
her
two
hundred
thousand
pounds
'
worth
of
this
world
's
trumpery
to
enable
her
to
have
her
way
,
and
her
will
,
in
many
matters
that
she
feared
might
turn
out
rather
difficult
to
manage
.
So
she
determined
to
avoid
quarrelling
with
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
as
long
as
she
could
,
and
though
the
image
of
Michael
struggling
with
his
tears
,
and
the
plaintive
sound
of
his
voice
as
he
pleaded
for
leave
to
labour
again
,
absolutely
haunted
her
memory
,
she
determined
upon
being
cautious
,
wise
,
and
very
deliberative
in
any
measures
she
might
eventually
take
to
ensure
his
release
.
Under
the
influence
of
these
prudential
resolutions
,
Miss
Brotherton
for
the
present
abandoned
her
purpose
of
seeking
a
conversation
with
the
child
himself
,
and
determined
to
find
her
way
to
the
cottage
of
his
mother
instead
.
Yet
even
this
she
felt
must
be
done
with
caution
.
Her
carriage
and
her
liveries
were
about
as
splendid
and
conspicuous
as
carriage
and
liveries
could
be
,
and
though
she
knew
not
precisely
in
what
direction
the
widow
Armstrong
might
be
found
,
it
was
easy
enough
to
guess
that
did
she
make
use
of
her
ordinary
mode
of
conveyance
in
reaching
her
abode
,
let
it
be
where
it
might
,
she
would
attract
more
attention
than
she
desired
.
It
was
to
Mrs.
Tremlett
that
she
determined
to
apply
in
this
dilemma
,
and
at
their
tête-à-tête
breakfast
on
the
following
morning
,
she
once
more
led
the
conversation
to
the
factories
.
"
You
must
not
scold
me
,
dear
friend
,
"
said
she
,
"
if
you
find
that
I
have
,
as
I
told
you
I
would
,
disobeyed
your
advice
altogether
,
about
thinking
no
more
of
the
factory
people
,
for
I
cannot
get
them
out
of
my
head
,
nurse
Tremlett
.
"
"
I
am
sorry
for
it
,
my
dear
,
"
replied
the
good
woman
,
gravely
;
"
because
I
am
quite
sure
that
you
will
only
vex
yourself
,
and
do
no
good
.
"
"
You
ought
to
know
me
better
by
this
time
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
than
to
fancy
that
your
manner
of
speaking
on
this
dark
subject
is
the
way
to
check
my
curiosity
.
It
was
pretty
effectually
awakened
perhaps
before
;
but
had
it
been
otherwise
,
what
you
say
would
be
quite
enough
to
set
me
upon
inquiring
into
it
.
Nurse
Tremlett
,
I
WILL
know
every
thing
that
the
most
persevering
inquiry
can
teach
me
respecting
the
people
to
whose
labours
all
the
rich
people
in
this
neighbourhood
owe
their
wealth
,
and
myself
among
the
rest
.
And
when
I
tell
you
that
at
the
present
moment
this
is
the
only
subject
upon
which
I
feel
any
real
interest
,
I
think
you
are
too
wise
to
attempt
turning
me
from
it
,
by
saying
,
'
My
dear
you
will
only
vex
yourself
.
'
"
"
I
do
indeed
,
my
child
,
know
you
too
well
to
fancy
that
if
you
have
set
your
mind
upon
it
,
you
will
give
it
up
;
so
I
have
nothing
more
to
say
,
Miss
Mary
.
"
"
Well
then
,
my
dear
woman
,
"
replied
Mary
,
taking
her
hand
,
"
if
,
through
all
the
years
we
have
passed
together
,
I
have
shown
such
a
determined
spirit
for
no
reason
in
the
world
but
only
to
get
my
own
wanton
silly
will
,
do
me
the
justice
to
anticipate
that
I
shall
not
be
less
obstinate
in
this
one
thing
,
that
I
believe
to
be
right
,
than
in
all
the
many
wherein
it
was
most
likely
I
suspected
myself
to
be
wrong
.
I
do
believe
,
nurse
Tremlett
,
that
it
is
my
duty
to
understand
this
matter
better
than
I
do
;
and
if
this
be
so
,
I
will
trust
to
God
to
make
up
to
me
for
all
the
vexation
your
prophecy
threatens
it
will
bring
.
"
"
If
that
is
the
way
you
think
of
it
,
my
dear
child
,
Heaven
forbid
that
I
should
seek
to
hinder
you
.
But
rich
as
you
are
,
dear
Mary
,
if
you
was
to
give
it
all
,
and
ten
thousand
times
as
much
besides
,
what
good
could
it
do
?
The
mills
would
go
on
just
the
same
you
know
.
"
"
I
do
n't
want
to
stop
the
mills
,
nurse
Tremlett
.
Why
should
I
?
Industry
,
ingenuity
,
science
,
enterprise
,
must
of
course
be
all
brought
into
action
by
this
flourishing
cotton-trade
,
and
,
beyond
all
doubt
,
it
would
be
equally
wicked
and
wild
to
wish
its
destruction
.
That
is
not
the
notion
I
have
got
hold
of
,
good
nurse
,
very
,
very
far
from
it
,
I
assure
you
.
What
I
want
to
find
out
is
whether
,
by
the
nature
of
things
,
it
is
impossible
to
manufacture
worsted
and
cotton
wool
into
articles
useful
to
man
,
without
rendering
those
employed
upon
it
unfit
to
associate
with
the
rest
of
their
fellow-creatures
?
This
seems
to
me
so
gross
an
absurdity
that
I
cannot
give
faith
to
it
,
and
therefore
I
suspect
that
the
depravity
and
wickedness
you
and
Miss
Martha
Dowling
talk
about
,
must
arise
from
these
people
having
too
much
money
at
their
command
.
This
,
perhaps
,
may
lead
to
intemperance
and
extravagance
.
Do
n't
you
think
this
may
be
the
case
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
?
"
"
Good
gracious
,
no
,
Miss
Mary
!
Why
they
are
all
the
very
poorest
starving
wretches
upon
earth
.
"
"
But
they
may
be
poor
because
they
are
extravagant
,
nurse
.
They
must
get
a
most
monstrous
quantity
of
money
,
for
though
none
of
the
gentlemen
ever
talk
much
of
their
factories
,
I
have
repeatedly
heard
allusion
made
to
the
enormous
sums
paid
every
week
to
the
work-people
.
And
it
is
quite
clear
that
all
the
families
must
get
a
great
deal
,
because
all
the
little
children
work
,
which
can
hardly
be
the
case
elsewhere
.
Now
,
I
cannot
help
thinking
,
nurse
,
that
a
great
deal
of
good
might
be
done
by
teaching
them
a
little
economy
,
and
inducing
them
to
lay
by
their
superfluous
money
in
a
savings-bank
.
That
is
one
great
reason
why
I
want
to
get
acquainted
with
the
people
themselves
.
Now
,
for
instance
,
that
poor
sick
widow
Armstrong
—
the
mother
of
the
little
boy
that
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
has
taken
;
I
am
quite
sure
that
she
can
have
no
wickedness
to
hurt
me
—
and
I
am
determined
,
nurse
,
to
go
and
call
upon
her
.
"
"
Well
,
my
dear
,
that
ca
n't
do
no
great
harm
,
certainly
;
and
,
if
you
like
it
,
I
can
go
in
the
carriage
with
you
.
"
"
Most
certainly
I
should
like
you
to
go
with
me
,
but
not
in
the
carriage
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
.
I
do
n't
want
to
have
all
the
people
in
her
neighbourhood
staring
at
me
,
or
at
her
either
;
and
that
they
would
be
sure
to
do
if
we
went
in
the
carriage
.
I
mean
to
walk
,
nurse
.
"
"
Do
you
know
where
the
woman
lives
,
my
dear
?
"
"
No
;
I
must
leave
you
to
find
that
out
.
"
"
What
is
her
name
,
Miss
Mary
?
"
"
Armstrong
.
She
is
a
widow
,
and
lives
somewhere
in
Ashleigh
.
Let
us
walk
into
the
garden
,
and
while
I
am
looking
after
my
seedlings
,
you
can
inquire
of
one
of
the
under-gardeners
,
or
the
boy
.
And
if
you
manage
the
matter
well
,
the
next
prime
blossom
that
I
get
from
my
experiment-bed
,
shall
be
called
the
Tremlett
geranium
.
"
While
this
conversation
was
going
on
at
Millford
Park
,
the
residence
of
Miss
Brotherton
,
Dr.
Crockley
arrived
to
enjoy
a
tête-à-tête
breakfast
with
Sir
Matthew
in
"
the
study
"
at
Dowling
Lodge
.
This
room
,
though
not
so
splendid
as
some
of
its
neighbours
under
the
same
roof
,
could
,
nevertheless
,
be
made
very
snug
and
comfortable
upon
occasion
,
and
an
excellent
breakfast
was
spread
before
them
;
while
the
two
gentlemen
sat
in
judgment
upon
little
Michael
's
contumacy
,
and
consulted
on
the
best
method
of
bringing
him
into
better
order
.
"
Confound
the
imp
!
"
exclaimed
Sir
Matthew
,
as
he
selected
his
favourite
dainties
,
"
is
it
not
provoking
,
Crockley
,
that
I
should
have
taken
such
an
aversion
to
him
?
Upon
my
soul
,
I
never
hated
any
thing
so
much
in
my
life
.
In
the
first
place
it
is
disgusting
to
see
him
dressed
up
,
walking
about
the
house
like
a
tame
monkey
,
when
I
know
that
his
long
fingers
might
be
piercing
thousands
of
threads
for
two
shillings
a
week
;
and
it
is
neither
more
nor
less
than
loathsome
to
see
him
eat
,
at
luncheon
,
sometimes
when
we
have
had
him
in
before
company
,
exactly
the
very
same
things
that
my
children
eat
themselves
;
and
then
upon
the
back
of
it
all
,
to
know
that
the
ungrateful
little
viper
hates
the
very
sight
of
me
.
I
do
n't
believe
,
Crockley
,
that
any
good
can
come
of
all
this
,
equal
to
what
it
makes
me
suffer
in
the
doing
.
It
is
perfectly
unnatural
to
see
him
close
within
an
inch
of
my
own
legs
.
I
'd
rather
have
a
tame
toad
crawling
about
by
half
.
I
must
give
it
up
,
Crockley
—
I
must
,
upon
my
soul
.
"
"
You
are
the
master
,
Sir
Matthew
.
I
ca
n't
stop
you
,
if
do
it
you
will
;
but
I
can
tell
you
this
,
I
have
been
calling
at
fifty
different
houses
,
at
the
very
least
,
'
since
this
job
began
,
and
I
pledge
you
my
sacred
honour
that
in
every
one
of
them
the
only
thing
talked
of
was
your
benevolence
and
generosity
.
'
Such
an
example
!
'
cried
one
;
'
So
heavenly-minded
!
'
said
another
;
'
It
is
enough
to
bring
a
blessing
upon
the
whole
country
,
'
whined
a
third
;
and
,
'
It
is
to
be
hoped
that
such
goodness
will
be
rewarded
in
this
world
and
the
next
,
'
observed
a
fourth
.
Think
,
Sir
Matthew
,
how
all
this
will
tell
against
the
grumblings
about
Miss
Nance
Stephens
and
her
sudden
demise
.
"
"
That
's
true
—
devilish
true
,
Crockley
—
and
yet
it
's
no
cure
for
my
being
sick
at
the
stomach
every
time
I
see
him
.
"
"
I
do
n't
know
about
that
;
I
should
think
it
was
,
or
,
at
any
rate
,
if
you
'll
only
bear
it
a
little
longer
I
should
not
be
at
all
surprised
if
you
were
to
be
relieved
by
some
other
great
capitalist
setting
up
in
the
same
way
,
and
as
your
name
has
been
sung
out
,
that
would
do
just
as
well
.
Upon
my
soul
,
I
'm
in
earnest
;
I
should
not
the
least
wonder
if
,
before
the
end
of
three
months
,
every
one
of
your
first-rates
were
to
have
a
tame
factory-child
in
their
houses
,
to
act
like
the
hedgehogs
we
get
to
eat
black-beetles
for
us
.
And
they
'd
do
their
work
well
too
,
Sir
Matthew
:
all
the
nasty
,
creeping
,
multiplying
plagues
,
in
the
shape
of
evil
tales
against
the
factory
system
,
would
be
swallowed
up
by
the
clearing-off
effects
of
these
nice
little
hedgehog
gentry
.
"
"
You
are
as
keen
as
your
own
lancet
,
Crockley
;
and
I
never
turn
a
deaf
ear
to
any
thing
you
say
.
But
it
's
monstrous
hard
though
,
that
I
ca
n't
walk
about
my
own
house
without
running
the
risk
of
seeing
this
odious
little
grub
.
By
the
way
,
Crockley
,
why
could
not
my
lady
take
a
factory-girl
in
by
way
of
charity
?
Some
of
the
little
wenches
are
sightly
enough
before
they
have
worked
down
their
flesh
too
far
;
and
,
though
I
ca
n't
say
I
am
particularly
tender
over
the
lanky
idiot
looking
slatterns
that
we
mostly
get
at
the
mill
,
I
'll
bet
what
you
please
that
I
should
never
hate
the
sight
of
a
girl
,
as
I
do
the
sight
of
this
boy
.
"
"
Very
likely
not
,
Sir
Matthew
,
"
replied
the
doctor
,
laughing
immoderately
.
"
But
what
would
my
lady
say
?
And
what
would
all
the
other
ladies
say
?
No
,
no
,
leave
that
alone
,
and
make
up
your
mind
to
let
the
boy
have
the
run
of
the
house
for
a
month
or
two
;
after
which
you
may
send
him
to
the
devil
if
you
will
;
for
the
good
will
be
done
,
and
the
boy
himself
forgotten
.
"
"
That
's
all
vastly
easy
for
you
to
lay
down
,
chapter
and
verse
,
wise
man
that
you
are
,
"
replied
the
knight
.
"
But
if
I
tell
all
,
I
can
let
you
into
a
secret
,
Crockley
,
that
would
make
you
change
your
mind
,
perhaps
.
The
long
and
the
short
of
it
is
,
that
I
ca
n't
keep
my
hands
off
him
,
and
if
the
young
black-hearted
scamp
—
I
know
he
is
black-hearted
,
I
'm
quite
sure
of
it
on
account
of
a
look
he
has
got
with
his
eyes
,
that
makes
one
always
feel
so
uncomfortable
—
if
he
were
to
take
it
into
his
vile
ungrateful
head
to
go
about
the
country
telling
every
thing
that
I
may
have
happened
to
say
and
do
to
him
,
when
his
nasty
ways
have
pushed
me
further
than
I
could
bear
,
I
do
n't
think
the
history
of
the
charity
job
would
do
much
good
,
doctor
.
"
Doctor
Crockley
gave
a
long
low
whistle
;
and
then
,
after
a
minute
's
meditation
,
said
,
"
That
's
a
bore
.
"
"
I
know
it
is
,
"
sharply
responded
his
patron
,
"
a
devilish
bore
.
But
you
do
n't
suppose
that
I
am
to
stand
bursting
with
rage
,
and
not
take
the
liberty
of
speaking
my
mind
to
a
factory
grub
,
do
you
?
"
"
Heaven
forbid
!
A
whole
factory
full
of
wenches
may
all
drop
down
dead
,
I
hope
,
before
it
comes
to
that
,
"
replied
his
friend
.
"
But
what
you
have
stated
is
worth
attention
,
Sir
Matthew
.
I
do
n't
like
the
notion
of
that
child
's
having
tales
to
tell
.
It
spoils
all
.
"
"
I
know
it
,
"
returned
the
vexed
knight
.
"
Martha
told
me
just
now
,
not
ten
minutes
before
you
came
,
that
Miss
Brotherton
said
she
should
like
very
much
to
talk
to
the
boy
:
she
is
as
sharp
as
a
needle
,
you
know
,
and
I
'll
answer
for
it
would
find
out
all
he
has
got
to
tell
,
and
a
devilish
deal
more
,
perhaps
,
in
no
time
.
Pretty
work
that
would
make
!
would
it
not
?
Augustus
is
sure
of
her
,
he
tells
me
;
and
just
fancy
such
a
match
as
that
spoiled
by
the
forked
tongue
of
this
little
viper
!
The
very
notion
makes
one
mad
.
"
"
A
cure
must
be
found
for
that
mischief
,
let
it
cost
what
it
may
,
"
replied
Crockley
;
"
and
for
the
future
it
might
be
better
,
perhaps
,
for
your
charity
,
Sir
Matthew
,
to
show
itself
some
other
way
.
You
are
too
honest-hearted
,
that
's
the
fact
.
A
fine
bold
intellect
,
like
yours
,
ca
n't
descend
to
the
paltry
patience
belonging
to
inferior
minds
.
Is
there
no
getting
rid
of
the
boy
?
No
possibility
of
sending
him
'
prentice
some
where
or
other
?
"
"
'
Prentice
?
"
said
Sir
Matthew
,
looking
with
a
very
singular
expression
into
the
face
of
his
friend
.
"
Prentice
?
"
he
repeated
,
and
stretching
out
his
hand
,
he
seized
upon
that
of
Doctor
Crockley
,
which
he
shook
with
extraordinary
ardour
.
"
Send
him
as
a
'
prentice
!
Upon
my
soul
,
Crockley
,
if
you
had
laid
down
five
hundred
pounds
upon
the
table
,
I
should
not
have
considered
it
as
of
one
half
as
much
worth
as
that
one
word
'
PRENTICE
.
Yes
,
by
Jove
!
he
shall
be
a
'
prentice
.
Oaf
that
I
was
for
not
thinking
of
it
before
!
You
do
n't
know
half
the
good
you
have
done
me
by
that
word
.
'
Tis
but
lately
,
my
dear
fellow
,
that
you
and
I
have
come
to
understand
one
another
thoroughly
;
and
I
have
never
yet
talked
to
you
about
one
or
two
points
particularly
interesting
to
all
our
capitalists
.
I
never
mentioned
to
you
,
did
I
,
the
Deep
Valley
Mills
,
not
far
from
Appledown
Cross
,
in
Derbyshire
?
"
"
Never
,
Sir
Matthew
,
as
far
as
I
can
recollect
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
Well
,
then
,
I
will
tell
you
something
about
them
now
,
that
will
make
you
perceive
plainly
enough
what
a
capital
good
hit
you
have
made
in
talking
of
apprenticeship
for
my
young
darling
.
Deep
Valley
Mill
,
Crockley
,
is
the
property
of
my
excellent
friend
Elgood
Sharpton
.
He
is
one
of
the
men
born
to
be
the
making
of
this
country
.
A
fine
,
manly
,
dauntless
character
,
who
would
scorn
to
give
up
his
notions
before
any
act
of
parliament
that
ever
was
made
.
His
idea
is
,
Crockley
,
—
and
I
should
like
to
see
the
man
who
would
venture
to
tell
me
that
it
was
not
a
glorious
one
,
—
his
idea
is
,
that
if
we
could
get
rid
of
our
cursed
Corn-laws
,
the
whole
of
the
British
dominions
would
soon
be
turned
into
one
noble
collection
of
workshops
.
I
wish
you
could
hear
him
talk
;
upon
my
soul
,
it
's
the
finest
thing
I
know
.
He
says
that
if
his
system
is
carried
out
into
full
action
,
as
I
trust
it
will
be
one
of
these
days
,
all
the
grass
left
in
England
will
be
the
parks
and
paddocks
of
the
capitalists
.
Sharpton
will
prove
to
you
as
clearly
as
that
two
and
two
make
four
,
that
the
best
thing
for
the
country
would
be
to
scour
it
from
end
to
end
of
those
confounded
idle
drones
,
the
landed
gentry
.
They
must
go
sooner
or
later
,
he
says
,
if
the
corn-laws
are
done
away
with
.
Then
down
goes
the
price
of
bread
,
and
down
goes
the
operative
's
wages
;
and
what
will
stop
us
then
,
doctor
?
Do
n't
you
see
?
Is
n't
it
plain
as
the
nose
on
your
face
that
when
the
agricultural
interest
is
fairly
drummed
out
of
the
field
,
the
day
's
our
own
?
Who
shall
we
have
then
spying
after
us
to
find
out
how
many
hours
a
day
we
choose
to
make
our
hands
work
?
D'ye
see
,
Crockley
?
If
we
choose
to
work
the
vitals
out
of
them
,
who
shall
say
we
sha
n't
?
"
"
I
never
heard
a
finer
,
clearer
line
of
argument
,
in
my
life
,
Sir
Matthew
,
"
replied
the
attentive
listener
.
"
That
man
,
that
Elgood
Sharpton
,
seems
born
for
a
legislator
.
But
I
question
not
that
when
you
two
get
together
you
act
like
flint
and
steel
upon
one
another
.
Is
not
that
the
case
?
"
"
Pretty
much
I
believe
,
"
replied
Sir
Matthew
;
"
and
I
promise
you
,
Crockley
,
I
give
no
bad
proof
of
my
confidence
in
your
honour
and
friendship
,
by
letting
you
into
a
few
of
our
notions
,
for
matters
are
by
no
means
quite
ripe
for
us
to
speak
out
,
as
yet
.
Our
policy
is
,
you
must
know
,
to
give
out
that
it
is
the
operatives
who
are
clamouring
for
the
repeal
of
the
corn-laws
,
whereas
many
among
them
,
saucy
rogues
,
are
as
deep
as
their
betters
,
and
know
perfectly
well
,
and
be
hanged
to
'
em
,
that
our
only
reason
for
trying
to
make
'
down
with
the
corn-laws
,
'
the
popular
cry
is
,
that
we
may
whisper
in
their
ears
,
'
down
with
the
wages
'
afterwards
.
Ay
,
doctor
,
if
we
can
but
manage
this
England
will
become
the
paradise
of
manufacturers
!
—
the
great
workshop
of
the
world
!
When
strangers
climb
our
chalk
cliffs
to
get
a
peep
at
us
,
they
shall
see
,
land
at
what
point
they
will
,
the
glowing
fires
that
keep
our
engines
going
,
illuminating
the
land
from
one
extremity
of
the
island
to
the
other
!
Then
think
how
we
shall
suck
in
—
that
is
we
the
capitalists
,
my
man
—
think
how
we
shall
suck
in
gold
,
gold
,
gold
,
from
all
sides
.
The
idea
is
perfectly
magnificent
!
The
fat
Flemings
must
give
up
all
hopes
of
ever
getting
their
finical
flax
to
vie
with
our
cotton
again
!
—
Crockley
,
"
but
here
Sir
Matthew
paused
for
a
moment
,
as
if
half
doubtful
whether
he
should
go
on
.
The
confidential
impulse
within
him
,
however
,
worked
so
strongly
in
favour
of
the
friendly
smiling
physician
,
that
all
reserve
grave
way
,
and
winking
his
eye
at
him
with
a
truly
comic
expression
,
he
proceeded
—
"
Crockley
,
they
do
n't
understand
spinning
in
Flanders
:
they
do
n't
know
yet
how
many
baby
sinews
must
be
dragged
,
and
drawn
out
to
mix
as
it
were
with
the
thread
,
before
the
work
can
be
made
to
answer
.
No
,
no
,
we
have
fairly
given
Master
Fleming
the
go
by
in
his
own
trade
,
so
for
the
future
he
must
just
be
pleased
to
go
on
hand-digging
,
and
sewing
every
inch
of
his
dung-muxen
,
till
it
teems
with
corns
for
exportation
.
That
's
what
he
's
fit
for
;
whereas
science
has
put
us
rather
in
advance
of
all
that
,
my
good
doctor
.
Our
friends
in
Poland
,
too
,
shall
plough
away
to
the
same
tune
,
and
Russia
,
from
end
to
end
,
will
become
one
huge
granary
at
our
service
.
Where
will
your
aristocratic
landholders
be
then
,
Crockley
?
Perhaps
you
ca
n't
tell
?
but
I
suspect
I
can
.
They
'll
just
be
in
the
factories
,
sir
.
Your
manors
and
your
preserves
(
we
can
get
game
enough
from
abroad
)
,
your
manors
and
your
preserves
will
be
covered
with
factories
,
except
just
here
and
there
,
you
know
,
where
we
capitalists
may
have
taken
a
fancy
to
my
Lord
This-thing
's
grounds
,
or
the
Duke
of
T'other-thing
's
mansion
,
for
our
own
residences
.
And
this
I
maintain
is
just
as
it
should
be
;
and
the
reason
why
,
is
plain
.
We
have
got
before
all
the
world
in
machinery
,
and
so
all
the
world
must
be
content
to
walk
behind
us
.
By
Jove
,
if
I
had
my
way
,
Crockley
,
I
'd
turn
France
and
the
Rhine
into
a
wine-cellar
,
Russia
into
a
corn-bin
,
and
America
,
glorious
America
,
north
,
south
,
east
,
and
west
,
into
a
cotton
plantation
.
Then
should
we
not
flourish
?
Then
should
we
not
bring
down
the
rascals
to
work
at
our
own
prices
,
and
be
thankful
too
?
What
's
to
step
us
?
Trust
me
there
is
not
a
finer
humbug
going
,
than
just
making
the
country
believe
that
the
operatives
are
rampant
for
the
repeal
of
the
corn-laws
.
"
"
It
is
a
treat
to
hear
you
,
Sir
Matthew
.
I
should
be
at
a
loss
to
name
any
man
that
I
thought
your
equal
in
the
gift
of
eloquence
.
But
,
nevertheless
,
we
must
not
forget
business
.
We
must
not
forget
Master
Michael
Armstrong
,
Sir
Matthew
.
"
No
,
no
,
my
good
friend
,
we
will
not
forget
him
.
Be
patient
for
a
moment
,
and
I
will
make
you
understand
how
my
friend
Elgood
Sharpton
,
and
my
darling
protégé
have
been
mixed
up
in
my
mind
together
.
Sharpton
's
factory
at
Deep
Valley
is
one
of
the
most
perfect
institutions
,
I
take
it
,
that
the
ingenuity
of
man
every
produced
.
It
is
perfect
,
sir
,
—
just
perfect
.
In
the
first
place
it
is
build
in
a
wild
desolate
spot
,
where
the
chances
are
about
ten
thousand
to
one
against
any
of
the
travelling
torments
who
take
upon
themselves
to
meddle
and
make
about
what
does
not
concern
them
—
it
is
a
hundred
thousand
to
one
against
their
ever
catching
sight
of
it
.
You
never
saw
such
a
place
in
your
life
,
Crockley
.
'
Tis
such
a
hole
that
I
do
n't
believe
the
sunshine
was
ever
known
to
get
to
the
bottom
of
it
.
It
was
made
on
purpose
,
you
may
depend
upon
it
.
Well
,
sir
,
Sharpton
,
who
whatever
he
udnertakes
is
sure
to
get
over
the
ground
faster
than
any
other
man
,
for
he
never
lets
any
thing
stop
him
,
Sharpton
felt
quite
convinced
,
you
see
,
that
the
only
way
to
carry
on
the
work
to
any
good
purpose
was
to
UNDERSELL
.
And
how
was
this
to
be
done
without
loss
instead
of
gain
?
That
's
a
question
I
promise
you
that
has
puzzled
many
a
man
that
was
no
fool
—
but
,
egad
,
it
did
not
puzzle
him
.
He
knew
well
enough
that
it
was
not
the
material
—
that
came
cheap
enough
—
nor
yet
the
machinery
,
though
Heaven
knows
that
's
dear
enough
;
but
'
tis
the
labour
,
sir
,
the
damnation
wages
going
on
,
on
,
on
,
for
evermore
that
drains
the
money
away
.
And
what
then
does
he
do
,
but
hit
at
once
upon
the
very
perfectest
scheme
that
ever
entered
a
man
's
head
to
lessen
that
ruinous
burden
.
He
knew
well
enough
,
for
he
has
a
most
unaccountable
deal
of
general
information
,
that
there
were
lots
of
parishes
in
England
that
did
n't
know
what
on
earth
to
do
with
their
pauper
brats
.
There
's
many
,
you
know
,
that
say
this
one
thing
,
this
nasty
filthy
excess
of
pauper
population
is
the
very
mischief
that
is
eating
up
the
country
,
and
destroying
our
prosperity
.
But
who
's
the
greatest
political
economist
,
Crockley
,
the
man
who
talks
of
the
evil
,
or
he
who
sets
about
finding
a
remedy
?
The
political
economists
of
the
nineteenth
century
ought
to
erect
a
statue
to
Elgood
Sharpton
;
and
so
they
will
,
I
have
no
doubt
,
when
the
subject
come
to
be
more
perfectly
understood
.
For
just
mark
what
he
has
done
.
First
he
finds
out
this
capital
spot
for
the
job
,
and
builds
a
factory
there
;
next
he
either
goes
himself
,
or
sends
agents
,
good
,
capable
,
understanding
men
,
to
all
the
parishes
that
he
finds
are
overburdened
with
poor
.
Then
,
sir
,
he
enters
philosophically
into
the
subject
with
the
parish
authorities
,
but
of
course
with
proper
discretion
,
and
proves
to
them
that
in
no
way
could
they
do
their
duty
by
the
parish
children
,
particularly
the
orphans
,
or
those
whose
parents
do
n't
trouble
them
,
so
well
as
by
apprenticing
them
to
a
GOOD
TRADE
.
"
Here
Sir
Matthew
paused
,
and
a
merry
glance
was
exchanged
between
him
and
his
companion
.
"
Well
,
Crockley
,
it
is
a
good
trade
,
you
know
,
a
devilish
good
trade
,
is
n't
it
?
At
any
rate
I
promise
you
that
so
many
parishes
felt
convinced
of
it
,
that
Elgood
sharpton
had
soon
got
Deep
Valley
factory
as
full
of
young
hands
as
it
could
cram
.
Now
it
is
since
that
,
you
must
know
,
that
old
Sir
Robert
took
in
into
his
head
that
little
children
must
not
be
overworked
.
He
it
was
,
I
believe
,
that
first
set
up
that
nonsensical
cry
to
any
purpose
;
and
to
be
sure
,
nothing
ever
was
so
absurd
in
a
country
where
every
body
knows
that
if
the
young
pauper
spawn
could
but
be
made
to
die
off
,
every
thing
would
go
on
well
.
Is
it
not
strange
now
,
that
old
Peel
could
not
be
contented
to
grow
rich
,
and
hold
his
tongue
?
but
no
,
he
got
bit
by
some
poisonous
humanity
notion
or
other
,
and
a
devilish
shake
he
gave
to
the
system
just
at
first
,
by
his
absurd
bill
for
the
protection
of
infant
paupers
;
but
such
men
as
Sharpton
are
not
to
be
knocked
down
like
ninepins
,
either
by
law-makers
,
or
law
;
and
to
say
the
truth
,
old
Sir
Robert
Peel
's
bill
was
to
all
intents
and
purposes
a
dead
letter
within
two
years
after
it
was
passed
.
Bless
your
soul
,
it
was
the
easiest
thing
in
the
world
to
keep
the
creatures
so
ignorant
about
the
bill
,
after
first
talk
was
over
,
the
they
might
have
been
made
to
believe
any
thing
and
to
submit
to
any
thing
.
In
fact
the
question
for
them
always
lies
in
an
egg-shell
.
They
must
either
do
what
the
masters
would
have
them
,
OR
STARVE
.
That
fact
is
worth
all
the
bills
that
ever
were
passed
:
and
another
thing
is
,
that
as
long
as
there
's
nothing
to
prevent
our
own
friends
and
relations
from
being
among
the
magistrates
,
even
if
complaints
are
made
,
we
can
manage
them
.
"
"
How
true
it
is
,
Sir
Matthew
,
that
there
is
no
inequality
of
accidental
condition
that
can
equal
the
inequality
produced
by
a
decided
superiority
in
the
intellectual
powers
,
"
said
Dr.
Crockley
.
"
At
this
moment
I
give
you
my
sacred
honour
that
I
look
upon
,
you
and
your
friend
Mr.
Elgood
Sharpton
also
,
as
standing
in
a
much
more
commanding
position
than
any
duke
in
the
country
.
What
's
a
long
descent
compared
to
a
long
head
,
Sir
Matthew
?
I
'll
tell
you
what
the
difference
is
.
A
long
descent
pretty
generally
helps
a
man
to
empty
his
purse
,
whereas
a
long
head
will
never
fail
to
help
him
fill
it
.
It
is
as
clear
to
me
,
as
that
the
sun
's
in
heaven
,
Sir
Matthew
,
that
the
game
is
in
your
own
hands
.
I
know
—
for
I
have
made
some
curious
experiments
that
way
—
I
know
what
a
dog
may
be
taught
to
do
by
hunger
,
and
you
may
rely
upon
it
that
it
is
just
as
powerful
in
a
man
.
Egad
,
Sir
Matthew
,
it
is
a
very
fine
subject
for
scientific
experiments
.
It
is
difficult
to
say
how
far
it
might
go
.
If
a
dog
,
for
example
,
may
be
taught
tricks
by
hunger
,
that
approach
in
ingenuity
to
the
powers
of
man
,
why
may
not
man
,
skilfully
acted
upon
by
the
same
principle
,
be
brought
to
rival
the
docility
of
a
dog
?
"
"
I
see
nothing
in
nature
to
stop
it
,
doctor
,
"
replied
Sir
Matthew
,
with
an
air
of
great
animation
.
"
But
remember
,
my
dear
Crockley
,
this
is
not
a
point
to
be
touched
upon
in
the
book
we
were
talking
of
.
The
public
,
you
know
,
can
have
nothing
on
earth
to
do
with
the
private
regulation
of
our
affairs
.
People
have
just
as
much
right
to
inquire
at
what
o'clock
my
lord
duke
expects
his
valet
to
get
up
,
and
moreover
what
the
valet
eats
for
breakfast
when
he
is
up
,
as
they
have
to
know
what
hours
our
hired
laborers
keep
,
and
what
they
feed
upon
.
It
is
a
gross
inquisitorial
interference
,
Crockley
,
and
ought
not
to
be
though
of
in
a
free
country
.
"
"
That
's
a
first-rate
idea
though
,
Sir
Matthew
,
"
said
the
doctor
,
taking
out
his
pocket-book
and
pencil
.
"
I
must
book
that
.
It
is
turning
the
parliament
into
an
office
of
the
inquisition
.
The
canters
may
call
it
a
holy
office
,
if
they
will
,
but
the
British
people
will
never
bear
the
notion
of
AN
INQUISTION
.
That
's
a
capital
idea
,
I
promise
you
.
As
to
my
parallel
,
you
know
,
between
a
dog
and
a
man
,
it
is
merely
between
ourselves
,
or
such
an
out-and-out-friend
as
Mr.
Sharpton
,
and
it
may
be
worth
thinking
about
,
perhaps
,
practically
and
scientifically
,
I
mean
;
but
certainly
I
should
never
dream
of
printing
it
.
A
hundred
years
hence
human
intelligent
may
have
reached
such
a
point
of
improvement
that
the
plain
good
sense
and
practical
utility
of
the
idea
may
make
it
properly
appreciated
.
but
as
yet
we
are
not
sufficiently
advanced
in
the
science
emphatically
denominated
"
the
positive
"
in
contradistinction
to
"
the
ideal
.
"
It
will
come
though
,
if
we
do
but
go
on
in
the
path
we
are
in
.
But
we
are
generalizing
too
much
,
Sir
Matthew
;
nevertheless
I
suspect
I
have
caught
you
idea
.
You
have
thoughts
of
sending
your
young
favoiurite
to
Deep
Valley
mill
,
by
way
of
putting
the
finishing
stroke
to
your
benevolent
projects
in
his
favour
?
"
"
Exactly
so
,
my
dear
friend
.
But
we
must
have
indentures
,
observe
;
and
there
is
some
little
difficulty
in
that
.
"
"
I
suppose
you
know
best
,
Sir
Matthew
;
else
I
should
say
that
indentures
cannot
be
necessary
.
From
your
description
,
the
locality
of
this
factory
,
with
its
romantic
name
,
must
be
like
the
valley
of
Rasselas
,
at
least
in
one
particular
—
namely
,
that
without
wings
the
happy
dwellers
there
would
find
it
impossible
to
excape
,
"
replied
the
doctor
.
"
Difficult
,
exceedingly
difficult
,
certainly
;
but
not
quite
impossible
;
for
without
indentuires
a
runaway
could
not
be
legally
pursued
.
And
to
tell
you
the
truth
,
friend
Crockley
,
I
should
not
much
approve
giving
a
subject
for
a
second
part
of
Mr.
Osmond
Norval
's
dramma
,
in
which
the
hero
should
appear
upon
the
scene
after
a
few
months
's
residence
in
Deep
Valley
mills
.
"
"
That
's
true
.
But
I
do
n't
see
under
what
pretence
you
are
to
get
the
brat
apprenticed
to
your
friend
Sharpton
,
"
remarked
the
cautious
counsellor
.
"
If
he
is
apprenticed
to
me
,
it
will
do
just
as
well
,
"
replied
the
knight
,
"
for
I
could
make
over
the
indentures
to
Sharpton
easy
enough
,
but
it
strikes
me
I
might
have
some
difficulty
in
making
the
mother
consent
to
it
.
"
"
Not
if
you
will
be
upon
your
P
's
and
Q
's
,
Sir
Knight
,
"
said
his
friend
:
"
you
have
nothing
to
do
but
go
on
sending
tit-bits
to
the
sick
woman
,
and
the
rickety
boy
that
you
mentioned
,
and
when
they
have
got
a
little
used
to
it
she
'll
not
choose
to
affront
her
generous
benefactor
.
Remember
the
dog
theory
,
Sir
Matthew
,
they
are
all
alike
.
"
"
I
dare
say
you
are
right
.
but
at
any
rate
I
had
better
keep
out
of
that
hateful
brat
's
way
,
or
rather
take
care
that
he
keeps
out
of
mine
.
But
I
shall
bear
the
sight
of
him
better
if
I
make
up
my
mind
to
send
him
to
Deep
Valley
.
Taht
will
wipe
out
old
scores
between
us
.
"
Having
said
this
,
Sir
Matthew
rose
from
the
breakfast-table
,
seeming
therby
to
indicate
that
the
consultation
was
at
an
end
.
Dr.
Crockley
rose
too
;
but
,
though
he
took
up
his
hat
and
his
riding-whip
from
the
chair
on
which
he
had
placed
them
,
he
lingered
as
if
he
had
still
something
to
say
before
he
took
his
leave
.
Sir
Matthew
,
however
,
seemed
to
take
no
notice
of
the
hint
,
but
stretching
out
his
hand
said
decisively
,
"
Good
morning
,
doctor
,
good
morning
.
Let
us
see
you
again
soon
.
"
Dr.
Crockley
upon
this
stretched
out
his
hand
too
,
but
instead
of
clutching
that
of
the
knight
,
he
seized
upon
his
button
.
"
One
word
,
Sir
Matthew
,
one
word
.
You
are
too
much
of
a
man
of
business
to
think
me
troublesome
.
Respecting
that
little
appointment
that
you
were
talking
about
the
other
day
;
I
should
like
to
have
it
settled
.
Because
,
to
say
the
truth
,
I
shall
consider
myself
as
weaking
your
livery
;
or
,
to
speak
more
fitly
,
to
be
fighting
positively
under
your
colors
,
when
this
is
done
;
and
of
course
you
know
we
ought
to
understand
one
another
completely
.
"
"
No
doubt
of
it
,
Crockely
.
I
said
nothing
that
I
do
not
mean
to
stand
to
.
You
shall
have
two
hundred
a
year
,
paid
quaterly
,
for
attending
to
the
health
and
wellbeing
,
and
all
that
,
you
know
,
of
the
factory
children
.
But
as
I
do
n't
want
you
to
give
them
two
hundred
pounds
'
worth
of
physic
,
remember
I
shall
expect
that
you
will
make
up
the
deficiency
in
—
in
just
saying
round
about
the
neighbourhood
how
remarkably
well
every
thing
goes
on
at
Brookford
Factory
.
I
'll
peldge
you
my
word
that
every
thing
does
go
on
capitally
well
there
,
Crockley
,
so
you
will
have
nothing
on
your
conscience
on
that
score
.
"
"
I
am
not
afraid
of
that
,
Sir
Matthew
;
I
know
I
may
trust
you
.
But
I
should
like
a
bit
of
a
memorandum
about
my
own
business
,
if
you
please
.
"
"
Quite
right
,
quite
right
,
sir
.
I
am
too
much
a
man
of
business
to
object
to
that
.
Draw
up
the
engagement
,
such
as
you
wish
it
to
be
,
and
I
dare
say
I
shall
make
no
objection
to
signing
it
.
"
After
this
a
cordial
hand-shaking
was
exchanged
and
the
friends
parted
.
CHAPTER
XII
.
AN
UNFORTUNATE
RENCONTRE
—
AN
ADVENTURE
—
MISS
BROTHERTON
GROWS
WISER
EVERY
DAY
.
Mrs.
Tremlett
's
inquiries
proved
successful
.
Jim
Sykes
,
the
weeding-boy
,
knew
perfectly
well
where
widow
Armstrong
lived
;
and
after
he
had
repeated
his
instructions
three
times
,
Mary
Brotherton
and
her
unresisting
chaperon
set
off
on
their
expedition
.
On
one
point
only
did
the
self-willed
heiress
yeild
to
the
judgment
of
her
companion
.
Mary
,
who
knew
,
that
though
she
seldom
went
beyond
the
shelter
of
her
own
park-paling
,
she
often
walked
without
fatigue
within
it
for
two
or
three
hours
together
,
wished
to
set
off
for
Hoxley-lane
on
foot
;
but
Mrs.
Tremlett
talked
so
much
of
the
fatigue
,
that
the
good-natured
girl
consented
to
let
the
carriage
convey
them
to
the
point
at
which
the
lane
diverged
from
the
high-road
.
This
yielding
,
however
,
was
wholly
from
consideration
for
her
companion
.
For
herself
she
believed
the
precaution
quite
needless
;
and
she
was
right
.
However
much
her
temper
might
have
been
endangered
by
the
series
of
spoiling
processes
she
had
undergone
,
her
health
had
been
taken
good
care
of
,
and
few
girls
of
her
age
in
any
rank
,
had
greater
power
and
will
for
exertion
than
herself
.
Nevertheless
,
before
she
had
driven
half
a
mile
,
she
heartily
rejoiced
at
having
sacrificed
her
own
inclination
to
that
of
her
good
nurse
;
for
the
road
to
Ashleigh
was
the
favourite
ride
of
the
officers
quartered
in
the
neighbourhood
,
and
had
she
been
seen
on
foot
,
it
is
probable
that
before
reaching
Hoxley-lane
she
would
have
been
surrounded
by
a
body-guard
of
military
.
So
greatly
did
this
danger
appal
her
spirits
,
that
the
frist
moment
she
found
herself
free
from
a
white-gloved
hand
either
at
one
window
or
the
other
,
she
stopped
the
carriage
,
and
ordered
the
coachman
to
go
far
enough
down
the
lane
to
permit
her
to
ge
out
unoberserved
by
any
persons
passing
by
the
road
.
But
poor
Mary
was
this
day
doomed
to
disappointment
;
and
the
indignant
,
and
almost
passionate
beating
of
her
heart
under
it
,
made
her
more
conscious
,
perhaps
,
than
she
had
ever
been
before
,
how
deeply
the
business
upon
which
she
was
engaged
had
entered
into
her
soul
.
Soon
after
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
had
dismissed
his
breakfast
companion
,
he
strolled
out
towards
his
splendid
stables
,
and
perceiving
his
son
loitering
among
the
grooms
,
and
himself
equipped
for
the
saddle
,
he
inquired
whither
he
was
going
to
ride
.
"
Only
to
Ashleigh
,
governor
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
Then
wait
five
minutes
,
Augustus
,
and
I
will
ride
with
you
.
"
Whether
the
youth
approved
the
proposal
or
not
,
he
was
fain
to
submit
to
it
,
and
the
evil
star
of
Mary
Brotherton
contrived
to
bring
them
to
the
top
of
Hoxley-lane
at
the
moment
her
carriage
was
about
to
turn
into
it
.
"
Stop
!
"
cried
the
young
lady
,
accompanying
the
word
with
a
very
energetic
pull
at
the
check-string
.
"
Go
on
to
Ashleigh
,
"
was
the
order
the
followed
.
"
Was
ever
any
thing
so
provoking
,
nurse
?
Do
you
see
who
those
hateful
men
are
?
"
"
Why
'
tis
Sir
Matthew
,
my
dear
,
"
replied
the
gentle
old
woman
.
"
The
wretch
!
"
muttered
Mary
between
her
teeth
at
the
very
moment
that
sir
Matthew
on
one
side
,
and
his
languishing
son
on
the
other
,
besieged
her
carriage
.
"
Not
for
my
right
hand
would
I
have
him
guess
where
I
am
going
,
"
thought
she
,
as
with
a
face
suffused
with
the
deepest
carmine
that
agitation
could
produce
,
she
forced
her
lips
into
an
unmeaning
smile
in
return
to
their
salutation
.
The
father
and
son
came
to
exactly
the
same
conclusion
,
and
at
the
same
moment
.
There
was
but
one
cause
that
it
was
possible
to
assign
for
her
evident
emotion
.
She
was
deeply
in
love
with
Augustus
,
—
more
deeply
then
even
the
young
man
himself
had
imagined
.
The
thing
was
plain
,
no
doubt
remained
,
no
not
a
shadow
of
it
on
the
mind
of
either
father
or
son
,
but
it
was
the
elder
gentleman
only
who
at
once
determined
to
push
so
fine
a
game
to
its
close
,
with
as
little
delay
as
possible
.
Feeling
quite
sure
that
there
was
no
liberty
he
could
take
at
this
moment
which
would
not
be
welcome
,
he
made
a
sign
t
the
coachman
to
stop
,
and
deliberately
dismounting
he
threw
his
reins
to
his
groom
,
told
Miss
Brotherton
's
footman
to
open
the
carriage-door
,
and
stepped
in
with
the
assumed
air
of
a
partially
loved
friend
,
who
knows
that
no
leave
need
be
asked
.
Mary
shrunk
back
into
her
corner
with
considerably
more
disgust
than
if
a
reptile
had
possessed
itself
of
the
seat
opposite
.
"
This
is
not
quite
as
it
should
be
,
is
it
?
"
said
Sir
Matthew
,
with
a
leer
.
"
Perhaps
so
me
other
may
have
a
better
right
here
than
I
?
"
And
a
very
expressive
smile
accompanied
the
words
.
"
Sir
?
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
.
"
Come
,
come
,
my
dear
child
,
you
must
not
look
vexed
at
any
of
my
little
jokes
.
You
know
how
we
all
dote
upon
you
!
Dear
creature
!
How
beautiful
that
sweet
blush
make
you
look
!
He
,
he
!
there
goes
poor
Augustus
looking
very
much
as
if
he
could
wring
his
papa
's
neck
off
.
But
his
turn
,
we
will
hope
,
may
come
by
and
by
.
and
now
,
my
dear
,
I
'll
tell
you
what
I
am
come
here
for
.
We
all
want
you
,
and
your
good
Mrs.
Tremlett
too
,
if
she
likes
it
,
to
come
over
to
us
quite
en
famille
to-morrow
.
I
do
n't
know
what
love-powder
you
have
been
scattering
amongst
us
,
but
there
is
not
a
single
individual
of
the
family
who
does
not
positively
dote
upon
you
.
Tell
me
my
pretty
Mary
,
do
you
feel
a
little
kindness
for
some
of
us
in
return
?
"
An
attempt
to
take
her
hand
accompanied
this
speech
;
and
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
who
estimated
pretty
nearly
her
young
lady
's
affection
for
Sir
Matthew
and
his
race
,
actually
trembled
for
the
consequences
.
But
,
to
her
great
surprise
,
Mary
answered
,
after
the
pause
of
a
minute
,
"
Oh
,
dear
Sir
Matthew
!
you
are
only
laughing
at
me
!
"
in
a
voice
so
exceedingly
chilldish
and
silly
,
that
it
might
,
under
similar
circumstances
,
have
made
the
fortune
of
a
comic
actress
;
and
though
she
did
not
permit
him
to
touch
the
hand
he
attempted
to
take
,
she
placed
it
,
together
with
its
fellow
,
so
playfully
behind
her
,
that
Sir
Matthew
could
only
laugh
and
call
her
,
"
dear
pretty
creature
!
"
Meanwhile
the
carriage
proceeded
to
penetrate
through
the
dirty
dismal
streets
,
which
,
in
that
direction
,
formed
the
suburb
of
Ashleigh
.
"
I
must
get
out
here
,
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
,
suddenly
pulling
the
check-string
.
"
Here
?
Impossible
,
my
dear
child
!
"
"
Nothing
is
impossible
t
me
,
that
I
choose
to
do
,
sir
,
"
said
the
young
lady
,
springing
to
the
ground
the
moment
the
door
was
opened
.
The
knight
was
fain
to
follow
,
the
animated
Augustus
threw
himself
from
his
horse
at
the
same
instant
,
and
Mrs.
Tremlett
held
herself
suspended
on
the
step
of
the
carriage
to
learn
what
she
was
required
to
do
.
"
I
wish
to
know
what
is
the
matter
with
these
miserable-looking
children
,
"
said
Mary
,
approaching
a
half-open
door
,
at
each
side
of
which
,
crouching
on
the
stone
step
,
sat
a
pale
and
squalid-looking
girl
.
The
eldest
might
be
ten
years
old
,
the
youngest
was
certainly
not
more
than
six
.
"
Gracious
Heaven
!
you
are
not
going
to
speak
to
those
creatures
,
Miss
Brotherton
?
"
exclaimed
Sir
Matthew
,
while
his
son
instinctively
backed
his
horse
into
the
middle
of
the
street
.
"
And
why
not
,
Sir
Matthew
?
"
said
Mary
.
"
You
are
not
aware
of
what
you
are
doing
;
I
give
you
my
honour
you
are
not
.
You
have
no
conception
that
these
sort
of
creatures
are
.
My
dear
,
dear
Miss
Brotherton
,
get
into
your
carriage
—
get
into
your
carriage
,
I
conjure
you
!
Mary
looked
at
him
,
but
said
not
a
word
in
reply
.
"
What
ails
you
,
little
girl
?
"
said
she
,
putting
her
hand
upon
the
shoulder
of
the
youngest
child
.
"
Billy-roller
,
"
answered
the
little
creature
.
"
The
billy-roller
smashed
her
,
"
said
the
eldest
girl
,
"
but
'
twas
falling
asleep
against
the
machinery
as
lamed
me
.
"
"
Are
you
mad
,
Miss
Brotherton
!
"
exclaimed
Sir
Matthew
.
"
Surely
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
you
ought
to
prevent
your
young
lady
from
exposing
herself
to
such
scenes
as
these
.
"
"
Good
morning
,
Sir
Matthew
,
do
not
let
me
detain
you
,
"
said
the
heiress
,
suddenly
assuming
the
tone
and
style
of
a
woman
of
fashion
who
chose
to
have
her
own
way
.
"
These
sick
little
creatures
quite
interest
me
.
Besides
,
I
must
positively
find
out
who
Billy
Roller
is
.
"
"
It
is
an
instrument
used
in
the
works
,
Miss
Brotherton
.
You
know
not
to
what
you
are
exposing
yourself
—
fraud
,
filth
,
infection
,
drunkenness
!
I
give
you
my
sacred
honour
that
I
think
you
are
very
likely
to
be
robbed
and
murdered
if
you
approach
the
thresholds
of
such
dwellings
as
these
.
"
"
I
beg
your
pardon
,
Sir
Matthew
,
"
replied
the
heiress
,
"
but
you
must
excuse
me
if
I
obstinately
persevere
in
judging
for
myself
;
I
know
I
am
a
spoiled
child
,
neither
more
nor
less
;
and
as
such
you
must
either
give
me
up
or
bear
with
me
.
Permit
me
to
wish
you
good
morning
;
I
shall
do
more
than
approach
the
threshold
of
this
dwelling
—
I
shall
enter
it
.
"
Having
said
this
,
she
waited
no
further
parley
,
but
taking
a
ragged
child
in
each
hand
set
her
little
foot
against
the
door
which
already
stood
ajar
,
pushed
it
open
,
and
walked
in
.
Her
first
idea
on
looking
round
her
was
that
perhaps
Sir
Matthew
was
in
the
right
.
Filth
she
saw
;
infection
might
lurk
under
it
;
and
who
could
tell
if
fraud
and
drunkenness
might
not
enter
the
moment
after
,
to
complete
the
group
?
But
there
was
little
of
selfishness
and
much
of
courage
in
the
heart
of
Mary
Brotherton
,
so
she
presently
forgot
every
notion
of
personal
danger
,
and
was
thus
enabled
to
see
things
as
they
really
were
.
On
one
side
of
the
small
bare
chamber
,
and
in
some
degree
sheltered
by
the
door
which
opened
against
it
,
stood
a
rickety
machine
once
intended
for
a
bedstead
.
Two
of
the
legs
had
given
place
to
brickbats
,
and
instead
of
a
bed
the
unsteady
frame
now
supported
only
a
thin
layer
of
very
dirty
straw
,
with
the
body
of
a
dying
female
stretched
upon
it
.
The
only
other
article
of
furniture
in
the
room
was
an
old
deal
box
without
a
cover
,
but
having
a
couple
of
planks
,
each
about
three
feet
long
,
laid
across
it
;
serving
either
for
table
or
chairs
as
occasion
might
require
.
The
walls
,
the
floor
,
the
ceiling
,
and
the
remnant
of
a
window
,
were
all
alike
begrimed
with
smoke
and
dirt
.
It
took
not
long
to
make
this
inventory
,
and
having
completed
it
,
the
young
lady
,
still
holding
in
each
hand
a
staring
child
,
turned
towards
the
inhabitant
of
this
miserable
den
,
and
said
,
"
Are
you
ill
,
my
good
woman
?
"
The
being
she
addressed
raised
her
heavy
eyes
,
and
in
a
voice
so
low
as
to
be
scarcely
intelligible
,
answered
"
Yes
.
"
"
Have
you
no
assistance
,
nobody
to
nurse
you
?
"
"
Nobody
but
these
,
"
pointing
to
the
children
.
"
Has
any
doctor
seen
her
?
"
demanded
Mary
of
the
eldest
child
.
"
No
ma'am
,
"
replied
the
little
girl
.
"
And
how
long
has
she
been
ill
?
"
"
Ever
since
she
com
'd
from
the
mill
.
"
"
And
how
long
is
that
?
"
"
A
twelvemonth
,
"
said
the
little
one
.
"
I
do
n't
know
,
"
said
the
elder
.
"
But
,
my
poor
children
,
you
are
not
the
only
people
that
live
with
her
,
I
suppose
?
Have
you
got
any
father
?
"
"
Yes
.
"
"
Where
is
he
?
"
"
At
the
mill
.
"
"
Have
you
got
any
body
else
belonging
to
you
?
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
,
shuddering
.
"
There
's
Sophy
,
and
Dick
,
and
Grace
,
"
replied
the
eldest
child
.
"
Where
are
they
all
?
"
again
inquired
Miss
Brotherton
.
"
At
the
mill
,
"
was
again
the
answer
.
"
Are
Sophy
and
Grace
grown
up
?
"
"
Sophy
is
,
"
answered
the
child
,
"
and
Grace
,
almost
.
"
"
Then
why
do
they
not
stay
at
home
,
one
of
them
at
least
,
to
take
care
of
this
poor
woman
?
"
"
'
Cause
they
must
n't
.
I
'
tends
mother
.
"
"
You
are
not
big
enough
to
take
care
of
her
,
my
poor
child
.
Why
do
n't
you
go
to
the
factory
,
and
let
one
of
the
bigger
ones
stay
at
home
?
"
"
They
wo
n't
have
me
now
,
'
cause
of
this
.
"
—
and
as
she
spake
,
the
child
held
up
a
little
shrivelled
right-hand
,
three
fingers
of
which
had
a
joint
deficient
.
"
I
ca
n't
piece
now
,
and
so
they
wo
n't
let
me
come
.
"
"
And
Sophy
wo
n't
let
me
go
,
'
cause
of
this
,
"
said
the
little
one
,
slipping
her
arm
out
of
a
bedgown
(
which
was
the
only
garment
she
had
)
,
and
displaying
the
limb
swollen
and
discoloured
,
from
some
violent
contusion
.
"
My
poor
little
creature
!
how
did
you
do
this
?
"
said
Mary
,
tenderly
,
taking
the
little
hand
in
hers
,
and
examining
the
frightful
bruise
.
"
'
Twas
the
billy-roller
,
"
said
the
little
girl
,
in
an
accent
that
seemed
to
insinuate
that
the
young
lady
was
more
than
commonly
dull
of
apprehension
.
"
But
how
did
it
happen
,
my
child
?
Did
some
part
of
the
machinery
go
over
you
?
"
"
No
!
—
That
was
me
,
"
cried
the
elder
,
with
a
loud
voice
,
and
again
holding
up
her
demolished
fingers
.
"
'
Twas
the
stretcher
's
billy-roller
as
smalshed
Becky
.
"
"
'
Twas
,
cause
I
was
sleepy
,
"
said
the
little
one
,
beginning
to
cry
,
for
she
construed
Mary
's
puzzled
look
into
an
expression
of
displeasure
.
"
They
beats
'
em
dreadful
ma'am
,
"
said
the
sick
woman
,
evidently
exerting
herself
beyond
her
strength
.
"
She
's
a
good
little
girl
for
work
;
but
they
will
fall
asleep
,
all
of
'
em
at
times
,
when
they
be
kept
so
dreadful
long
.
"
"
But
these
bruises
could
not
be
the
effect
of
beating
,
"
said
Mary
,
again
examining
the
arm
,
"
it
is
quite
impossible
.
"
"
Why
,
ma'am
,
the
billy-roller
as
they
beats
'
em
with
,
is
a
stick
big
enough
to
kill
with
;
and
many
and
many
is
the
baby
that
has
been
crippled
by
it
.
"
There
was
something
so
hollow
,
so
sunken
in
the
woman
's
voice
,
that
Miss
Brotherton
felt
terrified
.
The
fact
that
a
child
of
the
size
of
the
baby
before
her
should
have
been
beaten
with
such
a
weapon
,
and
with
such
violence
,
seemed
wholly
incredible
.
Again
she
thought
of
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
's
warning
,
and
wished
that
she
were
not
alone
.
"
I
am
afraid
that
you
are
very
ill
,
"
said
she
,
"
and
I
know
not
how
I
can
help
you
.
Money
I
can
give
,
but
there
is
nobody
here
to
make
use
of
it
for
you
.
"
"
Money
!
"
murmured
the
sinking
woman
from
her
layer
of
straw
.
"
Money
,
you
can
give
money
?
Oh
!
give
it
,
give
it
.
Give
it
to
her
—
give
it
to
the
child
;
she
knows
what
it
is
,
she
knows
I
am
dying
for
the
want
of
it
.
It
is
too
late
for
me
,
but
give
it
,
give
it
,
and
may
God
—
"
Here
the
miserable
creature
's
strength
wholly
failed
;
her
eyes
closed
,
and
to
all
appearance
,
she
was
already
a
corpse
.
"
Oh
!
this
is
very
dreadful
!
"
cried
poor
Mary
,
wringing
her
