aftera
peculiarly
hateful
display
of
this
power
,
by
an
act
of
insult
too
disgustiug
to
relate
,
upon
the
unresisting
person
of
a
little
fellow
who
seemed
crawling
(
only
too
slowly
!
)
to
the
grave
,
that
Michael
,
when
every
other
sufferer
in
the
chamber
was
fast
asleep
,
set
himself
to
meditate
gravely
and
deliberately
upon
his
own
situation
.
He
had
that
day
been
so
near
trying
the
power
of
his
bony
arms
,
by
flying
at
the
throat
of
the
ruffian
who
had
so
revoltingly
outraged
his
companion
,
that
with
more
than
boyish
judgment
he
became
conscious
of
the
growing
danger
that
beset
him
.
Though
he
had
felt
almost
to
suffocation
the
boiling
rage
which
nothing
but
injustice
,
and
the
pitiful
abuse
of
adventitious
power
can
generate
,
he
was
not
such
a
Quixote
as
to
hope
that
his
arm
could
effectually
redress
the
wrongs
he
witnessed
,
yet
he
thought
with
a
sort
of
trembling
exultation
,
that
if
,
he
had
seized
the
craven
overlooker
,
as
he
kicked
from
him
the
helpless
object
of
his
tyranny
,
he
might
have
held
him
with
a
grasp
that
would
have
stopped
his
breath
for
ever
!
It
was
a
horrid
and
a
murderous
thought
!
and
poor
Michael
,
once
the
gentlest
,
fondest
little
heart
,
that
ever
nestled
to
a
mother
's
bosom
,
did
penance
for
it
by
a
pang
of
self-condemnation
,
that
made
him
grind
his
teeth
in
agony
.
Yet
even
then
the
goaded
spirit
seemed
to
rise
in
rebellion
against
its
own
remorse
.
"
I
cannot
bear
it
!
"
he
exclaimed
in
smothered
accents
,
as
he
turned
his
face
towards
his
bed
of
straw
.
"
I
know
I
cannot
bear
it
long
!
I
have
seen
two
attempting
to
escape
,
who
have
been
brought
back
to
frightful
tortures
—
to
I
know
not
what
!
A
solitary
cell
?
the
whip
?
the
knotted
thong
?
What
matters
?
Would
they
could
slaughter
me
at
once
!
All
would
be
over
then
.
"
For
a
long
still
hour
of
that
feverish
night
,
the
boy
lay
sleepless
.
A
terrible
conviction
that
there
was
something
within
him
which
might
prove
stronger
than
himself
—
stronger
than
all
his
mother
's
precepts
,
and
the
holy
fear
of
God
which
they
had
left
upon
his
mind
—
made
him
feel
sick
with
horror
,
and
shudder
in
abhorrence
of
his
own
wickedness
.
He
prayed
to
God
to
give
him
power
to
turn
his
thoughts
from
this
;
and
soothed
to
calmness
by
the
healing
act
,
he
meditated
without
passion
,
and
with
great
acuteness
for
his
years
,
upon
the
probable
result
of
attempting
to
escape
.
The
difficulties
of
the
enterprise
were
greater
than
any
can
imagine
who
know
not
the
locality
,
and
the
intricate
network
of
security
which
surround
the
imprisoned
apprentices
of
Deep
Valley
on
all
sides
.
Of
this
the
elder
children
,
and
the
few
who
lived
to
approach
their
majority
,
were
by
no
means
ignorant
.
Considerable
pains
were
indeed
taken
to
impress
upon
their
minds
the
certainty
of
their
being
caught
if
they
succeeded
in
clearing
the
walls
;
together
with
the
important
fact
that
,
as
apprentices
,
it
was
illegal
to
assist
them
in
running
away
from
their
master
,
and
that
it
was
the
duty
of
every
justice
of
peace
to
assist
in
securing
and
sending
them
back
to
complete
the
term
fixed
in
their
indentures
.
All
this
Michael
knew
perfectly
well
;
neither
was
he
at
all
sanguine
in
his
hope
of
avoiding
the
toils
from
which
he
had
never
heard
that
any
had
escaped
.
Yet
he
determined
to
make
the
attempt
,
assuring
himself
,
that
no
change
in
the
treatment
he
received
could
render
him
more
miserable
,
and
sincerely
thinking
that
it
would
be
better
and
safer
for
him
,
should
the
failure
of
this
desperate
attempt
lead
to
such
a
degree
of
restraint
as
would
render
the
yielding
to
such
violence
of
emotion
,
as
had
that
day
seized
upon
him
,
impossible
.
Having
come
to
this
conclusion
,
and
firmly
pledged
his
young
spirit
to
the
attempt
,
his
feverish
restlessness
subsided
,
and
he
dropped
asleep
.
The
waking
of
the
next
morning
was
unlike
any
he
had
ever
known
before
.
He
no
longer
felt
as
one
among
a
miserable
crew
,
sharing
in
common
with
them
starvation
,
labour
,
and
indignity
;
he
felt
himself
to
be
one
alone
,
and
apart
from
all
.
He
was
on
the
eve
of
doing
that
which
would
involve
him
in
difficulties
and
dangers
altogether
new
and
strange
to
him
,
and
the
only
termination
he
could
be
really
said
to
expect
was
the
being
dragged
back
to
his
prison
to
suffer
all
that
it
was
in
the
power
of
his
tyrants
to
inflict
.
These
were
strange
materials
for
meditation
which
was
decidedly
agreeable
;
yet
such
Michael
felt
it
to
be
,
in
spite
of
reason
.
A
sensation
of
active
,
dauntless
courage
swelled
his
breast
,
which
,
with
all
the
danger
it
threatened
,
was
well
worth
the
heavy
monotony
of
his
ordinary
existence
.
At
times
,
too
,
a
gleam
of
hope
would
dart
across
the
stern
and
steady
gloom
of
the
prospect
;
and
during
the
moment
that
the
flash
lasted
,
he
saw
himself
restored
to
his
mother
and
Edward
.
He
could
hardly
be
said
to
hope
this
,
yet
the
feeling
that
it
was
possible
sufficed
to
sustain
his
spirits
through
the
days
and
nights
which
preceded
the
attempt
.
It
was
exactly
by
the
same
exit
that
poor
crazy
Sally
had
made
use
of
some
fifty
years
before
,
that
Michael
determined
to
leave
the
premises
.
The
month
or
two
during
which
he
had
been
employed
in
cleaning
the
yard
and
its
appurtenances
,
had
made
him
thoroughly
well
acquainted
with
the
outward
door
,
and
also
with
the
region
immediately
beyond
it
,
for
it
was
thither
that
he
was
accustomed
to
convey
all
the
rubbish
which
it
was
his
office
to
remove
—
an
office
which
might
have
been
attended
with
some
danger
of
the
escape
of
him
who
performed
it
,
had
not
those
in
authority
taken
care
to
inform
him
that
no
celerity
of
step
could
avail
against
the
watchfulness
of
certain
eyes
about
the
factory
,
which
were
always
on
the
alert
to
reconnoitre
that
door
,
and
never
far
distant
from
the
commodious
windows
which
gave
them
power
to
do
so
.
Poor
Sally
had
found
this
but
too
surely
in
making
her
attempts
,
and
Michael
had
more
than
once
listened
to
the
merry
tradition
,
which
was
a
favourite
story
with
the
overlookers
;
of
how
the
silly
girl
had
run
in
full
sight
of
a
dozen
watchful
eyes
,
till
her
strength
failed
,
and
she
sank
down
among
the
bushes
and
was
taken
,
like
a
bird
that
having
been
long
confined
,
has
no
strength
of
wing
left
to
bear
him
beyond
reach
of
the
first
hand
extended
to
recapture
him
.
Yet
this
open
postern
was
the
only
one
by
which
it
was
possible
to
pass
;
but
the
very
extremity
of
the
danger
of
passing
it
,
made
the
attempt
easy
;
for
though
it
was
always
carefully
locked
at
night
,
and
the
key
placed
,
together
with
those
of
every
external
door
on
the
premises
,
under
the
pillow
of
Mr.
Woodcomb
,
the
manager
had
more
than
once
seen
a
miserable
little
head
peeping
through
it
when
left
open
for
the
passage
of
the
wheelbarrow
,
without
testifying
the
least
alarm
.
The
time
chosen
by
Michael
for
passing
this
terrible
door
,
was
that
during
which
the
dirty
herd
were
commanded
to
expose
their
faces
and
hands
for
a
short
moment
to
such
cleansing
as
might
be
obtained
in
a
huge
trough
,
in
company
with
a
score
or
two
of
competitors
.
It
was
constantly
a
moment
of
great
noise
,
bustle
,
and
hustling
;
and
it
was
in
the
midst
of
this
that
the
young
adventurer
contrived
,
unobserved
,
to
push
back
the
only
bolt
which
secured
the
door
during
the
day
,
leaving
it
in
a
position
to
yield
noiselessly
to
a
very
slight
touch
.
At
the
sound
of
a
bell
,
which
rang
about
ten
minutes
after
the
children
were
turned
out
into
the
court
to
wash
themselves
,
the
whole
troop
hurried
back
again
to
the
apprentice-house
for
their
breakfast
.
It
was
then
that
Michael
,
often
the
last
to
finish
the
too-short
operation
of
washing
,
remained
for
a
moment
behind
the
rest
,
and
in
that
moment
,
opening
the
door
just
wide
enough
for
his
slender
figure
to
pass
,
he
slipped
through
,
and
closed
it
after
him
.
The
interval
which
elapsed
before
his
departure
was
suspected
,
certainly
did
not
exceed
two
minutes
;
and
before
the
expiration
of
ten
,
the
fact
was
completely
ascertained
and
known
to
nearly
every
inmate
of
the
mill
.
Mr.
Poulet
's
second
wife
,
to
whom
he
had
then
been
married
about
three
years
,
was
in
appearance
the
very
reverse
of
the
first
,
being
as
remarkably
small
,
as
the
other
was
large
.
But
what
she
wanted
in
muscle
,
was
made
up
in
watchfulness
.
Nothing
escaped
her
restless
and
malignant
little
eyes
,
and
either
from
the
incessant
danger
of
her
spying
sharpness
,
or
the
propensity
of
the
human
mind
to
think
present
suffering
worse
than
every
other
,
there
were
many
who
declared
they
would
be
glad
to
have
her
brutal
predecessor
back
again
.
It
was
this
woman
who
first
descried
the
absence
of
Michael
from
the
board
.
"
Hollo
!
where
is
No.
57
?
"
she
cried
.
No
one
could
answer
;
and
No.
57
was
sought
for
in
vain
from
one
end
of
the
premises
to
the
other
.
"
He
is
gone
through
the
yard-door
!
"
proclaimed
the
active
and
intelligent
Mrs.
Poulet
,
after
discovering
that
the
bolt
was
withdrawn
.
"
Off
with
you
,
you
stupid
old
fool
!
"
she
added
,
addressing
her
husband
;
"
what
d'ye
stand
staring
there
for
?
If
you
had
the
wit
of
a
jackass
,
you
might
trace
him
by
his
feet
on
the
dew
—
for
there
are
the
marks
plain
enough
to
any
body
,
that
has
sense
enough
to
look
for
'
em
.
"
And
so
in
truth
there
were
.
A
continuous
track
of
footmarks
,
were
easily
traced
from
the
door
to
the
steep
bank
behind
the
factory
,
where
they
were
lost
in
the
covert
of
bushes
,
which
had
of
late
years
been
coaxed
to
clothe
its
sides
for
the
purpose
of
furnishing
fagots
.
That
some
one
had
recently
broken
through
these
bushes
was
equally
evident
,
from
many
boughs
having
been
torn
,
and
the
soil
beneath
them
trampled
.
This
was
enough
to
direct
the
pursuit
,
with
so
much
certainty
of
being
right
,
that
Mr.
Woodcomb
laughed
as
he
gave
the
orders
for
it
.
"
The
bushes
last
for
about
half
a
mile
,
"
said
he
,
"
and
then
he
must
take
over
the
hills
,
of
course
.
Fine
fellow
,
is
n't
he
?
It
will
be
mighty
hard
to
take
him
again
,
wo
n't
it
?
There
's
only
three
justices
of
peace
for
him
to
be
handed
to
,
and
only
every
man
he
meets
ready
to
introduce
him
.
The
worst
misfortune
is
,
that
I
do
n't
quite
see
where
he
is
to
get
his
dinner
.
"
Two
stout
overlookers
started
accordingly
upon
the
track
thus
easily
hit
upon
,
and
Mr.
Woodcomb
awaited
the
result
of
their
exertions
without
the
slightest
anxiety
,
or
any
irritation
of
nerves
whatever
;
albeit
he
knew
that
,
favourite
as
he
was
,
he
might
run
no
small
risk
of
losing
his
place
,
should
one
of
the
apprentices
really
escape
—
but
the
thing
was
impossible
;
no
one
could
live
without
eating
,
not
even
one
who
had
served
his
apprenticeship
to
starving
as
well
as
piecing
at
the
Deep
Valley
Mill
.
So
Mr.
Woodcomb
slept
soundly
,
although
in
ignorance
of
the
fact
that
Michael
Armstrong
was
already
within
a
few
feet
of
his
premises
.
CHAPTER
XXVI
.
A
DISMAL
ENTERPRISE
,
AND
ITS
MELANCHOLY
RESULT
—
MARTHA
DOWLING
PUNISHED
MORE
SEVERELY
THAN
SHE
DESERVED
—
VERY
WILD
PROJECTS
CONCEIVED
BY
MISS
BROTHERTON
,
AND
SPEEDILY
PUT
IN
EXECUTION
.
It
is
now
necessary
that
the
narrative
should
briefly
return
to
the
period
of
Miss
Brotherton
's
arrival
at
Milford
Park
,
after
her
unsuccessful
expedition
in
pursuit
of
Michael
.
There
was
no
needless
delay
between
this
return
to
her
home
,
and
the
communication
to
Mrs.
Armstrong
and
Edward
of
the
dismal
news
of
which
she
was
the
bearer
;
nor
was
there
any
consultation
on
this
occasion
,
concerning
the
mode
of
her
reaching
Hoxley-lane
.
Poor
Mary
had
greatly
advanced
in
independence
of
spirit
within
the
last
few
months
;
and
had
she
encountered
all
the
military
quartered
within
twenty
miles
,
with
the
Dowling
family
marching
in
procession
at
their
head
,
she
would
have
quietly
driven
through
them
all
,
with
the
carriage-windows
up
,
perhaps
,
but
with
no
greater
precaution
—
except
,
indeed
,
an
order
to
the
coachman
to
drive
on
without
stopping
,
let
them
meet
who
they
would
.
The
carriage
was
at
the
door
the
morning
after
their
return
,
and
Miss
Brotherton
had
not
yet
named
her
intended
expedition
to
Mrs.
Tremlett
.
"
You
are
going
out
without
me
,
my
dear
?
"
said
the
old
lady
on
hearing
it
announced
.
"
I
am
going
to
the
widow
Armstrong
's
,
dear
nurse
,
"
replied
the
heiress
.
"
Your
presence
cannot
help
me
through
this
dreaded
visit
.
Then
why
should
I
make
you
share
the
pain
of
it
?
"
"
Why
?
my
dear
!
because
I
am
of
no
earthly
use
,
and
had
better
die
at
once
if
I
cannot
be
of
some
little
comfort
to
you
at
such
a
time
as
this
.
Why
,
do
n't
I
know
all
about
it
,
and
how
you
must
feel
at
this
very
moment
,
just
as
well
as
you
do
yourself
,
Mary
?
Sure
it
was
a
foolish
notion
to
leave
me
here
enjoying
the
arm-chair
and
the
foot-stool
,
and
the
flowers
,
while
you
are
having
your
heart
broken
by
telling
that
poor
pale
body
,
that
the
child
she
loved
so
dearly
is
dead
and
gone
for
ever
.
"
"
If
you
could
save
either
her
or
me
a
pang
,
nurse
Tremlett
,
I
would
not
thus
have
spared
you
,
"
replied
Miss
Brotherton
.
"
However
,
you
shall
go
with
me
,
dear
friend
.
It
is
quite
like
yourself
to
wish
it
—
and
in
truth
,
I
might
have
guessed
that
you
could
not
have
remained
easy
and
quiet
at
home
while
I
was
so
engaged
.
And
poor
Fanny
!
—
I
have
left
her
very
busy
with
Martin
,
assisting
in
arranging
the
little
room
I
have
assigned
her
near
my
own
.
Shall
we
tell
her
where
we
are
going
,
in
case
she
should
come
in
here
to
look
for
us
?
"
"
My
dear
Mary
!
If
you
will
take
my
advice
,
you
will
let
her
go
too
.
If
you
do
not
,
the
whole
of
this
terrible
talk
will
have
to
begin
all
over
again
;
for
of
course
,
when
Mrs.
Armstrong
hears
that
you
have
got
with
you
the
only
person
who
can
tell
any
thing
about
her
boy
,
she
will
be
restless
and
anxious
to
see
her
—
and
then
wo
n't
it
be
all
over
again
,
Mary
?
"
"
It
will
,
indeed
,
dear
nurse
!
You
are
very
right
,
and
very
wise
in
this
.
She
shall
go
with
us
,
poor
child
.
Though
it
will
be
a
dreadful
task
for
her
!
"
replied
Mary
.
"
And
you
would
rather
take
it
,
dear
,
all
on
your
own
shoulders
?
I
do
not
doubt
that
—
only
you
do
n't
know
how
to
manage
it
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Tremlett
.
"
But
there
is
another
thing
,
Mary
,
that
I
have
been
thinking
of
,
"
continued
the
kind-hearted
old
woman
,
"
and
that
is
the
other
poor
boy
.
I
'll
engage
to
say
,
he
has
never
missed
school
for
an
hour
,
after
what
you
said
to
him
about
exerting
himself
.
I
saw
how
he
took
it
;
and
,
therefore
,
you
may
depend
upon
it
,
that
he
is
at
the
schoolhouse
now
.
Then
just
think
,
my
dear
,
what
his
going
home
will
be
after
you
have
told
all
!
Poor
creatures
!
It
makes
one
's
heart
sick
to
fancy
it
!
If
I
were
you
,
Mary
,
I
would
send
for
him
,
tell
him
every
thing
at
once
,
and
then
take
him
home
to
his
mother
.
"
Miss
Brotherton
instantly
rose
and
rang
the
bell
.
"
Do
not
say
you
are
of
no
use
,
my
dear
good
creature
!
"
said
she
.
"
How
infinitely
better
this
will
be
than
the
hurried
,
thoughtless
plan
which
I
had
sketched
!
"
A
message
was
accordingly
despatched
to
the
schoolhouse
to
summon
Edward
Armstrong
,
and
in
a
few
minutes
he
stood
before
them
.
Most
true
is
it
that
there
is
something
holy
and
imposing
in
the
presence
of
sorrow
.
It
would
be
difficult
to
imagine
any
entrée
into
the
boudoir
of
Miss
Brotherton
,
which
would
have
inspired
a
feeling
both
in
her
and
her
friend
so
nearly
approaching
awe
,
as
did
that
of
Edward
Armstrong
.
"
There
is
no
need
to
tell
him
,
poor
fellow
!
"
exclaimed
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
mournfully
shaking
her
head
,
as
she
saw
the
sudden
and
eloquent
change
in
Edward
's
countenance
the
moment
he
looked
in
the
face
of
Miss
Brotherton
.
"
There
is
no
need
to
tell
him
!
He
knows
it
all
,
already
!
"
"
He
is
dead
,
then
!
"
said
the
boy
,
his
pale
lips
parting
,
as
it
seemed
,
with
difficulty
,
to
pronounce
the
words
,
"
Please
,
ma'am
,
let
me
go
away
.
"
He
looked
as
if
he
were
unable
to
sustain
himself
;
and
Mary
,
really
fearing
he
might
fall
,
started
from
her
seat
,
and
throwing
her
arms
round
him
,
almost
carried
him
to
the
sofa
.
"
No
,
no
,
my
poor
Edward
!
"
she
said
,
"
do
not
go
away
.
Stay
with
those
who
love
and
pity
you
!
Poor
Michael
is
dead
,
Edward
,
and
we
must
all
try
to
support
your
mother
under
the
dreadful
news
.
"
"
How
do
you
know
he
is
dead
?
"
cried
Edward
,
starting
up
,
and
looking
almost
sternly
at
his
benefactress
.
"
How
do
you
know
that
they
have
not
hid
him
away
where
you
cannot
find
him
,
that
they
may
torture
him
,
and
work
him
to
the
bone
,
when
there
is
nobody
by
to
see
?
"
"
I
know
that
he
is
dead
but
too
well
,
Edward
,
"
replied
Mary
,
gently
.
"
I
have
brought
home
with
me
a
little
girl
who
worked
in
the
same
factory
,
and
who
knew
him
well
.
He
died
of
an
infectious
fever
that
killed
many
,
many
more
.
I
am
going
to
take
this
little
girl
with
me
to
your
mother
,
Edward
,
that
she
may
question
her
,
if
she
wishes
it
,
about
poor
Michael
,
and
I
wish
you
to
go
with
us
,
my
dear
boy
;
it
is
better
that
your
poor
mother
should
have
you
with
her
.
"
"
You
are
going
to
tell
mother
?
"
said
the
boy
with
a
shudder
.
"
Yes
,
Edward
!
—
It
must
be
done
,
and
the
sooner
it
is
over
the
better
.
Your
mother
is
a
good
woman
,
and
a
pious
Christian
,
my
dear
boy
.
She
will
know
and
feel
that
all
that
can
befall
her
is
the
will
of
God
;
and
when
she
remembers
this
,
she
will
rise
above
her
sorrow
,
and
thinking
of
the
better
world
hereafter
,
will
be
able
to
say
,
'
His
will
be
done
!
'
"
"
Yes
,
ma'am
—
if
it
does
not
kill
her
first
,
"
answered
Edward
.
"
Indeed
,
I
think
a
great
deal
will
depend
on
you
,
dear
Edward
,
as
to
her
manner
of
bearing
it
.
If
she
sees
you
sink
,
be
sure
she
will
sink
too
;
but
if
you
make
her
feel
that
she
has
still
a
beloved
child
to
live
for
,
to
whom
life
may
yet
be
a
blessing
,
she
will
cease
to
repine
for
the
loss
of
one
child
,
for
the
sake
of
making
the
other
happy
.
"
Edward
slowly
and
silently
shook
his
head
;
but
after
the
melancholy
silence
of
a
minute
or
two
,
he
said
,
"
I
will
do
my
best
,
ma'am
.
"
The
scene
which
followed
beside
the
bed
of
the
poor
widow
,
was
one
of
such
deep
,
but
patient
sorrow
,
as
left
an
impression
never
to
be
forgotten
on
the
minds
of
those
who
witnessed
it
.
Mary
's
counsel
had
not
been
thrown
away
upon
Edward
.
The
boy
displayed
both
a
delicacy
and
firmness
of
character
beyond
his
years
,
and
above
his
education
.
No
ordinary
topics
of
consolation
were
clumsily
uttered
to
redeem
his
pledge
to
Mary
,
nor
did
he
affect
a
stoical
indifference
which
he
could
not
feel
;
but
with
gentle
endearments
he
drew
the
mourning
mother
to
think
of
him
,
and
there
was
healing
,
as
well
as
agony
,
in
the
tears
she
shed
upon
his
bosom
.
Of
all
this
Fanny
was
a
silent
,
but
deeply-moved
spectator
.
The
widow
gave
her
one
earnest
look
when
Mary
said
,
"
This
little
girl
was
the
last
person
who
spoke
to
Michael
before
he
was
laid
on
the
sick
bed
from
whence
he
never
rose
,
and
she
seems
to
have
loved
him
dearly
.
"
One
long
earnest
look
was
turned
upon
her
when
this
was
said
,
but
no
word
was
spoken
to
her
,
for
the
time
was
not
yet
come
when
the
bereaved
mother
could
seek
comfort
in
any
thing
.
Nevertheless
,
when
Miss
Brotherton
rose
to
go
,
and
pressing
the
hand
of
the
poor
sufferer
in
her
own
,
promised
to
pay
her
another
visit
soon
,
Mrs.
Armstrong
murmured
in
her
ear
,
"
I
should
like
to
see
that
little
girl
again
,
when
I
can
bear
to
name
him
.
"
Mary
nodded
her
assent
,
and
left
the
mother
and
son
to
exchange
thoughts
and
feelings
,
which
,
when
deep
and
genuine
,
must
ever
be
held
sacred
from
every
unkindred
eye
.
Most
watchfully
did
Mary
attend
to
this
poor
pensioner
;
and
many
were
the
hours
during
which
she
sat
,
reading
the
book
of
life
beside
her
bed
.
By
degrees
,
too
,
the
bereaved
mother
did
bear
to
name
her
lost
darling
to
Fanny
Fletcher
;
and
having
once
listened
to
the
sweet
tones
of
her
gentle
voice
,
as
she
related
all
she
had
heard
him
say
,
all
he
had
seemed
to
feel
,
and
all
he
had
seemed
to
think
,
the
poor
woman
grew
so
enamoured
of
the
uneventful
tale
,
that
she
wearied
not
of
making
her
repeat
it
.
For
days
together
Fanny
would
beg
to
be
left
beside
her
,
while
Edward
resumed
his
place
in
the
school
;
and
Miss
Brotherton
often
thought
,
when
she
drove
to
Hoxley-lane
in
the
evenings
,
to
bring
back
her
little
Protégée
,
that
she
had
never
chanced
to
witness
so
pretty
a
specimen
of
female
tenderness
and
pity
,
as
this
lovely
little
girl
exhibited
,
while
ministering
to
the
poor
crippled
woman
,
whose
only
claim
upon
her
love
was
,
that
she
wanted
it
—
a
species
of
claim
,
by
the
by
,
that
is
very
rarely
made
in
vain
upon
any
uncorrupted
female
heart
.
With
every
want
prevented
,
soothed
by
the
most
generous
kindness
,
attended
with
the
most
watchful
love
,
and
cheered
by
a
greater
appearance
of
reviving
health
in
the
boy
that
she
had
thought
crippled
for
life
,
than
she
had
ever
ventured
to
hope
for
,
it
might
have
been
expected
that
the
widow
Armstrong
would
,
in
some
degree
,
have
forgotten
passed
sufferings
,
and
have
once
more
looked
forward
with
hope
.
But
no
,
it
could
not
be
!
This
last
,
this
heaviest
of
all
her
sorrows
came
too
late
to
be
wrestled
with
,
as
others
had
been
;
and
though
her
meek
nature
seemed
so
peacefully
resigned
,
that
there
was
more
pleasure
than
pain
in
watching
over
her
,
she
was
,
in
truth
,
dying
of
a
worn-out
spirit
and
a
broken
heart
.
By
some
means
or
other
,
the
news
that
little
Michael
Armstrong
was
dead
,
reached
Dowling
Lodge
.
Sir
Matthew
knit
his
brows
—
wondered
how
the
devil
any
body
could
have
got
tidings
of
him
,
but
said
nothing
.
To
all
the
rest
of
the
family
,
save
one
,
the
intelligence
was
too
unimportant
to
be
listened
to
at
all
;
but
to
that
one
,
to
the
already
conscience-stricken
and
repentant
Martha
,
it
was
a
heavy
blow
!
Most
miserable
,
indeed
,
had
been
her
state
of
mind
for
the
last
few
months
;
from
the
day
of
her
painful
,
but
useless
visit
to
Miss
Brotherton
,
her
eyes
had
been
,
in
a
great
degree
,
opened
to
the
hard
and
avaricious
nature
of
her
father
's
character
.
Like
a
person
excluded
from
the
light
of
the
sun
,
and
seeing
only
by
the
delusive
glare
of
an
unsteady
lamp
,
Martha
had
passed
her
whole
life
in
mistaking
the
nature
and
the
value
of
almost
every
object
around
her
.
The
language
of
Mary
Brotherton
had
shot
with
a
painful
and
unwelcome
brightness
upon
the
dim
and
uncertain
twilight
of
her
moral
perceptions
;
and
the
unhappy
girl
learned
to
know
that
the
only
being
who
had
ever
seemed
to
love
her
,
or
whom
she
had
ever
ventured
to
love
,
was
one
that
her
better
reason
shrunk
from
,
and
her
sober
judgment
condemned
.
Yet
still
he
was
her
father
,
and
still
she
loved
him
,
and
gladly
,
joyfully
,
would
she
have
given
her
young
life
,
could
she
thereby
have
changed
his
love
of
gold
,
for
love
of
mercy
.
Sometimes
she
thought
that
time
and
age
would
teach
him
the
hollowness
of
his
present
pursuits
,
and
that
if
she
never
left
him
,
but
ever
stood
ready
at
his
side
to
watch
some
favourable
moment
,
she
might
have
the
surpassing
joy
of
seeing
his
heart
open
to
the
truth
,
and
in
a
state
to
permit
her
helping
to
lead
him
to
efficient
repentance
,
and
the
all-merciful
forgiveness
of
God
.
It
was
impossible
but
that
such
thoughts
and
feelings
must
separate
her
,
more
than
ever
,
from
the
rest
of
her
family
,
and
she
had
already
pretty
generally
received
the
epithet
of
methodistical
,
from
the
whole
neighbourhood
;
but
she
hailed
it
as
a
blessing
,
and
without
a
shadow
of
religious
enthusiasm
,
beyond
what
was
almost
inevitable
under
the
circumstances
,
and
with
no
sectarian
views
or
notions
whatever
,
poor
Martha
gladly
sheltered
herself
under
the
imputation
of
both
in
order
to
avoid
joining
in
scenes
of
amusement
for
which
she
had
no
relish
.
In
such
a
state
of
mind
it
was
natural
enough
that
Martha
should
deem
a
visit
to
the
bereaved
mother
a
penance
which
it
was
her
duty
to
perform
(
though
it
was
more
painful
to
her
,
perhaps
,
than
almost
any
other
to
which
she
could
have
been
subjected
)
,
and
she
did
perform
it
accordingly
.
She
found
the
poor
sufferer
,
whose
eye
she
dreaded
to
meet
,
sinking
fast
into
peace
and
rest
,
that
never
more
could
be
disturbed
.
Miss
Brotherton
and
Fanny
were
both
with
her
;
a
bible
was
in
the
hands
of
the
former
,
and
Mrs.
Armstrong
's
countenance
,
though
greatly
more
pinched
and
pallid
than
she
had
ever
before
seen
it
,
expressed
a
tranquil
calmness
which
it
was
impossible
to
contemplate
without
pleasure
.
But
,
alas
!
for
poor
Martha
!
she
had
the
pang
of
seeing
this
consoled
and
consoling
look
suddenly
changed
to
an
expression
of
intense
suffering
,
the
moment
her
own
person
met
the
poor
woman
's
eye
.
They
had
never
seen
each
other
since
the
fatal
morning
on
which
Martha
had
so
innocently
persuaded
her
to
sign
the
articles
of
her
boy
's
apprenticeship
,
and
the
recollection
of
that
scene
,
and
all
its
consequences
,
could
not
so
suddenly
come
upon
one
,
reduced
already
to
almost
the
last
stage
of
weakness
,
without
shaking
her
terribly
.
The
distended
eye
,
the
open
mouth
,
the
heaving
breast
,
all
spoke
a
degree
of
agitation
,
which
in
her
condition
was
frightfully
alarming
;
and
Mary
,
who
dreaded
lest
the
calmness
of
her
last
moments
should
be
disturbed
,
hastily
turned
to
the
intruder
,
and
said
,
"
Go
,
go
!
—
the
sight
of
you
will
kill
her
!
"
Though
there
was
no
more
of
harshness
in
this
,
than
the
urgent
circumstances
of
the
case
seemed
to
call
for
,
Mary
Brotherton
would
have
rather
died
than
utter
it
,
could
she
have
guessed
the
pang
it
gave
to
the
already
wounded
heart
of
poor
Martha
.
She
made
no
reply
;
but
,
fixing
on
the
victim
of
her
most
innocent
delusion
,
a
look
,
just
long
enough
to
impress
the
terrible
expression
of
her
countenance
upon
her
own
heart
for
ever
,
she
turned
away
,
and
reached
her
splendid
home
in
a
state
of
mind
that
seemed
fearfully
to
verify
the
annunciation
,
"
He
will
visit
the
sins
of
the
fathers
upon
the
children
.
"
That
day
was
the
last
of
the
widow
's
life
,
and
it
is
probable
it
might
have
been
so
,
even
if
Martha
Dowling
had
not
made
her
unfortunate
visit
;
but
the
coincidence
was
fatal
to
the
poor
girl
's
peace
,
for
the
anxious
inquiries
she
made
respecting
her
,
brought
the
intelligence
of
her
death
,
and
the
time
of
it
,
with
sufficient
accuracy
to
leave
no
doubt
on
Martha
's
mind
,
that
the
event
had
been
accelerated
by
her
appearance
.
Happily
,
however
,
for
those
who
tenderly
watched
her
last
moments
,
the
widow
Armstrong
's
gentle
nature
permitted
her
not
long
to
suffer
from
the
irritation
which
the
presence
of
Martha
produced
,
and
many
hours
before
she
closed
her
eyes
for
ever
,
she
expressed
her
sorrow
for
having
yielded
so
weakly
to
feelings
which
she
had
hoped
were
altogether
conquered
;
assuring
Mary
(
who
never
left
her
)
that
she
acquitted
the
young
lady
of
all
intention
to
deceive
her
,
and
that
the
shock
she
felt
from
seeing
her
,
only
proceeded
from
the
vivid
recollections
her
appearance
awakened
.
Unhappily
,
however
,
it
was
long
ere
this
healing
assurance
reached
poor
Martha
;
for
Miss
Brotherton
,
who
was
far
from
guessing
its
importance
to
her
,
had
decided
upon
having
no
further
intercourse
with
the
Dowling
family
:
a
resolution
which
would
never
have
been
taken
had
her
last
interview
with
Martha
at
Milford
Park
ended
more
pleasantly
.
But
it
had
been
already
so
long
acted
upon
,
that
it
would
have
been
equally
awkward
and
disagreeable
to
break
through
it
;
and
Martha
long
continued
in
the
terrible
persuasion
that
she
had
been
accessory
to
the
death
of
both
mother
and
son
.
The
loss
of
the
only
relatives
he
had
ever
known
,
following
as
they
did
so
closely
on
each
other
,
made
Mary
tremble
for
the
health
of
Edward
.
She
had
watched
the
affecting
close
of
the
poor
widow
's
life
with
all
the
tender
feeling
such
a
spectacle
was
calculated
to
excite
in
such
a
heart
as
hers
.
She
had
mourned
for
Michael
for
many
reasons
,
and
mourned
sincerely
;
but
she
had
hardly
known
the
boy
,
and
it
was
her
sympathy
with
the
sorrow
of
others
,
rather
than
her
own
,
which
caused
the
event
to
touch
her
so
deeply
.
But
to
Edward
she
had
become
attached
with
so
much
fondness
,
and
he
had
inspired
such
a
feeling
of
wondering
admiration
in
her
mind
by
the
extraordinary
faculties
he
displayed
,
and
the
justness
and
uprightness
of
every
thought
and
feeling
,
that
to
watch
over
his
health
and
welfare
had
become
nearly
the
first
object
of
her
isolated
existence
.
The
few
months
which
had
elapsed
since
the
whole
system
of
his
life
had
been
changed
from
all
that
was
most
injurious
to
health
,
to
a
mode
of
living
in
every
way
conducive
to
its
recovery
,
had
produced
a
more
favourable
and
decisive
effect
on
him
,
than
could
have
been
reasonably
hoped
for
in
the
time
;
and
it
was
a
remarkable
evidence
of
the
powerful
influence
which
such
a
change
produces
on
the
frame
,
that
not
all
the
sorrow
and
suffering
which
Miss
Brotherton
's
intelligence
brought
,
or
the
heart-wringing
loss
which
followed
it
,
could
check
the
active
energy
of
benignant
nature
in
restoring
health
,
where
all
she
required
for
it
was
given
,
and
all
that
had
hitherto
impeded
her
kindly
operations
was
removed
.
Yet
Edward
was
still
lame
,
though
so
much
less
so
than
he
had
been
,
that
his
benefactress
could
not
help
indulging
a
hope
that
time
and
judicious
treatment
might
remove
the
infirmity
altogether
.
For
some
reason
or
other
Miss
Brotherton
entertained
no
very
particular
respect
for
the
medical
practitioners
of
her
immediate
neighbourhood
,
and
for
several
months
after
her
return
she
contented
herself
with
following
Mr.
Bell
's
prescriptions
,
for
friction
and
moderate
exercise
,
without
calling
in
any
medical
assistance
at
all
.
But
though
the
improvement
that
followed
was
very
perceptible
,
it
was
not
rapid
,
and
the
idea
of
London
advice
suggested
itself
,
as
the
most
satisfactory
mode
of
ascertaining
at
once
whether
a
perfect
recovery
might
be
hoped
for
;
information
which
it
was
very
desirable
she
should
obtain
,
before
she
decided
in
what
way
she
should
bring
him
up
.
Since
the
death
of
his
mother
,
Milford
Park
had
been
Edward
's
home
,
and
the
orphan
boy
's
hold
on
Miss
Brotherton
's
warm
heart
had
been
greatly
increased
by
the
opportunities
this
gave
her
of
more
frequent
intercourse
with
her
.
In
truth
,
though
he
still
attended
the
school
for
an
hour
or
two
every
morning
,
by
far
the
more
important
portion
of
his
education
went
on
under
her
own
eye
,
and
,
as
well
as
that
of
his
little
companion
Fanny
,
was
beginning
to
take
a
form
and
extent
totally
different
from
what
she
had
at
first
intended
for
either
of
them
.
Ideas
respecting
them
both
,
began
by
degrees
to
arise
in
her
mind
,
which
she
at
first
endeavoured
to
resist
,
as
being
too
much
out
of
the
usual
course
to
be
safely
indulged
in
;
but
"
use
lessens
marvel
,
"
and
the
notion
of
making
a
man
of
learning
of
Edward
,
and
a
woman
of
fortune
of
Fanny
,
which
once
and
again
she
had
rejected
,
as
too
romantic
and
absurd
,
gradually
grew
into
an
habitual
theme
of
meditation
on
which
her
fancy
delighted
to
fix
itself
.
Mary
Brotherton
was
at
that
time
about
twenty-two
years
old
,
extremely
pretty
,
and
moreover
almost
childishly
young-looking
for
her
age
;
and
whatever
she
might
have
brought
herself
to
think
of
it
,
most
others
would
very
naturally
have
deemed
her
adopting
a
boy
of
twelve
,
and
a
girl
of
eleven
,
a
most
outrageously
preposterous
and
imprudent
act
.
But
her
situation
was
one
in
most
respects
quite
out
of
the
common
way
,
and
she
every
day
felt
it
more
impossible
that
she
could
continue
to
endure
the
station
of
one
of
the
magnates
of
a
manufacturing
neighbourhood
,
with
all
eyes
fixed
upon
every
thing
she
did
,
and
her
whole
heart
and
soul
recoiling
from
companionship
with
the
only
persons
whom
her
neighbours
and
watchers
would
deem
fit
to
be
her
particular
friends
.
The
heart
of
this
isolated
girl
was
so
clingingly
affectionate
that
it
is
probable
she
would
,
under
almost
any
other
circumstances
,
have
at
least
loved
the
beautiful
mansion
in
which
she
had
passed
the
greatest
part
of
her
life
,
and
felt
the
trees
and
flowers
that
adorned
it
to
be
as
companions
,
and
familiar
friends
;
but
a
thousand
painful
thoughts
were
mingled
with
the
consciousness
that
she
was
mistress
of
that
fair
domain
;
and
the
very
fact
that
the
education
she
felt
inclined
to
bestow
upon
the
two
orphans
would
bring
down
upon
her
the
criticisms
,
and
probably
the
reprobation
,
of
the
whole
neighbourhood
,
making
it
very
desirable
that
the
extraordinary
project
should
be
carried
into
execution
elsewhere
,
was
in
her
estimation
more
in
its
favour
,
than
agains
it
.
When
,
in
addition
to
all
this
,
she
succeeded
in
persuading
herself
,
from
some
of
her
miscellaneous
reading
,
that
there
were
German
baths
which
might
assist
the
restoration
of
Edward
's
limbs
,
and
that
it
was
her
duty
to
consult
the
most
approved
authorities
upon
his
case
,
the
decision
to
leave
Milford
Park
,
and
remove
to
London
,
was
at
no
great
distance
.
Had
her
valued
friend
and
counsellor
,
Mr.
Bell
,
led
her
to
believe
that
all
the
wealth
she
had
,
if
thrown
back
among
the
class
from
which
it
was
drawn
,
could
have
sufficed
to
remedy
the
evils
under
which
they
groaned
,
she
was
quite
capable
of
stripping
herself
to
her
last
shilling
for
the
purpose
;
but
he
knew
better
,
and
he
taught
her
to
know
better
too
;
and
having
convinced
himself
that
her
best
chance
of
happiness
,
as
well
as
her
best
opportunity
of
doing
good
,
would
be
in
yielding
to
the
affection
which
"
her
boy
and
girl
"
had
inspired
,
he
promised
to
assist
her
projected
removal
,
by
seeing
that
the
orders
she
left
,
respecting
her
property
,
were
faithfully
executed
;
and
,
about
eight
months
after
the
death
of
Mrs.
Armstrong
,
the
heiress
left
her
parks
and
gardens
,
her
splendid
mansion
and
all
its
gorgeous
appurtenances
,
to
attend
the
orphan
boy
to
London
.
The
consultation
which
,
immediately
after
her
arrival
there
,
took
place
upon
the
case
of
Edward
,
was
productive
of
,
perhaps
,
the
greatest
pleasure
Mary
had
ever
known
;
for
the
sentence
unanimously
pronounced
was
,
that
the
limbs
of
the
boy
were
in
a
state
of
progress
towards
perfect
recovery
,
the
weakness
and
distortion
brought
on
by
his
employment
,
not
having
lasted
long
enough
to
produce
any
deformity
,
capable
of
resisting
the
tendency
of
nature
to
recover
herself
,
if
not
impeded
by
any
fresh
unhealthy
influence
.
That
any
such
should
arise
to
disappoint
her
hopes
was
not
likely
;
all
that
was
required
for
him
being
good
air
,
regular
and
moderate
exercise
,
wholesome
food
,
and
abstinence
from
all
violent
exertion
for
the
next
year
or
two
.
As
to
her
question
respecting
German
baths
,
the
answer
was
less
unanimous
;
two
gentlemen
being
of
opinion
that
they
would
do
no
good
at
all
;
two
that
it
was
doubtful
whether
the
case
would
be
affected
by
them
or
not
;
and
one
that
great
benefit
might
probably
ensue
.
But
as
all
were
of
opinion
that
change
of
air
was
desirable
,
and
as
a
pretty
strong
inclination
to
try
fresh
fields
and
pastures
new
seconded
this
judgment
,
Miss
Brotherton
determined
to
start
for
the
Rhine
.
Mrs.
Tremlett
declared
that
she
had
not
the
slightest
objection
to
foreign
parts
;
Edward
's
heart
swelled
with
an
ecstasy
made
up
of
gratitude
,
hope
,
curiosity
,
and
the
delicious
exhilaration
attendant
upon
returning
health
;
while
Fanny
looked
around
her
,
and
listened
to
every
one
whose
words
referred
to
the
expedition
,
with
a
very
delightful
consciousness
of
being
wide
awake
,
but
not
without
some
fear
that
she
was
dreaming
,
nevertheless
.
Such
was
the
party
that
filled
the
travelling-carriage
of
Miss
Brotherton
,
while
an
English
maid
,
a
French
footman
,
and
a
German
courier
,
formed
her
suite
.
Nothing
,
certainly
,
could
be
well
more
whimsical
than
the
party
with
which
she
had
thus
surrounded
herself
;
but
this
mattered
little
,
since
she
was
pleased
with
it
—
and
we
must
leave
her
in
the
full
enjoyment
of
a
whole
host
of
delightful
feelings
,
while
we
return
to
follow
the
fortunes
of
poor
Michael
.
CHAPTER
XXVII
.
MICHAEL
ARMSTRONG
SETS
OUT
UPON
A
DANGEROUS
EXPEDITION
—
ITS
TERMINATION
PROVES
RATHER
MORE
THEN
HE
CAN
BEAR
—
HE
MEETS
A
GOOD
MAN
,
AND
TAKES
SERVICE
UNDER
HIM
—
HE
ASKS
AND
OBTAINS
A
HOLIDAY
,
AND
MEETS
SEVERAL
ADVENTURES
IN
THE
COURSE
OF
IT
.
While
this
gay
and
happy
party
,
who
would
any
of
them
have
gladly
exchanged
pleasure
for
pain
,
could
they
thereby
have
purchased
only
the
knowledge
of
his
existence
,
were
thus
placing
kingdoms
between
them
,
the
unhappy
Michael
was
still
enduring
all
the
miseries
of
an
apprentice
at
the
Deep
Valley
Mill
.
It
would
be
difficult
to
imagine
a
stronger
contrast
in
the
situation
of
two
brothers
than
that
which
many
subsequent
years
presented
between
him
and
Edward
.
Edward
!
—
who
had
ever
been
to
him
as
a
dearer
second
self
—
who
had
never
enjoyed
a
pleasure
unshared
by
him
,
and
never
known
a
sorrow
that
had
not
also
been
his
—
Edward
was
enjoying
all
that
nature
and
fortune
could
give
;
while
Michael
still
hopelessly
dragged
on
a
wretched
existence
amidst
unceasing
and
unvarying
suffering
!
At
length
the
desperate
resolution
was
formed
which
put
the
officials
of
the
Deep
Valley
factory
in
the
state
of
activity
already
described
.
And
where
was
Michael
the
while
?
Safely
ensconced
in
a
sort
of
rude
drain
,
which
he
had
himself
assisted
to
construct
,
when
he
held
the
regretted
office
of
scavenger
of
the
court
,
and
over
the
aperture
of
which
he
easily
arranged
sticks
and
rubbish
sufficient
to
conceal
him
,
Michael
lay
for
many
hours
listening
to
the
hubbub
which
his
absence
occasioned
.
He
distinctly
heard
the
expression
of
Mrs.
Poulet
's
anger
and
scorn
,
as
messenger
after
messenger
returned
,
without
bringing
tidings
of
him
;
and
had
,
moreover
,
the
advantage
of
knowing
the
track
that
he
had
purposely
made
on
the
grass
which
grew
tall
and
rank
immediately
behind
the
factory
,
had
led
them
,
and
would
continue
to
lead
them
,
all
one
way
,
while
he
would
of
course
take
especial
care
to
go
another
.
Having
left
his
foot-marks
on
the
grass
in
the
manner
described
,
Michael
had
scrambled
through
the
bushes
which
covered
the
steep
hill-side
,
for
the
distance
of
a
few
hundred
yards
,
and
then
,
taking
advantage
of
a
layer
of
stones
,
by
which
a
patch
of
marshy
ground
had
been
rendered
firm
,
he
again
crossed
from
the
hill
towards
the
factory
,
without
leaving
any
trace
behind
.
By
this
simple
device
his
pursuers
were
completely
thrown
out
,
for
when
night
came
and
he
crawled
out
from
his
shelter
,
no
eye
was
open
to
look
for
him
close
to
his
prison-walls
,
though
very
keen
ones
were
busy
elsewhere
in
search
of
him
.
The
same
strength
of
frame
which
had
enabled
him
to
escape
deformity
in
the
mill
,
helped
him
well
now
,
as
without
food
,
without
sleep
,
and
with
every
pulse
throbbing
between
hope
and
fear
,
he
strode
rapidly
onward
on
the
road
he
had
come
with
Parsons
four
years
before
,
carefully
avoiding
its
grassy
margin
,
however
,
lest
more
footsteps
might
be
traced
.
Then
,
revolving
with
great
clearness
of
local
recollection
,
the
direction
in
which
this
road
led
,
after
mounting
the
hill
,
he
firmly
resolved
,
as
long
as
his
strength
lasted
,
to
pursue
it
,
till
it
brought
him
to
the
door
of
his
mother
's
home
—
provided
always
,
that
he
was
not
stopped
short
by
the
grasp
of
an
overlooker
in
the
way
.
The
necessity
of
procuring
food
had
not
appeared
to
him
any
obstacle
to
the
undertaking
;
for
not
only
had
he
great
faith
in
his
own
power
of
enduring
abstinence
,
but
he
had
faith
too
,
in
the
impossibility
of
begging
at
a
firm-house
door
for
a
morsel
of
bread
,
in
vain
—
nor
did
either
hope
deceive
him
:
he
walked
till
nightfall
with
no
other
refreshment
than
water
,
caught
in
the
hollow
of
his
hand
from
a
trickling
road-side
spring
,
and
a
few
blackberries
,
snatched
in
terror
,
as
he
hurried
on
.
As
the
darkness
thickened
round
him
,
he
called
a
counsel
with
himself
,
as
to
whether
it
would
be
wisest
to
lay
down
under
the
shelter
of
a
hay-rick
,
and
let
sleep
serve
him
for
supper
,
or
to
venture
a
petition
for
a
morsel
of
food
at
a
decent-looking
mansion
which
he
saw
at
some
distance
,
and
walk
on
through
the
night
,
if
he
succeeded
,
by
help
of
the
strength
so
recruited
.
After
many
anxious
reasonings
,
pro
and
con
,
he
at
last
decided
upon
the
latter
,
and
so
well
did
his
handsome
face
and
simple
assurance
that
he
was
very
hungry
,
plead
for
him
,
that
he
not
only
obtained
scraps
sufficient
for
a
hearty
supper
,
but
a
crust
or
two
for
the
following
morning
;
and
with
this
treasure
he
trudged
on
,
footsore
indeed
,
and
with
a
pretty
strong
inclination
to
lie
down
and
sleep
,
but
mental
energy
sufficed
for
many
hours
to
conquer
bodily
fatigue
,
and
it
was
not
till
past
three
o'clock
the
next
morning
,
that
he
yielded
,
and
at
last
laid
himself
down
in
a
dry
,
and
,
as
he
thought
it
,
most
delightfully
comfortable
ditch
,
and
slept
the
sleep
of
youth
and
weariness
for
three
four
hours
.
The
bright
beams
of
an
autumn
sun
shooting
directly
upon
his
eyes
awakened
him
,
and
he
started
up
,
ready
and
able
to
walk
forward
,
sufficiently
thankful
for
the
hoarded
crusts
in
his
pocket
.
He
was
now
not
more
than
seven
miles
from
Ashleigh
;
a
fact
which
he
joyfully
ascertained
by
a
milestone
on
a
road
which
he
had
reached
,
he
hardly
knew
how
,
but
it
must
have
been
by
missing
,
not
hitting
the
way
he
had
endeavoured
to
find
;
for
Parsons
had
not
followed
the
high-road
from
the
town
for
more
than
a
mile
,
and
that
was
before
Sir
Matthew
's
carriage
overtook
him
.
Michael
looked
backwards
and
forwards
along
this
wide
unsheltered
road
,
and
trembled
to
think
how
easy
it
would
be
,
to
see
and
recognise
a
fugitive
from
any
spot
within
sight
of
it
;
but
there
was
a
burning
impatience
at
his
heart
when
he
thought
of
home
,
and
remembered
that
he
was
within
two
hours
walk
of
it
,
which
left
all
caution
far
behind
,
and
commending
himself
to
God
,
he
set
off
at
the
fleetest
pace
he
could
achieve
,
towards
Ashleigh
.
No
symptom
of
pursuit
,
however
,
alarmed
him
.
From
the
moment
he
quitted
the
mills
,
to
that
when
he
reached
what
had
once
been
his
mother
's
door
,
no
terror
of
the
kind
had
come
near
him
;
he
had
heard
no
whispering
voices
,
nor
seen
shadowy
figures
stealing
towards
him
from
a
distance
.
All
he
had
most
feared
was
got
through
with
ease
;
but
all
he
had
most
fondly
hoped
,
turned
out
a
fearful
blank
.
As
Michael
drew
near
the
door
,
he
remembered
so
well
every
object
which
met
his
eye
,
that
he
began
to
fear
lest
he
himself
might
be
remembered
by
others
,
and
making
a
circuit
to
avoid
Sir
Matthew
's
mills
,
he
reached
Hoxley-lane
without
having
met
a
single
face
he
knew
.
It
was
a
tremendous
moment
for
him
,
that
in
which
he
first
caught
sight
of
the
lowly
door
through
which
he
had
passed
a
thousand
times
in
eager
anticipation
of
his
mother
's
kiss
!
Some
minutes
followed
before
he
could
reach
it
,
and
the
boy
trembled
so
violently
that
he
tottered
as
he
hurried
onward
,
like
a
drunken
man
.
At
length
his
hand
was
on
the
latch
;
it
yielded
as
in
days
of
yore
,
and
in
an
instant
the
door
was
wide
open
before
him
.
Poor
Michael
!
what
death
can
have
a
pang
so
bitter
as
that
he
felt
,
when
the
almost
impossible
project
of
reaching
his
mother
's
home
being
performed
,
he
found
that
home
empty
and
desolate
,
and
telling
him
as
plainly
as
angels
trumpet-tongued
could
do
,
that
she
was
dead
!
A
dismal
groan
burst
from
him
,
and
he
sunk
on
the
floor
,
just
where
he
had
last
stood
gaily
talking
to
her
of
his
bright
fancies
for
the
future
,
a
few
hours
before
he
was
snatched
away
from
her
for
ever
.
The
noise
he
made
reached
the
ears
of
a
woman
in
the
front
room
,
and
she
opened
the
door
of
communication
to
ascertain
who
it
could
be
,
rummaging
in
the
empty
room
that
was
"
to
let
.
"
"
My
gracious
!
I
should
like
to
know
who
you
are
?
What
do
you
want
here
,
you
ragamuffin
?
Is
this
the
way
you
come
to
take
lodgings
,
pray
?
"
This
was
said
by
a
young
and
pretty
woman
who
held
a
baby
in
her
arms
,
and
who
being
the
wife
of
a
confidential
overlooker
,
had
not
only
succeeded
to
the
occupation
of
No.
12
,
upon
the
death
of
Mrs.
Sykes
and
the
dispersion
of
her
family
;
but
considered
herself
privileged
to
assume
,
on
most
occasions
,
an
air
of
great
importance
.
"
Mother
lived
here
!
"
said
Michael
,
with
a
look
wretched
enough
to
soften
the
heart
of
the
saucy
girl
who
had
addressed
him
.
"
Your
mother
,
my
poor
boy
?
Are
you
the
little
orphan
Armstrong
,
then
?
"
was
the
reply
.
"
Is
mother
dead
?
"
said
the
unhappy
boy
.
"
Dead
?
to
be
sure
she
is
.
And
where
can
you
have
been
not
to
know
that
?
Was
n't
you
with
her
,
when
she
died
?
"
"
No
,
no
,
no
!
"
sobbed
Michael
;
"
I
came
here
to
find
her
.
"
"
Poor
fellow
!
that
's
dismal
enough
to
be
sure
.
I
bea
n't
Ashleigh
born
,
but
I
have
heard
a
deal
since
I
comed
here
,
about
the
widow
Armstrong
and
the
boy
as
died
!
"
"
Died
!
"
echoed
Michael
,
looking
wildly
at
her
.
"
Is
he
dead
too
?
Is
my
poor
Teddy
dead
?
"
"
Sure-ly
he
is
,
"
replied
the
unthinking
young
woman
,
who
,
in
truth
,
knew
nothing
about
either
the
widow
Armstrong
or
her
son
,
but
remembered
hearing
that
a
little
more
than
a
year
before
she
took
possession
of
the
premises
,
a
widow
Armstrong
had
died
in
the
back
room
,
for
grief
at
having
lost
a
boy
.
She
was
far
from
intending
to
be
cruel
to
the
poor
lad
,
who
looked
himself
so
very
nearly
like
a
corpse
,
but
was
too
indifferent
upon
all
subjects
which
did
not
immediately
concern
herself
,
to
take
the
trouble
of
thinking
before
she
spoke
.
A
few
more
questions
might
probably
have
obtained
,
if
not
the
truth
,
at
least
some
proof
of
his
informer
's
ignorance
of
it
,
but
Michael
had
heard
enough
;
he
rose
to
his
feet
,
and
without
uttering
another
word
,
rushed
out
of
the
room
.
The
state
in
which
he
then
found
himself
was
certainly
nearly
approaching
to
delirium
.
His
strength
of
body
and
mind
completely
exhausted
by
fatigue
,
fasting
,
and
intense
anxiety
,
the
blow
which
had
fallen
upon
him
was
heavier
than
his
reason
could
bear
,
and
he
wandered
forth
into
the
fields
without
knowing
where
he
was
,
or
having
any
distinct
idea
of
what
had
befallen
him
.
His
devious
and
unheeded
path
led
him
to
a
spot
,
at
the
distance
of
nearly
a
mile
from
his
former
home
,
at
which
several
miniature
rocks
of
sandstone
give
something
of
wildness
and
dignity
to
the
little
stream
,
which
for
the
most
part
runs
tamely
enough
,
and
looks
little
more
than
a
wide
and
dirty
ditch
,
as
it
passes
through
the
town
of
Ashleigh
.
A
multitude
of
cotton-factories
,
with
their
tall
chimneys
mocking
the
heavens
,
were
visible
in
the
distance
,
on
the
other
side
,
and
the
boy
stopped
in
his
wild
,
hurried
walk
,
to
gaze
upon
them
,
with
a
feverish
consciousness
that
there
at
least
stood
something
he
had
seen
before
.
A
frightful
flash
of
memory
then
shot
across
his
brain
—
his
mother
dead
—
his
darling
Edward
dead
—
himself
a
houseless
,
friendless
,
starving
wretch
,
who
soon
would
be
caught
and
carried
back
to
the
prison-house
he
had
ran
from
only
to
learn
that
he
had
no
friend
on
earth
!
Such
were
the
thoughts
which
racked
him
,
as
he
stood
upon
the
edge
of
the
rocky
little
precipice
,
and
fixed
his
eyes
upon
the
quite
water
that
flowed
some
twenty
feet
beneath
him
.
It
seemed
to
present
an
image
of
coolness
and
repose
;
his
burning
lips
longed
to
kiss
the
gentle
ripple
on
its
surface
—
he
drew
nearer
to
the
extremest
verge
.
"
I
should
be
safe
there
!
"
he
murmured
,
looking
downwards
till
his
sick
head
reeled
.
"
God
forgive
me
!
"
he
added
,
raising
his
eyes
to
heaven
.
"
But
if
I
drown
,
mother
!
I
shall
go
to
thee
!
"
and
as
he
spoke
the
words
,
he
sprang
forward
,
and
plunged
into
the
stream
!
The
shock
restored
his
wandering
senses
in
a
moment
;
he
felt
that
he
was
perishing
,
though
unconscious
that
it
was
by
his
own
act
;
and
forgetting
how
little
reason
he
had
to
wish
for
life
,
struggled
hard
to
grasp
a
bush
that
protruded
from
the
bank
into
the
stream
.
But
he
could
not
swim
,
and
the
efforts
he
made
,
though
they
served
for
a
minute
or
two
to
keep
him
afloat
,
only
increased
the
distance
between
himself
and
the
object
he
endeavoured
to
reach
.
His
heavy
shoes
filled
with
water
,
and
dragged
him
downwards
—
his
strength
failed
,
his
arms
ceased
to
move
,
and
in
another
moment
the
water
rippled
over
his
head
.
But
poor
Michael
's
history
was
not
finished
yet
.
A
heavy-looking
elderly
man
,
who
had
as
little
as
possible
the
air
of
one
desirous
of
seeking
an
adventure
,
was
in
the
act
of
examining
some
sheep
in
a
field
,
the
fence
of
which
was
not
fifty
yards
from
the
rocky
ledge
from
whence
the
boy
had
sprung
.
Having
completed
his
survey
,
and
directed
two
men
who
were
with
him
to
select
a
score
or
two
from
the
lot
,
the
old
man
reposed
himself
upon
a
style
in
the
fence
above
mentioned
,
and
having
chanced
to
turn
his
head
from
the
sheep
,
towards
the
spot
where
Michael
stood
,
had
watched
for
a
minute
or
two
the
boy
's
agitated
movements
and
demeanour
,
but
without
the
slightest
suspicion
of
the
frightful
catastrophe
that
was
to
ensue
.
No
sooner
,
however
,
did
he
hear
the
splash
occasioned
by
the
plunge
,
than
he
sprang
over
the
style
with
the
activity
of
a
younger
man
,
and
calling
to
the
others
to
follow
him
,
made
his
way
with
little
loss
of
time
,
to
a
bit
of
pebbly
ground
on
a
level
with
the
stream
,
and
at
no
great
distance
from
the
point
at
which
Michael
had
sunk
.
But
,
short
as
the
time
had
been
,
the
ripple
had
already
disappeared
from
the
surface
of
the
water
,
and
no
trace
remained
of
the
object
of
his
search
.
The
two
young
men
whom
he
had
summoned
to
follow
him
,
though
they
had
not
seen
the
accident
,
had
gathered
from
his
words
that
something
terrible
had
occurred
,
and
clambering
down
the
rocky
cliff
,
were
by
his
side
in
a
moment
.
"
It
is
too
late
,
lads
!
"
exclaimed
the
old
man
,
wringing
his
hands
together
.
"
I
saw
the
poor
distracted
creature
take
the
leap
,
but
he
was
sunk
before
I
got
to
the
bank
,
and
I
take
it
he
will
never
rise
again
.
I
shall
never
forgive
myself
for
