notgoing
to
him
when
I
saw
him
throwing
his
arms
about
in
that
wild
way
.
I
might
have
guessed
what
was
going
to
happen
—
and
may
Heaven
forgive
me
for
not
preventing
it
!
"
"
'
Tis
a
man
who
has
thrown
himself
in
?
"
inquired
one
of
the
men
.
"
Not
a
man
,
but
a
fine
young
lad
as
ever
you
see
.
Poor
fellow
!
'
Twas
early
days
for
him
to
have
found
sorrow
enough
to
throw
himself
out
of
life
that
way
!
If
I
had
ran
to
him
,
as
I
ought
to
have
done
,
and
stopped
the
deed
,
who
knows
but
we
might
have
brought
him
round
to
a
better
manner
of
thinking
?
"
"
'
Tis
ten
to
one
but
he
'll
come
to
the
top
again
yet
,
if
he
has
n't
done
it
already
,
"
said
the
man
.
"
But
if
he
comes
,
he
'll
come
dead
,
William
!
"
replied
the
old
man
.
"
I
do
n't
know
that
,
"
rejoined
the
young
shepherd
.
"
"
The
stream
runs
briskish
round
yon
corner
,
and
would
carry
him
right
away
with
it
;
but
it
's
worth
while
having
a
look
lower
down
.
If
he
rises
at
all
,
'
twill
be
there
.
"
And
so
saying
,
the
young
man
set
off
at
a
swifter
pace
than
his
master
could
follow
him
;
while
the
old
man
and
the
other
shepherd-lad
continued
for
a
minute
or
two
to
watch
the
place
where
he
had
fallen
.
"
Halloo
!
Halloo
!
Halloo
!
"
cried
a
voice
at
no
great
distance
.
"
That
's
William
,
by
all
that
's
good
!
"
exclaimed
the
young
shepherd
,
and
without
waiting
for
his
companion
's
reply
,
he
ran
off
at
full
speed
,
the
old
man
following
with
no
lagging
step
,
and
at
the
distance
of
a
few
yards
,
after
turning
the
corner
formed
by
another
huge
mass
of
sandstone
rock
,
they
perceived
William
,
breast
deep
in
the
water
,
and
grasping
,
at
the
utmost
extent
of
his
arm
,
a
limb
of
the
drowning
boy
.
Before
the
old
Westmorland
statesman
(
for
such
he
was
)
could
overtake
his
young
companions
,
the
hero
of
our
tale
was
lying
high
and
dry
upon
the
bank
,
but
whether
life
was
quite
extinct
,
or
still
lingered
in
the
cold
,
corse-like
form
before
them
,
was
a
question
which
,
when
the
old
man
joined
the
group
,
the
young
ones
were
not
able
to
answer
.
Luckily
for
Michael
,
the
old
statesman
had
seen
a
man
saved
from
drowning
some
thirty
years
before
,
and
he
remembered
enough
of
the
process
he
had
then
witnessed
,
to
enable
him
to
give
some
very
useful
instructions
on
the
present
occasion
.
They
managed
to
make
their
patient
discharge
from
his
mouth
some
portion
of
the
superfluous
draught
he
had
swallowed
,
and
after
bestowing
patient
and
assiduous
friction
on
his
breast
and
limbs
,
they
had
the
great
satisfaction
of
seeing
the
chest
heave
with
returning
respiration
,
and
all
other
symptoms
of
revivification
follow
in
their
proper
order
,
till
the
eyes
of
Michael
were
once
more
widely
opened
,
and
fixed
with
preplexity
,
and
something
like
terror
,
on
the
faces
which
were
bending
over
him
.
"
Thank
Heaven
!
"
ejaculated
the
old
man
earnestly
,
"
he
's
safe
now
,
at
least
from
drowning
,
and
I
have
not
got
that
to
answer
for
.
But
he
is
n't
in
a
trim
to
be
left
,
my
lads
.
He
would
have
been
as
well
in
the
river
,
perhaps
,
as
out
of
it
,
if
we
do
no
more
for
him
.
"
Then
causing
Michael
to
sit
,
and
examining
his
features
,
with
a
glance
of
very
friendly
curiosity
,
he
said
,
"
You
do
n't
look
like
a
bad
boy
,
my
poor
fellow
.
What
could
have
set
you
upon
doing
such
a
desperate
action
?
"
The
effort
which
the
poor
boy
made
to
answer
was
ineffectual
,
and
he
only
shook
his
head
.
"
I
suppose
it
's
oversoon
as
yet
,
to
expect
any
information
from
him
,
"
resumed
the
old
man
,
"
so
there
's
nothing
to
be
done
,
as
I
see
,
but
just
to
carry
him
up
between
us
,
if
he
cannot
walk
,
to
the
Nag
's
Head
,
and
have
him
laid
upon
my
bed
there
,
till
he
is
a
condition
to
tell
us
something
about
himself
.
Can
you
feel
your
legs
yet
,
my
boy
?
"
he
continued
,
endeavouring
,
by
the
help
of
his
man
William
,
to
make
him
stand
up
.
But
Michael
had
no
power
to
second
their
efforts
;
the
two
lads
,
threfore
,
raised
him
head
and
heels
,
and
preceded
by
the
grayhaired
farmer
,
bore
him
between
them
above
a
mile
,
to
the
humble
hostelry
of
the
Nag
's
Head
.
The
procession
was
too
remarkable
a
one
to
escape
notice
,
and
before
it
reached
the
shelter
of
the
little
inn
a
miscellaneous
crowd
of
men
,
women
,
and
children
had
joined
it
.
Many
of
these
had
been
familiar
with
the
features
of
poor
Michael
in
days
of
yore
,
but
not
one
of
them
recognised
the
widow
Armstrong
's
boy
,
in
the
long-limbed
,
pallid
figure
,
that
they
now
gazed
upon
.
Muster
Thornton
,
the
Westmorland
yeoman
and
farmer
,
was
too
substantial
a
customer
to
be
refused
any
reasonable
favour
,
and
the
ragged
,
dripping
Michael
was
not
only
permitted
to
lie
down
on
Muster
Thornton
's
best
of
beds
,
but
accommodated
promptly
with
dry
linen
,
and
duly
comforted
with
more
hot
brandy
,
water
,
sugar
,
and
biscuits
than
he
had
any
inclination
to
swallow
.
He
took
enough
,
however
,
to
remove
the
faintness
of
inanition
;
and
this
,
together
with
dry
linen
,
and
a
bed
,
sufficed
,
in
spite
of
the
heavy
sorrows
upon
which
his
mind
had
not
yet
dared
to
fix
itself
,
to
sooth
him
into
a
long
and
healing
sleep
.
When
he
awoke
from
it
,
he
was
capable
of
answering
all
the
questions
Mr.
Thornton
put
to
him
,
and
this
he
did
with
a
simplicity
of
pathos
that
went
straight
to
the
good
man
's
heart
.
That
he
had
been
working
in
a
distant
cotton-factory
,
where
he
had
been
very
hardly
treated
,
and
having
got
away
to
see
his
mother
and
his
brother
,
had
found
them
both
dead
,
was
a
tale
,
that
if
it
could
not
excuse
the
desperate
act
which
he
had
attempted
,
at
least
accounted
for
it
,
in
a
manner
that
left
as
much
to
pity
as
to
blame
.
"
Poor
boy
!
poor
boy
!
"
exclaimed
the
old
man
,
with
tears
in
his
eyes
.
"
It
was
wrong
and
wicked
,
very
wrong
and
wicked
!
but
you
must
pray
God
to
forgive
you
,
my
boy
,
and
never
think
of
any
such
desperate
doings
more
.
"
"
I
did
not
know
what
I
was
about
,
if
I
remember
rightly
,
"
said
Michael
.
"
My
head
seemed
gone
.
I
do
n't
know
how
I
got
to
the
river
,
but
I
am
sure
I
did
not
go
there
on
purpose
.
"
"
So
much
the
better
—
I
am
glad
to
hear
it
—
and
it
's
no
great
wonder
,
sure
enough
,
if
you
did
lose
your
head
,
coming
to
such
a
home
as
that
.
But
what
are
you
to
do
next
,
my
poor
fellow
?
I
suppose
there
is
no
other
home
for
you
,
is
there
?
"
"
I
have
no
home
,
nor
a
single
friend
in
the
whole
world
,
"
replied
Michael
.
"
And
the
only
work
you
have
ever
been
used
to
,
I
suppose
,
is
following
the
wheels
in
the
factories
?
"
said
the
farmer
.
"
Except
once
for
three
months
and
a
bit
that
I
was
kept
to
cleaning
the
outhouses
and
yard
,
and
wheeling
away
garden-rubbish
and
such
like
,
"
replied
Michael
.
"
Well
,
but
that
's
better
than
nothing
,
boy
.
At
any
rate
,
you
know
how
to
hold
a
spade
,
which
is
a
long
deal
better
than
having
never
used
your
fingers
,
except
for
tying
bits
of
thread
.
D'ye
think
you
should
be
willing
to
work
for
me
,
my
boy
,
and
tend
my
farm-yard
stock
,
and
do
a
turn
of
work
in
the
fields
when
it
was
wanted
?
"
"
I
should
be
willing
,
sir
,
"
replied
Michael
,
while
a
flush
passed
over
his
pale
face
,
"
I
should
be
willing
and
most
thankful
to
work
for
you
.
"
"
That
's
well
,
"
said
the
old
man
cheerily
,
"
and
as
to
terms
,
I
do
n't
expect
we
shall
find
much
difficulty
;
you
will
come
to
me
my
poor
fellow
,
much
in
the
same
condition
as
you
first
come
into
the
world
,
therefore
all
that
you
want
,
I
must
find
,
which
will
be
about
as
much
as
I
can
afford
to
give
,
I
take
it
,
just
at
first
,
till
you
,
and
I
too
,
find
out
what
you
're
good
for
.
Will
you
agree
to
it
,
my
lad
,
and
give
me
your
time
and
best
endeavours
for
clothes
,
food
,
lodging
,
and
good
will
?
"
"
It
will
be
a
blessed
bargain
for
me
,
sir
,
"
said
Michael
,
"
if
you
will
add
to
all
your
goodness
the
excusing
my
ignorance
.
But
if
will
was
all
that
was
wanting
to
make
a
good
servant
,
you
should
not
lose
by
me
.
"
"
And
will
is
all
that
is
wanting
,
boy
.
You
are
no
fool
,
I
take
it
,
by
your
looks
;
and
if
you
will
mind
what
is
said
,
and
do
your
best
,
I
shall
ask
no
more
.
What
is
your
name
,
my
good
fellow
?
"
"
Michael
—
Michael
Armstrong
,
sir
.
"
"
Well
,
then
,
Michael
Armstrong
,
I
am
your
master
,
and
you
are
my
man
.
And
now
you
must
eat
,
and
then
you
must
go
to
sleep
again
,
I
think
,
till
I
have
got
some
decent
clothes
for
you
.
Those
you
wore
yesterday
have
had
a
good
washing
to
be
sure
.
Nevertheless
,
I
do
n't
justly
like
the
looks
of
them
.
"
Within
six
months
from
this
time
,
Michael
Armstrong
,
promoted
to
a
place
of
trust
,
might
have
been
seen
sitting
upon
the
hill-side
in
one
of
the
most
romantic
spots
in
Westmorland
,
a
shepherd
's
maud
wrapped
round
his
person
,
a
sheep-dog
at
his
feet
,
and
his
master
's
flocks
nibbling
the
short
grass
around
him
on
all
sides
.
Many
were
the
solitary
hours
he
thus
passed
,
and
very
rich
was
the
harvest
they
brought
him
.
Had
the
boy
remained
a
year
or
two
longer
in
the
state
that
"
Blocks
out
the
forms
of
nature
,
preconsumes
The
reason
,
famishes
the
heart
,
shuts
up
The
infant
being
in
itself
,
and
makes
Its
very
spring
a
season
of
decay
;
"
[
5
]
had
Michael
remained
a
year
or
two
longer
at
the
Deep
Valley
factory
,
in
the
state
thus
admirably
and
accurately
described
,
it
would
have
been
too
late
for
any
contemplation
of
God
's
works
to
have
roused
his
withered
spirit
to
worship
and
to
hope
.
But
as
it
was
,
his
mind
seemed
to
awaken
day
by
day
from
the
long
and
heavy
sleep
in
which
it
had
been
plunged
.
With
an
intellect
naturally
vigorous
,
and
covetous
of
acquirement
,
and
having
had
his
first
infant
stretch
of
thought
happily
and
indelibly
directed
,
though
with
primeval
simplicity
,
to
one
God
and
father
of
all
,
his
transition
from
a
condition
in
which
"
Scarcely
could
you
fancy
that
a
gleam
Could
break
from
out
those
languid
eyes
,
"
[
6
]
to
one
"
Sublime
from
present
purity
and
joy
,
"
[
7
]
was
rapid
and
delightful
.
His
heavy
losses
were
not
forgotten
;
but
while
he
meditated
beneath
the
bright
arch
of
heaven
on
the
mother
and
the
brother
he
had
so
fondly
loved
,
there
were
so
many
sublime
and
hope-inspiring
thoughts
mixed
with
his
sorrow
,
that
it
could
hardly
have
been
called
painful
.
The
worthy
"
statesman
"
to
whose
service
he
had
vowed
himself
,
though
he
did
not
,
perhaps
,
follow
Michael
through
all
the
improving
processes
which
his
mountain
occupation
led
to
,
nor
very
clearly
comprehend
the
elevating
effect
of
the
"
skyey
influences
"
under
which
he
lived
,
was
no
way
slow
in
perceiving
that
the
Samaritan
feeling
he
had
so
opportunely
displayed
in
the
township
of
Ashleigh
,
had
bound
to
his
service
one
of
the
most
trustworthy
,
active
,
and
intelligent
lads
he
had
ever
met
with
.
There
is
always
,
moreover
,
in
the
human
heart
a
propensity
to
cherish
whatever
we
have
preserved
;
and
this
feeling
,
joined
to
his
more
worldly-minded
approbation
of
Michael
's
good
gifts
,
rendered
Muster
Thornton
exceedingly
fond
of
the
boy
,
and
well-inclined
at
all
times
to
grant
him
every
reasonable
indulgence
.
But
Michael
rarely
taxed
his
kindness
as
far
as
it
was
ready
to
go
.
Once
he
had
asked
,
and
obtained
leave
to
mount
to
the
top
of
Helvellyn
,
and
once
to
make
a
sabbath-day
's
journey
over
the
mountain-tops
to
Ulswater
;
these
were
the
only
occasions
on
which
he
had
expressed
any
wish
to
wander
beyond
the
immediate
neighbourhood
of
the
farmer
's
sheep-walks
,
and
,
in
truth
,
this
immediate
neighbourhood
included
so
many
mountain
torrents
,
glassy
lakes
,
stupendous
crags
,
and
sylvan
solitudes
,
that
there
was
little
need
to
go
beyond
it
,
in
order
to
gratify
a
passion
for
the
picturesque
.
But
when
Michael
had
attained
the
age
of
eighteen
years
,
a
longing
,
and
somewhat
restless
desire
seized
him
to
revisit
the
place
of
his
birth
,
to
seek
for
the
graves
of
his
mother
and
Edward
,
to
learn
tidings
of
the
kind-hearted
Martha
,
to
discover
,
if
possible
,
whether
his
own
escape
from
the
Deep
Valley
had
been
communicated
to
Sir
Matthew
,
and
to
ascertain
whether
he
still
stood
in
any
danger
of
being
reclaimed
as
an
apprentice
,
in
case
of
its
being
discovered
that
he
was
at
liberty
.
As
to
any
danger
of
being
personally
recognised
at
Ashleigh
,
he
feared
it
not
;
conscious
that
from
his
remarkably
tall
stature
and
florid
health
,
he
was
too
unlike
the
factory-child
of
former
days
,
to
run
any
risk
of
being
known
.
It
was
,
however
,
some
months
after
this
wish
first
suggested
itself
,
before
he
took
courage
to
name
it
to
his
indulgent
master
.
When
at
length
,
however
,
he
did
so
,
the
good
man
not
only
gave
his
free
consent
,
but
declared
himself
well
pleased
that
such
a
project
had
entered
his
favourite
's
head
.
"
It
will
do
thee
a
power
of
good
,
Mike
,
"
said
he
.
"
The
only
fault
I
have
to
find
with
thee
is
,
that
thee
beest
too
steady
for
a
lad
of
thy
years
,
and
that
looks
as
if
,
with
all
our
care
and
coaxing
,
we
had
not
yet
been
able
to
make
thee
forget
thy
sorrowful
childhood
.
Set
off
,
in
God
's
name
,
my
boy
;
stay
as
long
as
thou
wilt
,
but
only
promise
to
come
back
at
last
,
for
I
think
it
would
be
heart-aching
work
to
part
with
thee
.
"
Michael
gratefully
promised
a
speedy
return
,
and
dressed
in
his
best
attire
,
he
set
forth
upon
his
much
wished-for
pilgrimage
to
his
early
home
.
"
It
was
the
pride
,
the
spring
tide
of
the
year
,
"
every
leaf
was
opened
,
yet
every
leaf
retained
the
new-born
freshness
of
its
lovely
green
.
The
birds
saluted
him
from
every
bush
;
the
herds
lowed
from
amidst
their
dewy
banquet
,
in
a
note
that
spoke
their
measureless
content
;
and
every
object
on
which
his
bright
young
eye
fixed
itself
,
seemed
to
echo
the
abounding
gladness
of
his
own
heart
.
How
elastic
was
the
step
with
which
he
passed
along
!
How
proudly
and
thankfully
did
he
feel
conscious
of
his
own
high
place
amidst
this
wondrous
creation
!
and
how
perfectly
was
he
convinced
,
despite
all
he
had
read
during
his
lone
hours
on
the
mountain-side
,
of
the
splendour
of
the
cities
of
the
earth
,
that
nothing
on
its
whole
surface
could
exceed
in
grace
and
glory
the
majesty
of
the
gorgeous
sun
,
as
he
rose
triumphantly
from
out
his
bed
of
gold
!
Had
every
thought
of
the
boy
's
heart
been
chronicled
,
a
very
poetical
sort
of
hymn
would
have
been
the
result
;
but
as
it
was
,
all
the
glowing
thankfulness
,
the
heavenward
rapture
,
and
the
joy
supreme
,
was
but
for
himself
alone
—
yet
was
it
not
thrown
away
,
for
Michael
enjoyed
his
own
existence
during
these
early
hours
with
an
intensity
that
made
him
feel
all
his
former
sufferings
most
benignantly
overpaid
by
his
present
happiness
.
Yet
in
the
midst
of
this
,
tears
more
than
once
started
to
his
eyes
,
as
he
thought
of
his
mother
,
and
the
brother
he
had
so
entirely
loved
.
His
very
soul
longed
to
have
Edward
by
his
side
,
as
various
fancies
chased
each
other
through
his
fertile
brain
;
and
the
image
of
little
Fanny
,
too
,
with
her
soft
reasoning
eyes
,
as
she
used
to
look
at
him
when
preaching
patience
at
the
Deep
Valley
Mill
,
as
he
fondly
laboured
to
recall
it
,
made
him
sigh
in
the
midst
of
his
pleasure
and
his
freedom
,
to
think
how
sad
it
was
that
all
he
had
ever
loved
should
have
passed
away
from
his
eyes
for
ever
.
But
amidst
the
million
proofs
of
tender
commiseration
for
the
sufferings
,
incident
of
necessity
,
to
our
place
in
creation
(
which
those
who
run
may
read
,
if
they
are
not
very
great
dunces
indeed
)
,
there
is
,
perhaps
,
none
more
remarkable
than
the
gradual
softening
of
the
agony
which
all
who
survive
what
they
love
,
are
doomed
to
feel
.
The
state
which
follows
,
though
as
sad
as
the
darkness
of
the
lonely
night
,
made
visible
by
the
pale
backward
glances
of
the
parting
moon
,
has
the
same
soothing
stillness
too
.
Passion
is
over
,
anxiety
at
rest
,
and
we
feel
more
than
consoled
,
we
feel
joyful
,
as
we
remember
that
we
too
shall
pass
away
,
and
follow
them
.
The
journey
to
Ashleigh
cost
Michael
three
days
'
smart
walking
,
but
his
pockets
were
no
longer
in
the
condition
they
had
been
at
the
time
of
his
never-to-be-forgotten
escape
from
The
Deep
Valley
.
He
had
proved
himself
a
good
and
faithful
servant
,
and
the
worthy
yeoman
paid
him
accordingly
,
so
that
he
had
wherewithal
to
recruit
his
spirits
and
his
strength
as
he
jogged
along
,
and
reached
the
hospitable
Nag
's
Head
in
his
native
town
on
the
third
evening
,
rather
the
better
than
the
worse
for
his
pleasant
toil
.
His
first
walk
on
the
following
morning
was
to
Ashleigh
churchyard
;
but
here
he
was
obliged
to
content
himself
by
knowing
that
the
dear
relics
of
those
he
wished
to
honour
were
near
him
;
for
,
of
course
,
the
only
indication
by
which
he
could
guess
whereabouts
these
precious
relics
lay
,
was
to
be
found
in
the
want
of
all
memorial
.
On
the
sunny
side
of
Ashleigh
churchyard
,
a
number
of
handsome
tombstones
may
be
seen
;
many
a
massive
monument
is
there
,
protected
by
its
strong
and
stately
rail
;
and
thereon
may
be
read
,
by
those
who
list
,
the
important
fact
that
some
one
who
bore
a
Christian
appellation
,
lies
below
.
To
the
north
,
where
the
grass
grows
strongest
,
though
the
sun
never
comes
to
cheer
it
,
are
a
multitude
of
little
nameless
,
unclaimed
hillocks
,
closely
wedged
together
,
and
rarely
showing
even
a
withy-band
across
the
swelling
sod
,
to
testify
that
some
one
has
cared
for
what
lay
hidden
under
it
.
To
this
green
republic
Michael
turned
himself
,
and
knew
full
surely
that
it
was
there
his
mother
lay
.
Another
,
though
even
as
humble
as
himself
,
might
,
under
similar
feelings
,
have
addressed
inquiries
to
the
parish-sexton
,
and
endeavoured
to
set
his
memory
to
work
as
to
the
exact
spot
where
he
had
buried
her
—
but
this
Michael
dared
not
do
;
for
it
would
be
at
once
losing
the
advantage
of
his
incognito
,
and
laying
himself
very
needlessly
open
to
the
danger
of
being
reclaimed
by
his
old
enemy
,
Sir
Matthew
,
as
a
bound
apprentice
,
who
had
run
away
.
So
he
contented
himself
with
walking
carefully
,
and
with
reverential
tread
,
through
and
amongst
the
many
grassy
mounds
,
permitting
his
tears
to
flow
freely
as
he
thought
of
Teddy
,
and
the
dear
gentle
mother
who
had
so
equally
loved
them
both
;
and
then
turned
slowly
away
,
following
a
path
that
brought
him
at
the
distance
of
a
mile
or
so
to
Brookford
factory
.
The
sensation
which
he
felt
when
the
great
many-eyed
monster
first
met
his
sight
,
was
one
of
unmixed
pleasure
.
He
literally
hugged
himself
,
and
blessed
the
freedom
of
his
limbs
,
the
firm
and
healthy
action
of
his
pulse
,
and
the
delicious
consciousness
that
he
was
no
man
's
slave
.
For
many
minutes
he
stood
still
to
enjoy
this
;
and
as
his
eyes
perused
line
after
line
of
the
dusky
smoke-stained
windows
,
and
recalled
the
early
sufferings
he
had
endured
within
them
,
his
very
heart
swelled
with
gratitude
for
the
change
,
and
he
blessed
God
aloud
.
But
as
he
approached
nearer
,
and
perceived
the
dim
shadowy
figures
slowly
moving
here
and
there
,
and
thought
upon
the
condition
of
each
of
them
,
he
almost
repented
of
his
selfish
joy
,
and
blamed
the
ecstasy
that
for
a
while
had
made
him
so
utterly
forget
that
thousands
were
imprisoned
still
,
though
he
was
free
.
On
,
and
on
,
he
walked
with
his
eyes
immovably
fixed
upon
the
hideous
fabric
till
,
sooner
than
he
expected
it
,
he
stood
before
the
gates
.
He
had
connived
no
previous
plan
by
which
to
enter
it
,
and
knew
that
without
some
specific
business
,
real
or
feigned
,
it
would
be
impossible
;
but
while
he
stood
weighing
the
danger
of
possible
discovery
against
his
very
strong
inclination
to
see
what
alteration
time
had
made
in
the
troop
within
—
whether
he
should
recognise
any
among
them
—
and
whether
his
old
tyrant
,
Parsons
,
was
still
their
chief
,
—
the
gates
opened
,
and
one
of
the
engine-men
,
a
grizzly
fellow
,
whom
he
well
remembered
when
his
sable
hair
was
somewhat
less
silvered
,
came
forth
.
He
gave
Michael
a
look
,
that
very
plainly
said
,
"
What
do
you
want
?
"
and
in
truth
,
his
neat
appearance
,
unstained
skin
,
and
free
unshrinking
eye
,
very
naturally
suggested
the
idea
that
he
could
have
no
business
there
.
"
Is
Mr.
Parsons
within
?
"
said
Michael
boldly
,
and
daring
the
inquiry
as
much
because
he
knew
not
what
to
say
,
as
from
any
deliberate
resolution
to
do
so
.
"
Yes
,
"
replied
the
man
;
"
he
is
about
the
place
somewhere
,
I
seed
him
not
more
than
ten
minutes
ago
.
"
Michael
nodded
his
head
,
and
walked
through
the
gate
into
the
court
,
across
which
he
had
passed
in
trembling
a
thousand
times
.
Nor
was
he
now
quite
free
from
a
slight
feeling
of
alarm
at
the
idea
of
meeting
the
sharp
eyes
of
his
former
terrible
taskmaster
,
and
felt
much
inclined
to
blame
himself
for
the
curious
temerity
which
had
brought
him
so
nearly
within
his
gripe
.
But
it
was
too
late
to
retreat
,
for
at
the
distance
of
a
dozen
yards
he
saw
Parsons
before
him
,
coming
forth
from
the
building
into
the
court
.
On
seeing
the
stranger
he
immediately
approached
him
;
Michael
touched
his
hat
.
"
What
may
your
business
here
be
,
young
man
?
"
said
Parsons
eyeing
him
from
top
to
toe
.
"
I
called
in
,
sir
,
to
inquire
whether
you
happened
to
want
a
spinner
,
and
what
the
wages
may
be
,
"
said
Michael
.
"
Is
it
for
yourself
?
"
demanded
Parsons
,
knitting
his
brows
,
and
looking
at
him
with
a
sort
of
incredulous
sneer
.
"
Why
,
no
sir
,
it
is
for
a
kinsman
who
happens
to
be
out
of
employ
,
"
replied
Michael
,
colouring
from
the
unusual
consciousness
of
deceit
,
and
from
the
same
cause
casting
his
eyes
upon
the
ground
,
thereby
displaying
the
remarkable
length
of
his
black
eyelashes
,
and
giving
to
his
whole
countenance
a
look
much
more
resembling
that
of
former
days
,
than
he
had
worn
when
he
first
entered
.
Parsons
looked
at
him
with
a
sort
of
vague
idea
that
he
had
seen
him
before
.
"
Where
do
you
come
from
?
"
said
he
.
"
From
Westmorland
,
sir
.
I
have
been
living
in
service
there
for
these
four
years
past
.
"
"
And
pray
what
may
your
name
be
?
"
"
Robert
Thornton
,
sir
,
"
replied
Michael
,
blushing
again
,
as
he
thus
unceremoniously
borrowed
the
appellation
of
his
worthy
master
.
"
Have
you
ever
worked
in
a
factory
yourself
?
"
"
Yes
,
sir
,
I
have
,
when
I
was
a
boy
,
"
said
Michael
,
from
mere
want
of
skill
and
hardihood
in
the
art
of
lying
.
"
And
you
think
you
have
bettered
yourself
,
I
suppose
,
with
your
fine
buff
waistcoat
,
and
the
rest
of
it
.
No
we
do
n't
want
no
spinners
here
.
"
Michael
by
no
means
unwillingly
obeyed
this
dismissal
,
and
walked
away
,
more
than
half
ashamed
of
his
achievement
.
"
If
I
did
n't
know
that
Michael
Armstrong
was
dead
,
I
should
swear
that
there
chap
was
him
,
"
said
a
girl
somewhat
older
than
our
imprudent
masquerader
,
and
who
had
been
watching
him
very
earnestly
during
the
foregoing
conversation
.
The
observation
was
not
addressed
to
the
overlooker
,
but
to
another
girl
,
who
had
brought
the
speaker
her
dinner
to
prevent
her
leaving
some
particular
work
on
which
she
was
employed
.
"
What
's
that
you
say
,
Sykes
?
"
said
Parsons
,
turning
quickly
towards
her
.
"
I
was
saying
,
sir
,
as
that
boy
was
unaccountable
like
Michael
Armstrong
,
as
used
to
live
in
mother
's
back-kitchen
.
He
was
n't
above
a
year
or
two
younger
than
me
,
and
I
knowed
him
as
well
as
I
did
my
own
brothers
.
"
"
Stuff
and
nonsense
,
girl
!
All
the
world
knows
that
young
rascal
died
years
ago
;
and
fuss
enough
there
was
made
about
it
by
that
mad
miss
at
Milford
,
who
I
suppose
,
found
out
that
she
was
their
cousin
,
or
something
of
the
sort
,
for
she
took
it
so
to
heart
,
that
she
sold
her
house
and
lands
,
and
ran
away
with
another
of
'
em
to
some
foreign
country
,
for
fear
he
should
die
too
.
Sure
you
must
mind
all
that
queer
story
?
"
"
Yes
,
sir
,
"
replied
the
girl
;
"
I
remember
it
right
well
,
and
that
's
the
reason
why
I
says
that
I
know
it
ca
n't
be
him
.
"
"
Yet
upon
my
soul
,
now
you
mention
it
,
he
was
the
very
image
of
him
.
I
fancied
as
I
looked
at
him
that
sure-ly
I
had
seen
him
somewhere
before
.
But
it
ca
n't
be
—
a
dead
dog
is
dead
,
all
the
world
over
.
"
"
Yes
sure
,
sir
,
"
responded
Kitty
Sykes
,
who
being
what
is
called
a
very
sightly
girl
,
was
not
unfrequently
indulged
with
a
little
condescending
notice
from
Mr.
Parsons
.
"
But
'
twas
his
queer
curly
black
hair
,
and
his
particular-looking
eyes
as
put
it
into
my
head
.
"
"
And
if
you
go
on
talking
of
it
,
Sykes
,
in
that
way
,
you
will
be
putting
it
into
my
head
too
.
And
after
all
,
there
is
nothing
so
very
impossible
in
it
.
Nobody
in
these
parts
could
really
know
much
about
it
,
you
see
,
and
there
's
no
reason
,
as
I
can
tell
,
why
the
scamp
might
not
have
run
away
from
the
Deep
—
that
is
,
the
stocking-weaver
's
manufactory
as
he
was
sent
'
printice
to
,
and
they
as
ought
to
have
stopped
him
,
might
have
given
out
that
he
was
dead
,
"
replied
the
overlooker
.
"
Then
if
it
was
possible
,
"
resumed
Kitty
Sykes
,
"
I
would
n't
mind
taking
my
bodily
oath
that
that
there
young
fellow
was
Michael
Armstrong
,
and
nobody
else
.
"
"
Egad
,
I
wish
I
had
n't
let
him
go
!
"
cried
Parsons
,
running
to
the
gates
.
"
He
was
'
printiced
till
twenty-one
,
and
if
he
has
run
away
,
he
's
liable
to
be
taken
up
and
put
in
prison
,
by
the
first
as
catches
him
.
"
Kitty
Sykes
took
the
liberty
of
running
to
the
gates
also
;
but
to
say
the
truth
,
she
had
no
wish
at
all
that
Mr.
Parsons
should
catch
him
up
,
and
put
him
into
prison
.
The
girl
,
though
she
had
prudence
enough
not
to
communicate
the
opinion
to
her
friend
Mr.
Parsons
,
thought
the
stranger
by
far
the
handsomest
young
fellow
she
had
ever
seen
,
and
secretly
determined
.
if
she
could
catch
sight
of
him
again
,
that
she
would
give
him
a
hint
to
keep
clear
of
his
old
acquaintance
.
"
There
he
goes
,
"
cried
Parsons
,
watching
Michael
,
as
with
upright
gait
,
and
rapid
strides
,
he
was
pursuing
his
way
by
the
well-remembered
path
,
which
led
from
the
factory
to
Dowling
Lodge
.
"
There
he
goes
!
He
do
n't
look
like
one
of
the
mill-people
any
way
—
and
yet
the
fellow
said
that
he
had
worked
in
a
factory
.
Did
n't
you
hear
him
,
Kitty
?
"
"
Yes
,
sir
,
"
replied
the
girl
,
"
and
it
was
just
then
as
I
felt
so
unaccountable
sure
that
,
unless
it
was
out
and
out
impossible
,
it
must
be
Michael
Armstrong
as
was
speaking
.
I
never
did
see
such
eyes
a
Michael
's
,
nor
such
hair
neither
.
"
"
And
there
he
goes
,
I
'll
bet
a
sovereign
,
"
rejoined
the
overlooker
,
"
to
take
a
look
at
his
old
quarters
at
the
Lodge
.
Kitty
,
I
'll
give
you
a
glass
of
gin
and
a
shilling
,
if
you
'll
run
after
him
—
you
can
run
like
a
hare
,
I
know
—
run
and
bring
him
back
,
Kitty
,
there
's
a
darling
,
and
say
as
I
have
got
some
good
news
to
tell
him
.
"
Off
started
the
girl
with
right
good-will
,
having
her
own
reasons
for
wishing
to
do
the
errand
,
as
well
as
a
very
sufficient
inclination
to
gain
the
promised
reward
.
Mr.
Parsons
by
no
means
over-rated
her
running
powers
;
and
had
she
been
less
fleet
,
she
would
have
failed
in
her
object
,
for
Michael
walked
briskly
,
and
without
any
inclination
to
remain
longer
in
the
vicinity
of
the
mill
,
though
by
no
means
conscious
that
he
had
been
recognised
.
He
had
just
turned
the
corner
of
a
hedge
when
the
girl
overtook
him
,
so
that
their
colloquy
did
not
take
place
within
sight
of
the
overlooker
.
Michael
heard
the
fair
Kitty
's
approach
,
and
turned
to
see
who
it
was
that
thus
came
galloping
and
panting
after
him
.
"
Do
you
want
me
,
young
woman
?
"
said
he
,
civilly
stopping
for
her
.
"
Well
then
,
you
are
no
changeling
!
"
replied
the
girl
,
laying
her
hand
on
his
arm
;
"
you
were
always
out-and-out
,
the
civilest
boy
in
the
mill
.
"
A
very
bright
suffusion
dyed
the
clear
brown
of
Michael
's
cheek
as
he
heard
this
.
"
I
do
not
know
what
you
mean
!
"
he
replied
.
"
Come
,
come
,
Michael
Armstrong
,
"
rejoined
Kitty
,
"
you
need
n't
be
afraid
of
me
.
Do
n't
you
remember
Kitty
Sykes
,
as
have
gone
to
and
from
the
mill
with
you
and
Teddy
,
a
hundred
and
a
hundred
times
?
"
"
Is
it
indeed
Kitty
Sykes
,
grown
into
such
a
handsome
young
woman
?
"
said
Michael
,
holding
out
his
hand
to
her
,
and
feeling
quite
incapable
of
preserving
his
incognito
,
in
the
presence
of
so
old
an
acquaintance
.
"
And
to
think
of
your
knowing
me
,
Kitty
!
But
you
must
not
betray
me
,
my
dear
girl
.
If
I
was
found
out
for
Michael
Armstrong
,
I
might
get
into
a
scrape
.
"
"
And
that
's
true
,
and
no
lie
,
"
answered
the
faithless
ambassadress
,
"
for
I
am
sent
after
you
by
that
old
beast
Parsons
,
to
tell
you
to
come
back
,
because
he
had
good
news
for
you
.
But
his
news
would
just
be
to
give
you
notice
to
march
into
prison
for
having
run
away
;
and
I
agreed
to
carry
his
message
for
him
.
He
thinks
that
I
delight
in
him
,
the
old
monster
!
but
I
'd
rather
walk
a
mile
to
do
a
kindness
to
you
Michael
,
than
stir
an
inch
,
to
please
him
.
"
"
God
bless
you
,
my
dear
girl
!
I
hope
you
have
done
me
a
great
service
now
;
for
I
think
I
could
show
him
leg
bail
,
that
he
would
find
it
difficult
to
refuse
,
Kitty
.
So
now
good
by
,
old
friend
;
I
am
sorry
to
part
so
soon
,
but
it
wo
n't
do
to
stay
here
to
be
caught
,
will
it
?
"
"
No
,
truly
,
Mike
!
I
'd
be
loath
to
see
any
friend
of
mine
at
his
mercy
,
or
at
that
of
his
master
either
.
But
you
wo
n't
go
clear
away
out
of
the
country
without
seeing
me
again
,
will
you
?
You
need
n't
be
feared
of
him
,
'
twill
be
easy
enough
to
put
him
off
the
scent
.
I
'll
back
,
and
tell
that
we
was
both
of
us
altogether
deceived
,
and
that
you
bea
n't
no
more
Michael
Armstrong
than
he
be
.
"
"
I
do
n't
think
I
ought
to
stay
in
Ashleigh
now
,
Kitty
;
there
's
others
may
know
me
as
well
as
you
and
he
,
and
'
twould
be
a
terrible
change
,
I
can
tell
you
,
my
dear
girl
,
to
come
down
from
the
hills
where
I
am
tending
a
good
master
's
sheep
,
and
often
feel
so
high
and
so
happy
,
that
I
think
I
am
halfway
to
heaven
—
it
would
be
a
terrible
change
,
Kitty
,
to
come
from
that
,
into
the
Deep
Valley
Mill
again
,
which
is
as
much
worse
than
our
old
factory
here
,
as
hanging
is
worse
than
whipping
!
"
"
Lord
have
mercy
upon
'
em
,
then
!
"
ejaculated
the
poor
girl
.
"
But
I
say
,
Michael
,
you
need
n't
run
no
risk
at
all
,
if
I
go
back
and
say
as
it
is
n't
you
,
and
then
you
might
meet
me
after
nightfall
,
in
the
town
.
"
"
It
will
not
be
very
long
,
Kitty
,
before
I
am
one-and-twenty
,
and
a
free
man
,
and
it
's
then
,
please
Heaven
,
that
I
'll
come
back
again
,
and
pay
the
old
place
a
visit
.
You
have
been
kind
enough
to
remember
me
so
long
,
that
I
do
n't
think
you
'll
have
forgotten
me
by
that
time
,
and
it
shall
go
hard
with
me
but
I
'll
bring
you
a
token
from
some
of
our
north-country
fairs
.
"
So
saying
,
he
gave
the
damsel
a
kiss
,
and
she
wrung
his
hand
without
making
any
further
effort
to
detain
him
.
"
God
bless
you
!
"
said
the
retreating
Michael
,
over
his
shoulder
.
"
And
God
bless
you
,
too
,
you
nice
boy
!
muttered
poor
Kitty
.
"
I
would
n't
ask
no
better
luck
,
than
just
to
follow
you
,
and
keep
sheep
too
.
"
Either
from
wishing
to
look
after
him
as
ong
as
he
was
in
sight
,
or
for
the
purpose
of
giving
him
law
,
in
case
Mr.
Parsons
should
determine
on
pursuit
,
Kitty
Sykes
remained
stationary
on
the
spot
where
Michael
left
her
,
till
,
abandoning
his
hardy
project
of
a
visit
to
Dowling
Lodge
,
he
had
stretched
far
away
over
the
fields
towards
the
road
he
was
to
pursue
northwards
to
his
peaceful
home
;
and
then
she
walked
leisurely
back
to
the
factory
,
where
,
after
a
sharp
reproof
for
staying
so
long
,
and
a
pert
reply
to
it
,
she
informed
the
overlooker
that
they
had
both
been
wrong
,
but
that
the
young
lad
said
he
might
be
found
if
he
was
wanted
,
at
the
sign
of
the
Magpie
,
that
was
about
a
mile
on
the
road
towards
London
.
Warned
by
this
unexpected
recognition
,
Michael
determined
to
run
no
more
risks
among
his
townfolks
;
but
not
being
disposed
to
lose
the
little
bundle
he
had
deposited
at
the
Nag
's
Head
,
he
ensconced
himself
within
the
shelter
of
a
small
public-house
,
on
the
road-side
,
resolved
to
wait
there
till
the
evening
set
in
,
and
then
to
venture
back
to
his
last
night
's
lodging
,
pay
his
bill
,
reclaim
his
bundle
,
and
set
forth
upon
a
night-march
,
which
he
hoped
would
take
him
beyond
all
danger
of
Mr.
Parsons
,
before
the
following
morning
.
Having
secured
his
welcome
by
the
usual
ceremony
of
ordering
a
meal
,
Michael
looked
about
him
for
some
means
of
occupation
during
the
hours
which
he
had
doomed
himself
to
pass
there
,
and
in
despair
of
finding
any
better
literary
amusement
,
seized
upon
a
heap
of
handbills
,
of
a
vast
variety
of
external
forms
,
but
having
,
as
he
found
upon
examination
,
one
and
all
the
same
object
,
namely
,
the
calling
together
a
general
meeting
of
the
whole
county
of
York
(
then
undivided
)
,
for
the
purpose
of
signing
a
petition
to
parliament
for
a
law
,
limiting
the
hours
of
labour
in
factories
to
ten
hours
a
day
.
Michael
Armstrong
was
no
longer
a
factory
operative
;
free
as
the
air
he
breathed
upon
his
beloved
mountain-tops
,
he
no
longer
trembled
at
the
omnipotent
frown
of
an
overlooker
,
nor
sickened
as
he
watched
the
rising
sun
that
was
to
set
again
long
hours
before
his
stifling
labour
ceased
.
All
this
was
over
and
ended
with
him
for
ever
.
Yet
did
his
heart
throb
,
and
his
eye
kindle
as
he
perused
page
after
page
of
the
arousing
call
which
summoned
tens
of
thousands
,
nay
hundreds
of
thousands
to
use
the
right
their
country
vested
in
them
,
of
imploring
mercy
and
justice
from
the
august
tripartite
power
that
ruled
the
land
.
Very
powerful
was
the
male
and
simple
eloquence
with
which
many
of
these
unpretending
compositions
appealed
to
the
paternal
feelings
of
those
they
addressed
;
and
such
terribly
true
representations
were
found
among
them
of
the
well-remembered
agonies
of
his
boyhood
,
that
Michael
was
fain
to
put
his
spread
hand
before
his
face
to
conceal
the
emotions
they
produced
.
He
had
sat
in
this
situation
for
some
minutes
,
revolving
both
his
former
sufferings
,
and
the
blessedness
of
his
present
release
from
them
,
when
a
man
,
who
had
been
quietly
sitting
writing
at
a
distant
window
,
but
had
nevertheless
found
leisure
to
watch
Michael
's
countenance
as
he
proceeded
with
his
examination
of
the
handbills
,
rose
from
his
place
,
and
gently
approaching
him
said
,
in
deep
,
yet
very
gentle
voice
,
"
You
seem
moved
by
the
perusal
of
these
papers
,
my
good
friend
.
Is
it
the
first
time
you
have
met
with
them
?
"
"
Yes
,
indeed
,
sir
,
it
is
,
"
replied
Michael
,
starting
from
his
revery
.
"
Then
I
presume
you
are
a
stranger
in
this
part
of
the
country
?
"
"
Why
,
yes
,
sir
;
the
master
I
serve
is
a
Westmorland
statesman
,
and
I
am
only
come
this
way
upon
a
holiday
trip
.
"
"
Then
maybe
you
do
n't
care
enough
for
the
poor
factory
operatives
to
join
their
meeting
,
and
put
your
name
to
their
petition
?
"
"
If
caring
for
them
could
do
them
any
good
,
master
,
"
replied
Michael
,
warmly
,
"
they
would
be
in
no
want
of
help
,
as
long
as
I
was
near
them
.
But
I
do
n't
think
the
name
of
a
poor
servant-boy
like
me
,
could
do
them
either
honour
or
service
.
"
"
Then
what
sort
of
names
,
my
good
lad
,
do
you
suppose
will
support
this
petition
.
Do
you
think
the
great
mill-owners
will
sign
it
?
—
Do
you
think
such
men
as
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
for
instance
,
whom
you
may
have
heard
spoken
of
,
down
at
Ashleigh
,
maybe
,
do
you
think
it
will
be
such
as
he
,
whose
first
object
in
life
is
to
get
as
many
hours
of
labour
out
of
the
little
creatures
that
work
for
him
,
as
stripes
can
make
them
give
,
do
you
think
it
will
be
such
as
he
,
that
will
sign
the
ten
hours
bill
?
"
"
Not
if
that
bill
is
either
to
hurt
himself
,
or
better
the
children
,
I
should
think
,
"
said
Michael
.
"
True
enough
,
"
replied
his
new
acquaintance
,
"
and
not
only
is
that
true
,
but
he
and
the
like
of
him
will
do
all
that
mortal
men
can
,
to
prevent
all
others
from
signing
it
.
But
Heaven
forbid
they
should
succeed
,
young
man
—
for
if
they
do
,
the
best
hope
of
many
thousand
suffering
,
and
most
helpless
human
beings
,
will
fall
to
the
ground
!
"
"
Then
,
indeed
,
may
Heaven
forbid
that
they
should
have
their
will
!
"
returned
Michael
,
fervently
.
"
When
is
this
meeting
to
take
place
?
"
he
added
,
turning
his
eyes
again
to
the
papers
he
still
held
in
his
hand
.
"
But
three
days
hence
!
—
truly
I
should
like
to
witness
it
!
"
"
Is
there
any
reason
against
your
doing
it
?
"
demanded
the
stranger
.
"
Will
your
services
be
wanted
by
your
master
before
that
time
?
"
"
He
wo
n't
expect
me
,
till
two
or
three
days
after
it
,
"
replied
Michael
;
"
I
have
done
all
I
wanted
—
at
least
I
have
stayed
as
long
as
I
wished
at
Ashleigh
,
and
I
do
n't
see
any
great
harm
there
would
be
in
witnessing
the
meeting
.
"
"
Do
see
it
,
my
good
lad
!
"
said
the
stranger
;
"
I
predict
that
it
will
offer
a
spectacle
such
as
never
was
witnessed
before
,
and
most
likely
never
will
,
or
can
be
seen
,
again
.
A
multitude
,
probably
amounting
to
above
a
hundred
thousand
overworked
operatives
,
will
meet
in
peace
and
good
order
,
to
petition
for
legal
relief
from
the
oppression
of
a
system
which
has
brought
them
to
a
lower
state
of
degradation
and
misery
than
any
to
which
human
beings
have
ever
been
brought
before
.
Were
those
in
whom
these
poor
people
have
confidence
,
less
deeply
anxious
to
preserve
the
public
peace
than
they
are
,
a
different
mode
of
redress
might
be
sought
for
.
But
as
it
is
,
an
honest
man
may
venture
to
advise
such
a
respectable
young
fellow
as
you
seem
to
be
,
to
stretch
your
good
master
's
leave
a
little
,
in
order
to
be
present
at
this
great
spectacle
.
"
A
good
deal
more
conversation
followed
on
the
same
theme
,
and
ere
Michael
had
ceased
to
listen
to
his
companion
,
he
felt
convinced
that
duty
as
well
as
inclination
would
lead
him
to
do
all
that
a
loyal
subject
and
peaceable
citizen
could
,
in
aid
of
the
suffering
class
from
whose
ranks
he
had
so
miraculously
escaped
.
In
a
word
,
Michael
Armstrong
determined
to
attend
the
great
Yorkshire
meeting
,
and
hold
up
his
hand
for
the
ten
hours
bill
.
The
extraordinary
circumstances
attending
that
enormous
meeting
;
the
unaccountable
disappointments
which
at
every
halting-place
attended
all
the
precautionary
efforts
of
the
committee
to
procure
bread
for
the
multitude
,
while
beer
was
every
where
found
ready
,
and
in
the
greatest
abundance
;
the
terror
felt
by
those
most
interested
,
lest
heat
,
fatigue
,
exhaustion
,
and
beer
,
together
,
might
lead
to
some
disturbance
of
the
peace
;
and
the
triumphant
influence
of
reason
and
kindness
joined
,
in
inducing
the
hungry
multitude
to
separate
peaceably
,
are
already
matters
of
history
,
and
the
narrative
must
therefore
adhere
to
the
fortunes
of
its
hero
,
without
dwelling
upon
nobler
themes
.
In
returning
to
Ashleigh
for
his
bundle
,
Michael
took
good
care
to
be
as
little
seen
as
possible
;
he
was
in
fact
more
than
ever
anxious
to
avoid
detection
,
as
the
more
he
meditated
on
his
recollections
of
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
and
Parsons
,
the
more
did
he
feel
convinced
that
should
he
fall
into
their
power
before
the
age
of
twenty-one
,
matters
would
go
very
hard
with
him
.
At
the
great
assembling
of
the
people
at
York
,
he
feared
not
that
he
should
encounter
any
enemy
;
the
only
human
beings
whom
he
could
so
designate
being
likely
to
show
themselves
at
the
most
distant
part
of
the
kingdom
,
rather
than
before
the
face
of
the
multitude
to
be
expected
there
.
No
feelings
of
distrust
or
alarm
,
therefore
,
arose
to
check
the
pleasurable
excitement
which
this
expedition
was
calculated
to
inspire
;
and
Michael
,
with
his
stout
staff
over
his
shoulder
,
and
the
cotton
handkerchief
,
containing
a
change
of
linen
,
suspended
from
it
,
set
out
with
a
light
heart
and
active
step
upon
a
walk
in
which
he
soon
found
himself
joined
by
many
thousand
companions
.
The
assurance
given
him
by
his
unknown
acquaintance
,
that
he
should
see
a
wonderful
and
spirit-stirring
spectacle
,
was
fully
verified
.
The
very
sight
of
the
road
along
which
he
travelled
,
which
looked
like
a
dark
and
mighty
current
moving
irresistibly
along
,
while
tributary
streams
flowed
into
it
on
all
sides
,
so
thick
and
serried
was
the
mass
that
moved
along
it
,
was
of
itself
well
worth
the
toil
it
cost
him
,
to
behold
its
peaceful
tumult
.
From
time
to
time
Michael
indulged
in
a
little
questioning
of
the
various
individuals
beside
whom
he
found
himself
;
but
for
the
most
part
the
men
were
too
intent
upon
the
object
of
their
expedition
,
to
converse
idly
respecting
it
—
and
by
degrees
our
hero
grew
as
silent
as
the
rest
,
and
trudged
on
without
any
other
communion
than
that
of
his
own
thoughts
.
It
was
at
about
twenty
miles
distance
from
York
,
when
the
multitude
were
on
their
return
,
that
a
circumstance
occurred
,
which
,
being
of
considerable
importance
to
Michael
,
must
be
detailed
somewhat
at
length
.
He
had
entered
an
inn
by
the
road-side
,
which
,
being
one
of
the
largest
post-houses
on
the
north
road
,
had
an
air
of
pretension
and
costliness
about
it
,
that
caused
the
great
majority
of
the
host
to
walk
on
,
without
venturing
to
approach
precincts
so
dangerous
.
But
Michael
was
much
exhausted
,
and
having
already
discovered
,
when
passing
before
the
humbler
houses
of
public
entertainment
,
that
no
rest
could
be
hoped
from
entering
them
,
every
inch
of
space
being
occupied
,
he
deemed
it
wisest
to
disburse
a
splendid
shilling
,
rather
than
fag
on
till
he
had
no
strength
to
go
further
.
In
pursuance
of
this
reasoning
,
he
entered
the
kitchen
of
the
Royal
Oak
,
and
called
for
bread
,
cheese
,
and
a
pint
of
beer
.
Though
there
were
not
many
of
his
fellow-travellers
either
rich
or
extravagant
enough
to
share
these
splendid
quarters
with
him
,
there
were
,
nevertheless
,
three
or
four
men
taking
refreshment
in
the
apartment
.
One
of
these
,
an
elderly
respectable-looking
personage
,
who
had
,
as
it
seemed
,
exclusive
possession
of
a
snug
little
round-table
in
a
corner
,
made
a
sign
to
Michael
to
share
it
with
him
.
This
was
gratefully
accepted
,
the
loaf
and
cheese
were
already
there
,
and
the
foaming
tankard
quickly
followed
.
"
I
marked
you
at
the
meeting
,
"
said
his
sociable
companion
.
"
It
did
my
heart
good
to
see
a
sprinkling
here
and
there
of
them
that
come
out
of
pure
love
and
kindness
to
their
poor
fellow-creatures
,
having
nothing
themselves
to
gain
.
'
Tis
a
pity
and
a
sin
too
,
that
so
many
Englishmen
stand
idly
by
,
when
such
a
business
as
this
is
afoot
,
just
as
if
they
had
nothing
to
do
with
it
.
But
they
are
one
and
all
mistaken
,
and
that
they
may
chance
to
find
out
,
too
,
one
of
these
days
.
"
"
You
give
me
credit
for
more
than
I
deserve
,
perhaps
,
"
replied
Michael
;
"
that
is
,
if
you
think
my
heart
was
enough
with
the
poor
factory-folks
to
make
me
take
a
long
roundabout
to
sign
with
them
,
without
having
had
some
knowledge
of
their
sufferings
myself
.
You
are
right
in
thinking
that
I
am
not
one
of
them
now
;
but
I
have
been
,
and
Heaven
forbid
I
should
ever
forget
it
!
for
the
keeping
that
time
mind
,
is
quite
enough
to
make
every
thing
that
comes
to
me
now
seem
light
and
easy
.
"
"
You
have
worked
in
a
factory
?
"
said
the
other
in
an
accent
of
surprise
;
"
I
should
never
have
guessed
as
much
—
but
you
are
very
right
to
be
thankful
for
the
present
,
instead
of
ashamed
for
the
past
.
But
I
do
n't
think
,
"
he
added
,
eyeing
the
fine
person
of
Michael
from
head
to
foot
,
"
I
do
n't
think
I
ever
saw
a
lad
who
showed
so
little
signs
of
having
suffered
in
health
and
limb
from
it
.
Some
lucky
accident
must
have
taken
you
away
early
?
"
"
I
have
seen
many
a
boy
and
girl
crippled
for
life
,
"
replied
Michael
,
"
before
they
were
as
old
as
I
was
when
I
ran
away
.
"
"
My
good
fellow
,
"
whispered
his
companion
,
"
do
n't
you
use
them
words
again
.
You
are
safe
with
me
,
I
promise
you
;
but
if
you
ran
from
indentures
,
you
wo
n't
do
wisely
to
tell
of
it
.
"
"
You
must
blame
your
own
kind
and
friendly
looks
,
"
said
Michael
,
smiling
;
"
I
know
well
enough
that
what
you
say
is
true
,
and
it
is
n't
a
thing
I
should
have
told
to
many
.
But
excepting
just
now
that
I
took
a
fancy
to
come
back
,
and
take
a
look
about
the
old
place
where
I
was
born
,
I
have
got
so
clear
and
clean
away
from
mills
and
mill-owners
,
that
I
have
grown
rather
bolder
,
maybe
,
than
I
ought
to
be
.
My
business
now
,
thank
Heaven
!
is
sheep-tending
upon
the
beautiful
free
hills
of
Westmorland
.
"
"
You
may
well
be
thankful
for
such
a
change
,
"
replied
his
friendly
companion
.
"
It
must
have
been
some
unaccountable
good
luck
;
for
in
general
,
a
runaway
factory
'
prentice
is
hunted
down
and
caught
long
before
he
has
got
among
the
good
hill-folks
.
"
"
It
was
,
indeed
,
a
blessed
chance
for
me
!
"
said
Michael
,
with
deep
feeling
.
"
I
fell
into
the
hands
of
the
best
man
and
the
best
master
that
ever
a
wretched
runaway
hit
upon
.
"
"
I
almost
wonder
at
you
then
venturing
to
come
within
sight
of
your
own
place
again
.
You
ca
n't
be
one-and-twenty
yet
by
your
looks
,
and
you
would
not
over-well
like
to
work
out
your
time
in
a
factory
,
I
should
think
,
"
said
the
other
.
"
I
do
n't
think
I
should
,
"
replied
Michael
,
laughing
;
"
and
I
have
run
some
risk
,
I
promise
you
,
already
,
of
the
very
thing
you
talk
of
,
since
I
left
my
master
's
house
.
Nothing
would
content
my
foolish
fancy
for
calling
back
old
times
,
but
going
to
look
at
the
very
factory
where
I
first
worked
,
and
talking
to
the
identical
tyrant
who
tortured
me
there
.
"
"
But
he
did
not
know
you
,
I
hope
?
"
said
the
old
man
.
"
I
can
hardly
say
that
he
did
not
,
"
replied
Michael
;
"
for
some
notion
or
other
came
into
his
head
,
and
after
I
left
him
he
sent
for
me
to
come
back
again
.
It
was
,
however
,
by
a
friendly
messenger
who
knew
well
enough
who
I
was
,
and
gave
me
pretty
plainly
to
understand
which
way
I
had
better
walk
—
and
that
was
good
luck
again
.
But
I
was
sorry
,
too
,
to
have
to
turn
away
from
the
old
place
without
learning
any
news
of
my
former
acquaintance
.
I
found
the
same
overlooker
at
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
's
mill
,
and
that
was
all
I
could
find
out
.
"
"
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
's
mill
at
Ashleigh
?
that
's
my
country
,
too
.
My
wife
keeps
a
school
at
Milford
,
"
replied
the
man
,
"
and
we
have
heard
enough
of
Sir
Matthew
.
"
"
Can
you
tell
me
any
thing
about
his
daughter
Martha
?
"
demanded
Michael
,
with
the
appearance
of
being
greatly
interested
in
the
inquiry
.
"
She
was
very
kind
to
me
,
and
I
loved
her
next
best
,
I
think
,
to
my
own
dear
mother
and
brother
.
Do
you
happen
to
know
any
thing
about
her
?
"
"
Not
just
at
present
,
"
replied
the
man
;
"
though
they
do
say
,
that
all
the
family
are
likely
to
have
a
downfal
,
owing
to
Sir
Matthew
's
getting
into
a
scrape
about
bad
bills
,
or
something
or
other
,
t'other
side
of
the
water
.
But
I
do
well
remember
something
particular
about
Miss
Martha
that
you
talk
of
,
a
matter
of
seven
years
ago
;
and
if
she
was
good
to
you
,
it
was
more
than
she
was
to
every
body
,
for
it
was
all
along
of
a
cruel
piece
of
treachery
of
hers
,
that
I
lost
the
best
mistress
that
ever
man
had
.
I
dare
say
,
if
you
come
from
Ashleigh
,
you
must
know
the
name
of
Miss
Brotherton
,
though
it
's
long
since
she
left
Milford
.
I
was
her
coachman
,
and
if
it
had
not
been
for
Miss
Martha
Dowling
,
I
believe
I
might
have
been
so
still
.
"
"
I
was
but
just
turned
ten
years
old
,
at
the
time
I
knew
Miss
Martha
,
"
returned
Michael
;
"
but
I
should
n't
have
thought
she
could
be
treacherous
to
any
body
.
"
"
She
was
though
,
for
all
our
people
knew
the
whole
story
from
first
to
last
,
and
a
queer
story
it
was
too
,
when
one
thinks
of
the
end
of
it
;
which
was
neither
more
nor
less
than
sending
our
dear
young
lady
away
out
of
the
country
.
"
"
I
never
happened
to
know
any
thing
about
the
lady
