Iknow
myself
better
,
nurse
Tremlett
.
I
turned
sick
and
giddy
,
I
confess
,
on
entering
that
first
room
,
but
it
is
my
friend
,
Mr.
Bell
,
who
has
to
answer
for
it
.
The
impressions
received
at
that
moment
by
my
senses
served
as
a
specimen
of
all
the
horrors
he
had
described
to
me
.
The
account
I
had
heard
enabled
me
at
a
glance
to
comprehend
the
scene
before
me
,
while
that
scene
itself
acted
back
again
,
as
it
were
,
upon
my
memory
,
making
me
understand
,
a
thousand
times
more
clearly
than
before
,
all
the
frightful
details
he
had
given
me
.
The
effect
of
this
was
overpowering
,
but
it
cannot
return
upon
me
again
in
the
same
manner
;
I
am
already
hardened
.
Think
therefore
no
more
of
me
,
dear
friend
,
but
let
us
cogitate
together
upon
the
likeliest
way
of
turning
all
such
visits
to
account
.
"
This
cogitation
led
them
both
to
the
conclusion
that
it
might
,
for
the
sake
of
appearances
,
be
as
well
to
take
the
landlord
's
recommendation
to
another
of
the
establishments
,
usually
pointed
out
to
the
attention
of
strangers
,
and
then
to
consult
the
ivory
tablets
,
and
venture
upon
a
visit
to
the
only
one
near
—
named
therein
,
as
notorious
for
the
reception
of
apprentices
.
In
pursuance
of
this
plan
,
the
waiter
was
again
interrogated
when
he
attended
the
ladies
at
their
luncheon
,
and
again
he
brought
a
written
address
from
his
master
,
accompanied
by
a
message
intimating
that
the
following
morning
being
Sunday
,
the
ladies
might
have
the
advantage
of
visiting
the
Sunday-school
attached
to
the
factory
,
for
which
he
had
given
the
address
,
to
a
sight
of
which
they
would
be
admitted
without
difficulty
,
if
they
would
make
known
their
wishes
for
such
admission
to
the
person
who
would
show
them
the
factory
.
"
There
is
a
Sunday-school
attached
to
the
establishment
?
"
said
Mary
in
an
accent
of
great
satisfaction
.
"
Yes
,
miss
,
"
replied
the
man
,
"
Messrs.
Robert
and
Joseph
Tomlins
,
the
serious
gentlemen
as
owns
the
factory
,
has
built
a
school-room
altogether
at
their
own
expense
,
and
attends
their
ownselves
in
person
every
Sunday
morning
to
see
that
both
master
and
children
puts
the
time
to
profit
.
Their
factory
is
about
a
mile
or
so
out
of
the
town
,
but
master
says
as
he
can
let
you
have
a
carriage
very
reasonable
.
"
"
I
should
wish
to
go
there
by
all
means
,
"
replied
Mary
,
"
desire
the
carriage
may
be
got
ready
for
us
directly
.
"
The
man
left
the
room
to
obey
her
.
"
Thank
Heaven
!
"
exclaimed
Mary
,
as
the
door
closed
behind
him
,
"
there
is
,
then
,
some
Christian
feeling
still
left
among
them
here
,
as
well
as
at
Bradford
.
We
shall
not
here
,
at
least
,
be
shocked
by
witnessing
such
degrading
ignorance
as
that
of
the
poor
Drakes
.
—
They
are
treated
like
Christian
children
,
at
any
rate
.
"
"
Most
surely
it
is
a
pleasure
to
hear
of
it
,
my
dear
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
"
and
it
is
quite
as
well
,
Mary
,
that
we
have
got
to
ride
to
it
—
at
least
if
you
feel
like
me
,
my
dear
.
"
Less
than
half
an
hour
's
drive
brought
the
travellers
to
a
large
factory
,
which
,
whatever
it
might
be
within
,
was
on
the
outside
,
though
in
itself
as
grim
as
coal-smoke
could
make
it
,
surrounded
by
a
fine
expanse
of
rural
scenery
.
In
answer
to
their
application
at
the
gates
they
were
civilly
desired
to
walk
in
,
and
presently
found
that
the
routine
of
exhibition
was
precisely
similar
to
that
of
the
morning
.
It
struck
them
both
,
however
,
that
if
possible
,
the
children
looked
more
worn
and
weary
,
more
miserably
lean
,
and
more
frightfully
pallid
,
than
those
they
had
seen
before
;
nevertheless
Mary
failed
not
,
when
taking
leave
of
their
conductor
,
to
request
permission
to
attend
the
Sunday-school
on
the
morrow
.
"
Certainly
!
"
was
the
reply
,
pronounced
in
a
tone
as
clearly
announcing
the
speaker
's
connexion
with
the
party
self-styled
evangelical
,
as
the
broadest
Irish
brogue
does
the
birthright
of
the
speaker
to
call
himself
a
son
of
the
Emerald
Isle
.
"
Certainly
!
the
Lord
forbid
that
Christian
women
should
ask
to
be
present
at
the
doings
of
the
godly
and
be
refused
!
"
On
inquiring
the
hour
at
which
they
should
be
there
,
the
man
replied
,
"
As
the
clock
in
the
tower
of
the
Lord
's
house
strikes
seven
,
Mr.
Joseph
Tomlins
,
by
the
blessing
of
God
,
will
begin
to
speak
the
exhortation
.
The
prayer
will
follow
from
the
lips
of
Mr.
Robert
,
and
then
the
schooling
will
begin
.
"
"
We
must
be
here
,
then
,
exactly
at
seven
?
"
said
Mary
.
"
Ten
minutes
earlier
,
would
be
more
decent
time
,
"
replied
the
man
,
with
a
gravity
of
aspect
that
approached
a
frown
,
"
our
gentlemen
are
very
strict
as
to
their
hours
in
all
things
.
"
They
civilly
promised
to
be
very
punctual
,
and
departed
.
The
factory
was
built
on
the
side
of
a
hill
,
so
steep
,
that
the
back
part
of
it
,
to
which
the
shed
used
as
a
school-room
was
attached
,
could
not
be
safely
approached
by
a
carriage
;
Miss
Brotherton
,
therefore
,
and
her
old
friend
,
on
arriving
at
the
bottom
of
the
hill
on
the
following
morning
,
got
out
,
and
,
desiring
the
vehicle
to
await
their
return
,
proceeded
on
foot
by
the
path
pointed
out
to
them
as
"
the
way
to
Master
Tomlin
's
school
.
"
The
ladies
were
more
than
punctual
,
for
it
still
wanted
a
quarter
to
seven
,
they
therefore
seated
themselves
on
a
fallen
tree
by
the
road-side
,
and
watched
the
arrival
of
one
or
two
miserable-looking
children
who
were
laggingly
approaching
the
spot
.
"
You
look
half
asleep
my
poor
child
!
"
said
Mary
,
laying
her
hand
on
the
shoulder
of
a
little
girl
,
who
ragged
,
pale
,
half-washed
,
and
with
eyes
half-closed
,
was
being
dragged
onward
by
an
older
child
,
a
boy
,
apparently
about
ten
years
old
.
"
She
be
so
hard
asleep
by
times
,
"
said
the
boy
,
"
that
I
ca
n't
get
her
on
.
"
"
But
why
is
that
,
my
dear
?
surely
seven
o'clock
is
not
so
very
early
!
"
said
Mary
.
"
We
were
all
to
the
mill
till
five
minutes
afore
twelve
,
"
said
the
boy
,
making
another
effort
to
pull
his
sister
onward
.
"
How
!
—
do
you
mean
to
tell
me
that
you
were
working
at
midnight
?
"
demanded
Mary
.
"
Five
minutes
afore
twelve
we
stopped
—
'
cause
it
was
Sunday
,
"
replied
the
boy
.
"
Come
along
Peggy
!
"
he
added
with
another
stout
tug
,
"
I
shall
catch
it
to-morrow
from
the
looker
if
I'se
too
late
for
the
'
sortation
.
"
The
little
girl
who
had
fallen
fairly
asleep
,
during
this
short
delay
,
being
thus
roused
again
,
stumbled
onwards
,
leaving
Mrs.
Tremlett
and
Mary
alike
undeceived
as
to
the
humanity
of
instituting
a
school
to
be
carried
on
under
such
regulations
.
They
determined
,
however
,
to
witness
with
their
own
eyes
the
operation
of
teaching
children
to
read
,
who
were
fast
asleep
,
and
walking
on
came
within
sight
of
the
school-room
door
just
as
Mr.
Joseph
Tomlins
showed
himself
on
the
step
before
it
,
with
his
watch
in
one
hand
and
a
bible
in
the
other
.
"
Wicked
and
ungrateful
children
!
"
he
began
,
"
Is
this
the
way
you
obey
your
earthly
master
,
who
leaves
his
comfortable
bed
,
and
his
breakfast
untouched
,
to
lead
you
to
the
feet
of
your
heavenly
one
!
Wicked
,
idle
,
and
ungrateful
—
"
But
at
this
moment
Miss
Brotherton
and
Mrs.
Tremlett
appeared
in
sight
,
and
in
a
voice
suddenly
changed
from
reprobation
into
drawling
softness
,
he
went
on
,
"
Come
unto
Him
little
children
—
I
forbid
you
not
,
but
urge
you
with
tender
Christian
love
,
early
and
late
,
late
and
early
,
to
hear
His
word
,
and
sing
His
praise
.
"
Here
he
stopped
,
and
bowing
to
the
ladies
offered
to
lead
them
to
a
place
where
they
might
be
well
accommodated
for
the
exhortation
and
and
prayer
,
and
for
hearing
the
children
also
,
if
they
wished
it
.
As
soon
as
they
had
entered
the
sort
of
pew
to
which
Mr.
Tomlins
led
them
,
the
twenty
or
thirty
miserable-looking
children
who
were
assembled
in
the
room
were
called
upon
by
a
loud
word
of
command
to
"
Kneel
!
"
and
down
they
tumbled
,
the
elder
ones
in
several
instances
taking
the
little
creatures
already
asleep
beside
them
,
and
placing
them
on
the
floor
as
nearly
as
they
could
in
the
attitude
commanded
.
The
sonorous
voice
of
Mr.
Joseph
Tomlins
was
then
heard
pronouncing
an
exhortation
,
intended
to
show
that
obedience
to
their
earthly
masters
was
the
only
way
of
saving
children
from
the
eternal
burning
,
prepared
for
those
who
were
disobedient
,
in
the
world
to
come
.
Mary
,
as
she
looked
earnestly
round
upon
every
child
present
,
greatly
doubted
if
there
was
one
sufficiently
awake
to
listen
to
this
;
and
in
her
heart
she
blessed
the
heaviness
which
saved
them
from
hearing
the
mercy
of
their
Maker
blasphemed
.
A
prayer
followed
this
exhortation
,
as
little
like
what
a
prayer
ought
to
be
,
as
was
the
preparation
of
the
little
congregation
who
listened
to
it
for
bearing
part
in
a
religious
ceremony
.
Still
Mary
Brotherton
waited
to
the
end
,
nor
left
her
station
till
the
nominal
business
of
instruction
had
proceeded
sufficiently
to
convince
her
that
poor
Sophy
Drake
's
account
was
strictly
true
when
she
said
"
keeping
our
eyes
open
Sundays
was
n't
possible
,
'
cause
they
did
n't
strap
us
.
"
The
children
were
not
strapped
,
and
consequently
they
were
,
with
very
few
exceptions
,
literally
fast
asleep
during
the
hour
and
half
that
this
ostentatious
form
of
instruction
was
going
on
.
Unwilling
to
attract
more
notice
than
was
necessary
,
Miss
Brotherton
and
her
companion
remained
till
the
drowsy
tribe
were
roused
,
awakened
,
and
dismissed
by
the
loud
voice
of
Mr.
Joseph
Tomlins
,
and
then
they
also
slipped
away
,
regained
the
carriage
that
waited
for
them
,
and
returned
to
—
.
"
Now
then
,
"
said
Mary
,
as
their
one
horse
dragged
them
deliberately
along
,
"
now
then
,
dear
Tremlett
,
our
search
must
really
begin
.
As
soon
as
we
have
breakfasted
we
will
set
off
in
this
same
equipage
for
—
Mill
,
that
being
the
first
on
my
list
where
apprentices
are
taken
,
and
,
moreover
,
within
a
morning
's
drive
of
—
.
"
"
And
how
shall
you
endeavour
to
gain
admittance
my
dear
?
"
demanded
her
friend
.
"
As
we
did
yesterday
—
merely
stating
that
we
are
strangers
,
travelling
,
who
are
desirous
of
seeing
the
factories
,
"
replied
Mary
.
"
But
you
do
n't
expect
to
get
in
,
my
dear
,
do
you
?
—
after
all
Mr.
Bell
told
you
about
apprentices
!
"
exclaimed
Mrs.
Tremlett
.
"
Probably
not
,
"
was
the
answer
,
"
and
in
that
case
,
my
dear
woman
,
you
know
what
is
to
happen
.
"
"
You
are
really
in
earnest
then
,
Miss
Mary
?
"
rejoined
her
friend
in
an
accent
which
betrayed
some
nervousness
.
"
You
really
mean
to
do
all
you
said
when
we
were
shut
up
together
?
"
"
Most
certainly
I
do
,
"
replied
Miss
Brotherton
,
gravely
.
"
Did
you
suppose
I
was
jesting
,
nurse
Tremlett
,
in
what
I
then
said
to
you
?
"
"
Not
jesting
,
Miss
Mary
.
—
No
,
certainly
,
not
jesting
.
Only
I
thought
that
may
be
after
a
little
more
thinking
about
it
you
might
change
your
mind
.
"
"
You
do
not
yet
understand
me
,
nurse
!
"
said
Mary
,
with
vexation
.
"
You
do
not
yet
comprehend
how
determined
I
am
to
persevere
in
the
business
I
have
undertaken
.
"
"
Do
not
say
so
,
dearest
Miss
Mary
!
"
replied
the
old
woman
with
emotion
,
"
I
do
understand
you
,
—
I
do
know
that
you
will
leave
no
stone
unturned
to
obtain
your
object
,
—
and
indeed
,
indeed
,
I
love
you
a
thousand
times
better
than
ever
I
did
,
and
that
is
just
because
I
do
understand
you
;
only
I
did
not
feel
quite
sure
that
you
would
have
courage
.
"
"
We
shall
see
,
nurse
Tremlett
.
Courage
,
I
believe
,
often
depends
more
upon
the
earnestness
of
the
will
than
the
strength
of
the
nerves
,
"
said
Mary
.
Their
attempt
to
get
admittance
to
the
apprentice
factory
was
,
as
they
both
expected
,
abortive
;
they
were
told
that
no
persons
were
admitted
there
except
on
business
,
and
having
nothing
such
to
plead
,
they
retreated
as
they
had
advanced
,
somewhat
fearful
lest
their
having
taken
so
much
trouble
for
nothing
,
might
excite
the
alarming
observation
.
"
It
is
very
odd
,
"
on
the
part
of
their
driver
or
some
of
his
gossips
.
The
distance
was
considerably
greater
than
they
had
expected
,
and
they
had
little
more
time
on
their
return
to
—
,
than
sufficed
for
securing
places
in
a
cross-country
coach
for
the
morrow
,
which
would
convey
them
to
a
small
town
named
by
Mr.
Bell
,
within
a
morning
's
drive
of
which
were
two
establishments
known
to
receive
apprentices
,
howsoever
and
wheresoever
they
could
get
them
.
Having
again
booked
their
places
in
the
name
of
Tremlett
,
prepared
their
travelling
luggage
for
a
further
progress
,
and
taken
a
meal
that
served
for
dinner
and
tea
in
one
,
they
went
to
rest
.
But
it
was
long
ere
the
excited
mind
of
Mary
permitted
her
to
sleep
;
nor
did
she
,
in
fact
,
close
her
eyes
till
,
after
repeated
consideration
,
she
had
decided
totally
to
change
the
plan
of
operations
she
had
fixed
upon
for
the
morrow
.
Mrs.
Tremlett
had
not
yet
left
her
bed
,
when
her
young
mistress
appeared
at
the
foot
of
it
,
on
the
following
morning
,
with
her
ivory
tablets
in
her
hand
.
"
Nurse
Tremlett
,
"
she
said
,
"
do
you
remember
which
,
among
all
the
places
mentioned
here
,
was
the
one
Mr.
Bell
declared
that
he
considered
as
the
most
likely
for
Sir
Matthew
to
have
selected
,
if
his
purpose
was
to
keep
the
abode
of
Michael
Armstrong
unknown
?
"
"
Dear
me
!
My
dear
Miss
Mary
!
Only
think
of
your
being
up
already
and
me
lying
abed
so
!
"
was
the
reply
she
received
.
"
Never
mind
that
,
dear
nurse
.
It
is
not
getting-up
time
yet
—
only
I
am
restless
.
Do
you
remember
the
name
of
the
mills
Mr.
Bell
particularly
dwelt
upon
?
"
"
I
dare
say
I
might
,
Miss
Mary
,
if
I
was
to
hear
it
spoken
again
,
"
said
the
old
woman
,
sitting
up
in
bed
,
and
endeavouring
to
feel
awake
.
"
Now
then
listen
,
dear
soul
,
and
stop
me
when
you
think
I
name
the
right
.
"
Mary
then
turned
to
her
tablets
,
and
read
the
names
,
with
the
descriptions
of
the
localities
inscribed
there
.
It
was
not
till
she
had
reached
the
last
in
the
list
that
Mrs.
Tremlett
again
spoke
,
and
then
she
exclaimed
promptly
,
"
That
is
it
,
Mary
!
I
am
quite
sure
that
is
the
place
!
'
I
will
bet
ten
to
one
,
'
he
said
,
'
that
if
Sir
Matthew
has
been
for
putting
the
boy
out
of
sight
,
Deep
Valley
Mill
is
where
he
will
have
lodged
him
.
'
Those
were
his
words
,
Miss
Mary
—
I
could
quite
swear
it
.
"
"
I
was
pretty
sure
of
it
before
,
nurse
Tremlett
,
but
now
no
doubt
can
possibly
remain
.
Hear
me
,
then
,
my
dear
kind
friend
,
and
tell
me
truly
if
I
am
right
or
wrong
.
I
settled
last
night
,
nurse
,
to
set
off
and
visit
all
these
factories
exactly
in
the
order
in
which
they
are
here
set
down
.
But
,
after
I
went
to
bed
,
it
struck
me
that
it
would
be
surely
better
to
begin
with
the
place
pointed
out
by
our
good
friend
as
the
most
likely
to
afford
success
.
I
like
the
business
quite
as
little
as
you
do
,
nurse
,
and
would
gladly
shorten
it
,
if
possible
.
"
"
But
,
my
dear
,
wo
n't
the
stage
we
are
going
in
take
us
the
wrong
way
?
"
"
A
little
round
about
—
but
I
see
no
objection
in
that
;
we
have
no
particular
wish
,
you
know
,
to
have
our
course
traced
,
and
this
setting
off
in
one
direction
,
when
our
purpose
is
to
take
another
,
must
go
far
towards
preventing
it
.
So
that
you
see
we
have
no
immediate
change
to
make
,
and
you
have
only
to
get
up
,
and
eat
your
breakfast
in
time
to
be
ready
for
the
coach
,
that
is
to
stop
for
us
here
.
"
"
God
bless
your
dear
heart
!
"
said
the
old
woman
.
"
You
think
ten
times
more
of
me
than
you
do
of
yourself
,
darling
!
Little
sleep
last
night
,
Mary
,
and
getting
up
before
any
body
else
in
the
morning
,
is
not
the
way
to
be
quite
strong
and
composed
by-and-by
.
"
"
Fear
nothing
—
I
feel
perfectly
well
,
and
greatly
pleased
by
our
change
of
plans
.
I
have
great
faith
in
this
visit
to
Deep
Valley
,
and
long
to
have
the
experiment
made
and
over
.
"
Mary
Brotherton
was
quite
correct
in
her
geography
;
the
place
to
which
the
coach
conveyed
them
was
at
about
the
same
distance
from
Deep
Valley
as
from
—
;
and
,
without
making
any
further
inquiries
concerning
that
mysterious
spot
,
which
indeed
the
memoranda
received
from
Mr.
Bell
rendered
quite
unnecessary
,
she
ordered
a
chaise
,
on
quitting
the
stage-coach
,
to
convey
them
to
the
nearest
town
at
which
he
had
stated
that
it
would
be
likely
they
should
find
decent
accommodation
for
the
night
.
Both
the
young
and
the
old
lady
were
rather
surprised
,
on
reaching
this
place
,
to
find
every
house
in
it
that
offered
public
accommodation
so
poor
and
miserable
looking
,
as
to
make
them
almost
afraid
to
enter
.
Their
driver
,
however
,
soon
drew
up
to
one
which
,
upon
Mrs.
Tremlett
's
inquiring
if
it
were
the
best
,
he
assured
them
,
was
not
only
the
best
,
but
the
only
one
that
ladies
could
find
comfortable
.
"
Here
then
we
will
get
out
,
"
said
Mary
,
courageously
,
and
giving
her
friend
an
encouraging
smile
,
she
preceded
her
into
a
room
that
smelt
strongly
of
tobacco-smoke
,
ale
,
and
gin
.
"
Can
we
have
an
up-stairs
room
that
might
be
more
open
and
airy
like
?
"
said
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
looking
anxiously
at
her
young
mistress
.
"
To
sleep
in
?
"
demanded
the
woman
who
had
received
them
.
"
A
sitting-room
,
good
woman
,
I
mean
,
"
responded
the
meek-spirited
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
half
frightened
by
the
woman
's
look
and
accent
.
"
What
,
this
is
not
good
enough
,
I
suppose
?
Then
you
may
trudge
—
it
is
good
enough
for
your
betters
,
"
replied
the
woman
,
looking
most
alarmingly
sulky
.
Had
the
last
been
addressed
to
herself
,
Mary
Brotherton
would
have
thought
it
one
of
the
duties
imposed
by
her
pilgrimage
to
endure
it
;
but
,
as
it
was
,
she
slipped
out
of
the
dungeon-parlour
with
great
celerity
,
and
reached
the
house-door
before
the
postboy
had
succeeded
in
his
attempts
to
untie
the
cord
which
fastened
their
trunks
behind
the
chaise
.
Apparently
hands
were
scarce
at
this
unpromising
hostelry
,
for
he
was
performing
the
business
alone
,
at
which
Mary
greatly
rejoiced
,
as
it
enabled
her
to
address
him
unobserved
.
"
This
does
not
seem
a
comfortable
house
,
my
lad
,
that
you
have
brought
us
to
.
Do
n't
you
think
we
might
do
better
if
we
tried
another
?
"
"
It
be
the
best
in
the
town
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
Then
could
you
not
drive
as
a
mile
or
two
out
of
it
?
"
said
Mary
,
in
a
very
coaxing
voice
.
"
We
should
like
to
sleep
at
any
little
country
inn
by
the
roadside
a
great
deal
better
than
this
.
"
"
And
how
would
my
master
's
horses
like
it
I
wonder
?
"
said
the
postboy
.
By
this
time
Mary
's
purse
was
visible
in
her
hand
.
The
youth
's
countenance
softened
as
he
gazed
upon
it
,
and
he
presently
gave
an
unequivocal
symptom
of
relenting
,
by
scratching
his
head
.
Miss
Brotherton
held
half-a-sovereign
between
her
finger
and
thumb
—
"
I
will
give
you
this
,
she
said
,
beyond
the
sum
you
are
to
receive
for
the
horses
if
you
will
drive
us
on
to
some
clean
country
inn
at
which
we
could
sleep
.
"
"
Where
is
the
old
lady
?
"
demanded
the
boy
in
something
like
a
whisper
.
"
I
will
bring
her
out
this
moment
,
"
said
she
;
and
,
without
waiting
further
parley
,
Mary
flitted
back
again
through
the
vapour
of
tobacco
and
spirits
to
rescue
her
old
friend
,
—
a
deed
of
daring
that
found
its
reward
in
the
look
of
gentle
satisfaction
with
which
her
signal
to
quit
the
parlour
was
obeyed
;
for
Mrs.
Tremlett
was
one
who
could
not
bandy
words
,
and
she
had
therefore
endured
,
without
intermission
or
resistance
,
as
much
insolence
as
could
be
compressed
into
the
period
of
her
abode
in
the
apartment
.
"
Why
did
you
not
follow
me
at
once
,
dear
nurse
?
"
said
Mary
,
as
soon
as
the
postboy
had
closed
the
carriage-door
upon
them
.
"
Bless
you
,
my
dear
,
I
never
thought
of
getting
away
again
till
to-morrow
morning
,
and
I
staid
with
her
to
prevent
her
following
you
.
How
very
glad
I
am
we
are
got
away
safe
and
sound
from
that
terrible
woman
!
How
could
you
have
the
courage
and
cleverness
to
think
of
it
,
Mary
?
Sure
enough
,
dear
,
it
is
you
that
take
care
of
me
—
and
that
's
a
shame
,
is
n't
it
?
"
"
It
is
but
fair
,
nurse
,
that
we
should
divide
the
labours
of
the
road
between
us
.
It
is
you
who
always
take
care
that
we
are
not
starved
,
and
it
is
not
too
much
in
return
that
I
should
be
watchful
for
your
preservation
from
all
the
wild
cats
and
tigresses
we
may
chance
to
encounter
.
"
The
postboy
earned
his
golden
gratuity
,
greatly
to
the
contentment
of
its
donor
,
by
drawing
up
at
a
small
but
perfectly
neat
little
mansion
,
where
milk-pans
set
on
end
to
dry
before
the
door
offered
a
delightful
contrast
to
all
that
had
been
visible
at
the
sign
of
the
Three
Crowns
.
The
clean-coifed
landlady
looked
a
little
surprised
at
being
asked
for
sleeping-rooms
by
ladies
entitled
to
so
splendid
a
mode
of
travelling
,
but
the
demand
being
satisfactorily
answered
,
they
were
quickly
installed
in
a
parlour
smelling
of
geraniums
instead
of
gin
,
and
giving
orders
for
their
evening
meal
to
the
bustling
good
woman
of
the
house
with
an
air
of
old
acquaintanceship
,
that
looked
as
if
they
had
been
her
guests
for
a
month
.
"
Nothing
was
ever
so
fortunate
as
this
,
nurse
Tremlett
,
"
said
Mary
,
as
soon
as
they
were
left
alone
;
"
our
stage-playing
,
as
you
are
pleased
to
call
it
,
must
begin
here
.
There
is
no
danger
that
this
kind
simple-hearted
creature
should
misdoubt
a
word
we
say
,
and
if
you
will
only
perform
your
allotted
part
with
your
usual
quiet
good
sense
,
I
have
no
doubt
but
we
shall
reach
her
heart
sufficiently
to
make
her
very
useful
.
I
do
not
ask
you
to
say
any
thing
—
only
look
sufficiently
interested
to
support
the
character
I
assign
you
.
"
"
Oh
!
dear
Miss
Mary
!
"
exclaimed
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
colouring
,
—
"
is
it
to
begin
already
?
"
The
countenance
of
Miss
Brotherton
fell
from
an
expression
of
great
animation
into
that
of
deep
despondency
and
disappointment
,
she
found
that
all
her
difficulties
with
the
old
woman
were
about
to
be
renewed
.
"
Oh
!
why
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
if
you
are
unequal
to
this
,
did
you
not
honestly
tell
me
so
when
I
explained
my
purpose
to
you
before
we
set
out
?
"
said
she
,
with
more
of
severity
than
she
had
ever
used
in
addressing
her
during
her
whole
life
before
,
"
I
could
then
have
taken
measures
to
carry
on
this
business
without
you
.
You
know
how
deeply
my
heart
is
in
it
—
I
did
not
expect
this
weakness
—
I
thought
it
was
over
!
"
"
You
are
wrong
,
Miss
Mary
—
you
are
mistaken
altogether
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
eagerly
.
"
I
am
neither
weak
nor
silly
,
and
so
you
shall
see
,
if
you
wo
n't
be
so
very
rash
and
hasty
with
me
.
"
By
no
means
displeased
at
the
energy
with
which
the
good
woman
defended
herself
,
Mary
replied
,
"
Let
me
see
this
,
Tremlett
,
and
my
love
and
value
for
you
will
increase
a
hundred
fold
.
"
"
Begin
,
then
,
as
soon
as
you
like
,
my
dear
,
I
am
quite
ready
.
"
And
,
in
saying
this
,
the
good
old
woman
assumed
an
aspect
as
full
of
confidence
and
courage
as
her
own
.
In
a
few
minutes
their
repast
,
which
a
good
dairy
made
luxurious
,
was
before
them
,
the
landlady
remaining
in
attendance
to
replenish
the
tea-pot
,
and
so
forth
.
Miss
Brotherton
's
manners
,
though
by
no
means
remarkable
to
those
in
her
own
station
for
that
perfect
polish
which
guards
every
thing
without
,
and
every
thing
within
,
from
disagreeable
impressions
,
were
always
conciliatory
and
kind
to
all
below
her
,
and
seldom
was
she
waited
upon
by
any
one
who
would
not
have
gladly
retained
that
office
near
her
.
So
it
was
with
Mrs.
Prescot
of
the
King
's
Head
;
the
good
woman
lingered
in
the
room
,
evidently
because
she
liked
being
there
,
and
taking
advantage
of
this
,
Mary
addressed
her
,
venturing
to
give
her
the
name
she
had
read
upon
the
sign
.
"
We
are
in
Derbyshire
,
are
we
not
,
Mrs.
Prescot
?
"
"
Yes
,
miss
;
this
is
Derbyshire
,
sure
enough
.
"
"
What
distance
is
it
from
hence
to
Deep
Valley
?
"
"
What
,
the
factory
,
miss
,
that
is
called
Deep
Valley
Mill
?
"
"
Yes
;
how
far
is
it
to
that
factory
?
"
"
Why
it
is
not
over
easy
to
say
rightly
,
seeing
that
there
is
no
direct
road
to
it
.
It
is
a
lonesome
out-of-the-way
place
as
ever
human
beings
thought
of
taking
to
,
and
I
ca
n't
say
as
much
is
knowed
about
it
by
any
of
the
neighbours
round
.
There
is
a
cart-road
,
I
believe
,
as
goes
right
down
to
the
mill
,
but
the
nearest
way
would
be
over
them
hills
there
,
of
course
,
because
the
factory
is
built
down
amongst
the
very
middlemost
of
'
em
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Prescot
.
"
Would
the
walk
over
the
hills
be
too
far
for
my
aunt
and
me
?
"
inquired
Mary
.
"
Oh
dear
yes
,
miss
!
I
should
think
so
!
Besides
,
'
tis
no
place
whatever
for
ladies
to
go
to
.
The
poor
little
creturs
as
bides
there
bea
n't
no
sight
for
them
to
look
at
;
and
,
besides
,
nobody
of
any
sort
is
ever
let
to
look
at
'
em
.
"
"
We
must
get
there
,
somehow
or
other
,
Mrs.
Prescot
,
"
said
Mary
;
"
and
I
trust
in
God
that
we
shall
not
be
refused
admittance
,
for
our
business
is
no
common
one
.
"
"
You
have
got
business
at
Deep
Valley
Mill
?
"
demanded
Mrs.
Prescot
,
abruptly
.
"
Indeed
we
have
,
"
replied
Mary
,
"
and
,
by
some
means
or
other
,
we
must
get
in
,
and
,
what
is
more
,
we
must
see
every
apprentice
they
have
.
"
The
woman
shook
her
head
.
"
I
have
had
more
than
one
lodging
here
for
a
night
,
"
said
she
,
"
who
for
some
reason
or
other
was
curious
to
get
inside
of
Deep
Valley
Mill
.
But
I
never
knowed
one
of
'
em
that
ever
did
more
than
get
a
look
down
upon
it
from
the
top
of
one
of
them
mountainous
hills
out
yonder
;
and
it
's
no
easy
matter
,
they
say
,
to
get
to
the
right
place
even
for
that
;
for
,
by
what
folks
say
,
them
as
built
the
mills
seem
to
think
that
they
could
puzzle
the
wicked
one
himself
to
find
'
em
out
.
But
there
's
one
eye
as
sees
'
em
,
if
no
other
do
.
"
These
last
words
were
added
in
a
mutter
that
might
,
or
might
not
,
be
noticed
,
according
to
the
pleasure
of
the
parties
within
hearing
.
Mary
did
not
notice
them
.
"
Could
you
have
the
kindness
to
tell
us
to
whom
we
should
apply
for
permission
to
go
through
the
factory
?
"
said
she
.
"
Indeed
,
miss
,
I
am
happy
to
say
I
knows
nothing
about
'
em
,
and
if
all
's
true
as
I
've
heard
said
over
the
ale-pot
by
the
kitchen
fire
,
the
more
people
ask
for
leave
,
the
less
they
are
likely
to
get
it
.
But
may
I
make
so
bold
,
miss
,
as
to
ask
the
reason
why
such
ladies
as
you
wants
to
get
in
there
?
It
would
only
break
your
hearts
;
and
what
's
more
,
they
've
been
having
a
horrid
fever
there
,
and
that
I
know
for
certain
,
though
they
sent
the
poor
little
creturs
off
by
night
to
be
buried
,
some
to
one
churchyard
,
and
some
to
another
,
to
stop
people
's
tongues
.
It
bea
n't
no
place
,
ladies
,
for
you
to
go
.
"
"
When
I
tell
you
why
we
wish
to
enter
there
you
will
not
say
so
,
"
replied
Mary
.
"
The
mill
is
worked
by
apprentice
children
,
is
it
not
?
"
"
Yes
,
miss
,
the
more
's
the
pity
—
for
that
's
what
makes
the
poor
wretches
slaves
for
life
—
for
not
many
of
'
em
,
by
all
accounts
,
lives
till
their
time
is
up
.
"
"
Hear
me
then
,
Mrs.
Prescot
—
among
those
miserable
apprentices
we
hope
and
expect
to
find
a
dear
child
who
belongs
to
us
.
"
"
Lack-a-day
!
what
a
story-book
that
would
make
!
"
exclaimed
Mrs.
Prescot
.
"
How
long
is
it
since
you
lost
him
?
"
"
It
is
a
long
time
,
"
replied
Mary
,
evading
the
question
,
"
and
it
is
a
long
story
to
tell
how
it
happened
.
He
is
my
own
brother
—
and
this
lady
who
is
come
with
me
is
our
aunt
.
"
"
Are
you
quite
sure
,
miss
,
that
you
shall
find
him
there
?
"
"
How
can
I
say
that
,
Mrs.
Prescot
,
when
you
tell
me
so
many
of
the
children
are
dead
?
"
replied
Mary
.
"
But
so
much
do
I
think
I
shall
,
that
I
will
give
five
sovereigns
to
any
one
who
will
only
put
me
in
the
way
to
get
admittance
to
the
mill
.
"
Mrs.
Prescot
again
shook
her
head
.
"
There
be
a
many
and
a
many
poor
souls
round
about
that
would
do
amost
any
thing
honest
for
such
a
reward
;
but
if
any
body
told
you
they
could
do
as
much
,
they
would
only
deceive
you
.
I
do
n't
believe
there
is
any
body
in
the
parish
,
not
even
the
parson
,
could
make
'
em
open
their
doors
to
let
strangers
in
.
"
"
Do
you
think
that
the
person
who
has
the
power
to
open
them
would
do
it
for
a
hundred
pounds
?
"
demanded
Miss
Brotherton
.
"
I
ca
n't
take
upon
me
to
say
,
miss
;
it
sounds
like
a
fortune
to
me
—
but
they
are
all
rich
at
Deep
Valley
,
as
folks
say
,
managers
,
overlookers
,
and
all
—
so
,
may
be
they
may
n't
think
so
much
of
it
.
"
"
Mrs.
Prescot
,
I
would
give
five
hundred
pounds
,
rather
than
not
look
over
the
children
at
Deep
Valley
Mill
.
"
The
woman
stared
at
her
with
a
very
natural
mixture
of
curiosity
and
astonishment
;
but
there
was
a
friendly
interest
in
her
eye
,
also
.
"
It
's
late
to-night
,
ma'am
,
to
do
anything
,
"
said
she
,
"
and
if
you
'll
be
pleased
to
say
nothing
to
nobody
till
my
husband
comes
home
,
I
do
n't
know
but
what
he
may
be
as
likely
to
think
upon
what
would
be
the
best
way
to
set
about
it
as
any
body
;
not
that
he
ever
meddles
or
makes
with
the
people
of
the
mill
in
any
way
,
but
he
's
a
good
schollard
,
and
a
quick-witted
man
too
,
as
ever
I
knowed
,
though
I
say
it
as
should
n't
.
"
This
proposal
was
readily
agreed
to
,
and
the
interval
till
their
host
's
return
employed
in
a
ramble
of
a
mile
or
two
along
the
road
,
where
a
recent
shower
had
laid
the
dust
,
while
every
woodbine
in
the
hedges
which
skirted
it
,
sent
forth
a
delicious
perfume
.
The
outline
of
the
hills
around
them
,
though
hardly
deserving
Mrs.
Prescot
's
epithet
of
mountainous
,
was
bold
and
picturesque
,
and
the
foreground
,
with
its
hanging
levels
and
rich
copses
,
altogether
formed
a
scene
of
considerable
beauty
.
"
All
this
is
very
pretty
,
my
good
Tremlett
,
"
said
Mary
,
offering
her
arm
to
her
old
friend
to
assist
her
ascent
of
a
steep
hill
,
"
and
I
should
enjoy
it
greatly
did
I
not
fancy
that
could
we
look
over
yonder
hill-tops
we
should
see
a
hateful
roof
,
excluding
the
sweet
breath
of
evening
from
the
helpless
creatures
it
encloses
.
"
"
God
grant
that
you
may
snatch
one
of
them
from
it
,
my
dear
child
,
"
replied
the
old
woman
;
"
let
that
thought
comfort
you
.
"
"
Should
I
succeed
!
"
cried
Mary
,
"
should
I
indeed
carry
home
that
little
fellow
to
his
poor
mother
and
my
pretty
Edward
,
I
should
certainly
feel
something
approaching
to
perfect
happiness
!
But
if
I
fail
!
how
shall
I
bear
to
meet
them
?
"
"
Think
not
of
it
,
dear
!
see
how
that
last
bit
of
sunshine
comes
full
upon
your
face
as
you
talk
about
it
;
that
is
a
sign
my
dear
that
you
will
have
your
wish
.
"
It
was
the
last
bit
of
sunshine
,
for
the
next
moment
the
golden
disk
was
hid
behind
a
ridge
of
hills
;
yet
they
walked
on
for
nearly
a
mile
further
,
and
,
when
they
returned
to
the
King
's
Head
,
they
found
the
good
man
of
the
house
already
returned
,
and
his
supper
,
as
his
wife
assured
them
,
very
nearly
finished
.
"
He
shall
come
to
you
in
half
a
minute
,
ladies
,
if
you
'll
please
to
be
seated
,
while
I
bring
in
the
candles
;
—
I
have
told
him
all
you
said
to
me
,
and
he
do
n't
seem
so
much
put
out
about
it
,
by
much
,
as
me
,
—
but
he
's
uncommon
'
cute
,
as
you
'll
find
when
you
comes
to
talk
to
him
.
"
In
about
a
quarter
of
an
hour
Mr.
Prescot
knocked
at
the
parlour-door
,
and
being
properly
introduced
to
the
ladies
by
his
wife
,
was
left
standing
before
them
,
while
she
retreated
to
pursue
her
various
avocations
.
"
Your
wife
has
told
you
,
Mr.
Prescot
,
our
reason
for
coming
here
?
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
,
glad
to
escape
the
repetition
of
her
fictitious
tale
.
"
She
has
,
ma'am
,
"
was
the
succinct
reply
.
"
And
do
you
think
it
possible
for
us
to
obtain
admission
to
Deep
Valley
Mill
,
and
to
go
over
it
in
such
a
manner
as
to
give
us
an
opportunity
of
seeing
all
the
children
?
"
"
If
I
had
heard
that
much
,
as
to
your
purpose
,
ladies
,
and
nothing
more
,
I
should
have
said
NO
you
could
no
more
get
into
Deep
Valley
factory
than
into
the
moon
.
But
my
missis
added
something
to
the
back
of
it
,
as
makes
a
difference
.
"
This
was
said
with
a
look
and
accent
which
fully
justified
Mrs.
Prescot
's
assurances
of
her
good
man
's
"
'
cuteness
.
"
"
I
think
,
Mr.
Prescot
,
that
she
said
no
more
than
I
am
willing
to
make
good
,
"
replied
Mary
,
"
I
do
not
wish
to
expend
money
wantonly
,
but
,
if
less
will
not
serve
,
I
am
ready
to
give
five
hundred
pounds
to
any
person
who
could
enable
me
to
see
all
the
children
in
Deep
Valley
Mill
.
"
"
It
is
a
long
sum
,
miss
,
"
replied
the
man
thoughtfully
,
"
and
I
ca
n't
but
fancy
that
less
might
serve
.
The
people
as
is
in
authority
there
is
bad
people
,
I
do
n't
scruple
to
say
it
,
and
sooner
than
open
their
doors
for
pity
towards
any
Christian
soul
,
man
,
woman
,
or
child
,
they
would
see
'
em
all
in
the
bottomless
pit
.
But
'
tis
just
because
they
do
all
the
wickedness
we
hears
of
,
that
I
sees
hope
they
may
be
bought
to
break
their
own
laws
;
for
if
they
does
one
thing
for
the
love
of
gold
,
they
may
do
another
.
'
Tis
plain
enough
to
see
,
to
be
sure
,
that
they
knows
it
is
for
their
interest
to
keep
all
eyes
off
their
cruel
goings-on
—
and
what
's
for
their
interest
they
wo
n't
easily
give
up
.
—
So
it
may
be
that
squire
Elgood
Sharpton
himself
would
turn
away
from
five
hundred
pounds
,
rather
than
show
off
his
poor
miserable
apprentices
.
—
But
that
may
n't
hold
good
for
his
agent
,
and
I
believe
in
my
heart
that
,
if
we
could
quietly
get
to
offer
Woodcomb
the
manager
a
hundred
pounds
,
you
would
not
have
long
to
wait
for
a
sight
of
the
children
.
"
"
And
how
is
this
to
be
done
,
Mr.
Prescot
?
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
,
"
if
you
can
undertake
to
manage
it
,
you
may
put
what
price
you
like
on
your
services
,
I
feel
certain
that
you
would
not
name
a
higher
sum
than
I
should
be
willing
to
pay
.
"
"
Why
,
as
for
me
,
miss
,
I
must
not
be
known
to
meddle
or
make
in
the
matter
.
Squire
Sharpton
would
have
my
licence
away
before
I
could
say
Jack
Robinson
.
Any
advice
I
can
give
is
at
your
service
,
and
I
may
be
able
to
put
you
up
,
perhaps
,
to
doing
the
thing
in
the
likeliest
way
;
but
as
to
my
going
to
the
mill
,
it
wo
n't
do
.
One
reason
is
,
that
I
never
was
there
before
,
and
it
's
like
enough
that
,
seeing
a
stranger
,
they
'd
set
the
dogs
at
me
before
I
had
time
to
say
my
errand
.
No
!
—
that
wo
n't
answer
.
The
only
man
I
can
think
of
as
would
give
us
a
chance
is
one
Smith
,
the
miller
as
serves
'
em
with
oatmeal
,
and
pretty
stuff
'
tis
,
as
I
've
been
told
,
which
do
n't
speak
over-well
for
his
honesty
,
you
'll
say
,
though
'
tis
likely
the
price
is
in
proportion
.
Howsomever
,
whether
he
be
good
or
bad
,
I
do
n't
know
another
as
comes
and
goes
to
Deep
Valley
as
he
does
,
and
that
's
what
makes
me
fix
upon
him
as
a
messenger
.
"
"
And
when
could
I
see
this
man
?
"
demanded
Mary
.
"
Why
,
betimes
to-morrow
,
miss
,
there
's
no
doubt
,
if
I
goes
and
gives
him
notice
.
"
"
Then
,
do
so
Mr.
Prescot
,
and
be
assured
your
trouble
shall
not
be
forgotten
.
"
"
There
is
no
fear
of
it
,
miss
,
"
replied
the
acute
landlord
with
very
honest
sincerity
,
"
and
I
'll
go
to
the
mill
outright
.
But
I
think
—
you
'll
be
pleased
to
excuse
me
for
speaking
my
mind
—
that
you
two
ladies
must
settle
between
yourselves
what
you
'd
be
willing
to
give
Timothy
Smith
himself
for
the
job
—
seeing
that
he
's
not
one
to
work
for
nothing
;
—
and
another
thing
I
'd
make
so
free
as
to
mention
is
,
that
you
'd
do
well
to
make
him
understand
that
you
do
n't
want
to
get
inside
their
wicked
den
,
but
only
to
see
the
children
,
one
and
all
of
'
em
—
and
then
you
know
,
miss
,
they
may
trim
'
em
and
scour
'
em
up
a
little
for
shame
's
sake
,
afore
they
brings
'
em
out
.
"
Miss
Brotherton
,
after
this
conversation
,
felt
as
fully
convinced
as
the
good
wife
herself
could
desire
of
the
value
of
the
landlord
's
head
,
and
determined
to
be
guided
by
his
advice
.
After
a
little
further
conversation
between
them
,
it
was
settled
that
she
should
write
a
note
to
Mr.
Woodcomb
,
the
manager
,
in
readiness
to
give
into
the
hands
of
Mr.
Timothy
Smith
on
the
following
morning
,
if
she
could
prevail
upon
him
to
deliver
it
.
Mr.
Prescot
performed
his
part
of
the
business
ably
,
for
the
portly
miller
was
waiting
for
the
ladies
in
the
parlour
when
they
returned
from
their
early
walk
.
Miss
Brotherton
possessed
a
sort
of
instinctive
skill
in
reading
the
human
countenance
,
which
rarely
deceived
her
,
and
it
took
her
not
long
to
discover
that
the
man
she
had
now
to
deal
with
was
one
upon
whom
it
would
be
folly
to
waste
any
arguments
which
did
not
affect
his
own
interest
.
She
,
therefore
,
briefly
stated
the
fact
that
it
was
of
great
importance
to
her
to
obtain
sight
of
all
the
apprentices
at
Deep
Valley
Mill
,
having
great
reason
to
hope
that
she
should
find
a
young
relative
there
,
for
whose
release
from
all
engagements
she
was
willing
to
pay
handsomely
.
"
It
is
not
the
custom
,
ma'am
,
to
admit
visiters
at
that
factory
.
It
have
been
found
to
hinder
the
work
,
"
replied
the
miller
solemnly
.
"
So
I
understand
,
sir
.
But
,
hearing
that
you
are
in
the
habit
of
visiting
the
mill
on
business
,
I
have
taken
the
liberty
to
send
for
you
in
order
to
say
,
that
if
you
would
undertake
to
deliver
this
note
to
Mr.
Woodcomb
,
the
manager
,
I
would
willingly
give
you
five
pounds
for
your
trouble
.
"
"
That
is
hardly
enough
,
ma'am
,
for
the
risk
of
offending
so
good
a
customer
,
"
replied
the
miller
.
"
Will
double
that
sum
induce
you
to
do
it
for
me
?
"
said
Mary
.
"
On
what
day
do
you
wish
it
to
reach
Mr.
Woodcomb
's
hands
?
"
demanded
Mr.
Timothy
Smith
,
endeavouring
to
retain
a
doubtful
expression
of
countenance
.
"
To-day
,
sir
;
as
early
as
possible
.
"
"
Then
,
ma'am
,
I
'll
be
fair
and
open
with
you
,
and
not
go
about
to
mince
the
matter
,
or
deceive
you
in
any
way
.
If
you
will
pay
me
down
twenty
pounds
in
gold
,
or
Bank
of
England
notes
,
I
will
consent
to
give
up
all
the
important
business
I
had
fixed
to
do
this
morning
,
and
undertake
,
not
only
to
give
your
letter
to
Mr.
Woodcomb
,
but
to
use
my
influence
with
him
—
which
is
greater
than
you
may
guess
for
—
to
make
him
do
what
you
wish
,
provided
that
you
treat
him
with
the
liberality
which
a
gentleman
like
him
has
a
right
to
expect
.
"
Miss
Brotherton
drew
forth
her
pocket-book
.
"
I
will
give
you
the
twenty
pounds
you
demand
,
Mr.
Smith
,
"
she
said
in
a
tone
as
business-like
and
decided
as
his
own
,
"
if
you
perform
my
errand
successfully
.
I
will
give
you
this
ten-pound
note
now
,
as
payment
for
conveying
the
letter
,
and
another
of
the
same
value
when
you
return
to
me
with
the
manager
's
permission
to
see
the
children
who
are
apprenticed
at
the
mill
.
"
Mr.
Timothy
Smith
looked
at
Miss
Brotherton
's
pocket-book
and
he
looked
at
her
.
His
glance
at
the
first
inspired
a
strong
inclination
to
increase
his
demands
;
but
the
miller
had
studied
the
human
countenance
as
well
as
the
lady
,
and
when
he
looked
at
her
he
felt
certain
that
though
young
,
rich
,
and
very
eager
in
pursuit
of
her
object
,
she
was
not
a
fool
,
and
that
if
he
pushed
her
to
a
more
preposterous
payment
than
he
had
already
proposed
,
she
would
be
likely
enough
to
turn
about
and
look
for
another
agent
.
He
therefore
demurely
replied
,
"
It
is
all
fair
,
ma'am
;
I
agree
to
the
terms
.
"
And
without
wasting
any
further
time
,
the
man
of
the
mill
received
the
note
,
put
on
his
hat
,
and
departed
.
Not
all
Mary
's
self-command
,
and
,
considering
all
things
,
she
had
a
great
deal
,
could
enable
her
to
await
the
return
of
her
costly
messenger
with
composure
.
All
that
she
heard
of
this
mysterious
mill
tended
to
prove
that
it
was
precisely
such
a
place
as
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
would
be
likely
to
fix
upon
as
the
abode
of
Michael
.
The
more
she
meditated
the
more
she
became
convinced
that
the
boy
was
there
,
and
she
was
hot
and
cold
,
pale
and
red
,
a
dozen
times
in
an
hour
.
She
had
kept
a
copy
of
her
letter
to
the
manager
,
that
she
might
show
it
to
Mr.
Bell
,
from
whom
she
hoped
to
receive
absolution
for
the
innocent
fraud
she
had
practised
.
To
read
and
re-read
this
letter
,
and
to
speculate
with
Mrs.
Tremlett
upon
its
probable
and
possible
effects
,
occupied
some
portion
of
the
tedious
time
;
slowly
dragging
her
steps
up
and
down
Mrs.
Prescot
's
little
garden
,
and
occasionally
sitting
for
a
fidgety
five
minutes
in
a
bower
of
scarlet-runners
,
employed
the
rest
.
But
the
morning
seemed
endless
,
and
more
than
once
she
suspected
that
her
watch
stood
still
.
The
important
letter
to
Mr.
Woodcomb
was
as
follows
:
"
Sir
,
—
A
wealthy
and
respectable
family
have
recently
had
reason
to
believe
that
a
dear
child
,
long
considered
as
lost
,
has
been
sent
as
an
apprentice
to
Mr.
Elgood
Sharpton
's
factory
at
Deep
Valley
.
Fully
aware
that
the
examination
necessary
to
prove
whether
this
hope
be
well
founded
,
must
be
attended
with
considerable
trouble
to
you
—
inasmuch
as
the
children
must
be
brought
out
from
their
work
for
me
to
see
,
I
beg
to
say
that
,
if
,
without
giving
me
further
trouble
,
you
will
permit
this
,
I
will
pay
the
sum
of
one
hundred
pounds
for
the
accommodation
.
Should
it
be
refused
,
I
must
have
recourse
to
other
means
for
the
purpose
of
ascertaining
what
it
is
so
important
for
me
to
know
.
"
I
am
,
Sir
,
"
Your
obedient
servant
,
"
Dorcas
Tremlett
.
"
It
was
not
till
five
o'clock
in
the
afternoon
,
by
which
time
Mary
was
fully
persuaded
that
her
commission
had
failed
,
that
Mr.
Timothy
Smith
,
in
his
white
hat
and
well-powdered
blue
coat
,
was
again
seen
approaching
the
King
's
Head
.
The
heiress
,
who
was
sitting
near
the
window
,
started
up
,
and
would
certainly
have
stepped
forward
to
meet
him
,
had
not
Mrs.
Tremlett
whispered
.
"
Sit
down
,
Miss
Mary
,
sit
down
,
there
's
a
darling
,
and
look
like
a
great
lady
as
you
did
this
morning
;
and
that
's
what
you
are
,
and
always
should
be
.
"
Mary
reseated
herself
,
and
,
after
a
short
interval
,
the
miller
knocked
at
the
parlour-door
,
and
was
desired
to
enter
.
Miss
Brotherton
pointed
to
a
chair
,
and
he
rested
himself
.
"
The
weather
is
warm
,
ladies
,
"
said
he
,
drawing
forth
a
cotton
handkerchief
,
and
wiping
his
head
and
face
,
"
and
I
have
not
loitered
in
my
errand
,
as
you
may
see
by
the
state
I
'm
in
;
but
my
horse
is
getting
in
years
,
like
his
master
,
and
it
's
no
easy
work
to
drive
him
by
such
a
road
as
that
I
have
comed
by
.
"
"
Have
you
succeeded
,
sir
?
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
,
looking
as
grand
as
Mrs.
Tremlett
could
desire
.
"
I
am
happy
to
say
,
ma'am
,
"
he
replied
,
with
dignity
,
"
that
the
second
ten
pounds
is
fairly
won
.
"
"
I
rejoice
to
hear
it
,
"
cried
Mary
,
brightly
colouring
;
"
and
I
shall
have
great
pleasure
in
paying
it
.
When
,
sir
,
may
I
see
these
children
?
"
she
added
,
pulling
out
her
pocket-book
as
she
spoke
.
"
Here
,
ma'am
,
is
Mr.
Woodcomb
's
reply
to
your
note
,
and
on
the
reading
of
that
,
I
look
to
hear
you
say
that
the
ten
pounds
is
mine
.
"
Miss
Brotherton
took
the
dirty
epistle
offered
her
,
and
read
:
—
"
Madam
,
—
My
employer
is
strict
in
his
orders
not
to
let
the
hands
be
interrupted
,
as
they
too
often
are
in
some
mills
,
to
gratify
the
idle
curiosity
of
strangers
.
But
in
consideration
of
your
handsome
proposal
,
and
hoping
that
you
wo
n't
scruple
to
follow
it
with
a
like
sum
in
case
of
your
finding
and
carrying
away
the
child
,
which
will
be
no
more
than
just
,
seeing
that
if
I
part
with
a
hand
I
must
get
another
in
the
place
of
it
,
on
this
condition
I
am
willing
that
all
the
children
on
the
premises
shall
be
placed
in
the
feeding-room
for
your
inspection
at
twelve
o'clock
to-morrow
.
"
I
am
,
Madam
,
"
Your
humble
servant
,
"
James
Woodcomb
.
"
The
miller
kept
his
eye
fixed
upon
her
as
she
read
,
and
the
result
he
looked
for
followed
the
perusal
of
the
despatch
he
had
brought
.
Miss
Brotherton
handed
the
letter
to
her
friend
,
and
then
drew
the
promised
bank-note
from
her
pocket-book
.
The
jolly
miller
rose
,
and
received
it
from
her
hands
.
"
I
thank
you
,
madam
,
"
said
he
,
folding
it
carefully
,
"
and
I
beg
to
say
,
in
return
,
that
you
would
have
been
troubled
to
find
another
man
who
could
have
done
your
errand
as
well
.
"
"
I
am
quite
satisfied
,
sir
,
"
she
replied
,
"
and
will
only
ask
in
addition
to
what
you
have
already
done
for
me
,
that
you
would
be
obliging
enough
to
tell
me
by
what
conveyance
it
will
be
best
for
us
to
get
to
the
factory
to-morrow
?
Mr.
Woodcomb
,
as
you
probably
know
,
has
named
twelve
o'clock
.
I
suppose
the
distance
is
too
great
for
us
to
walk
?
"
"
Quite
impossible
,
ma'am
—
altogether
out
of
the
question
.
But
I
shall
have
no
objection
to
hire
out
my
chay-cart
for
the
day
,
if
so
be
you
would
think
that
suitable
,
"
said
the
obliging
miller
.
"
I
have
no
doubt
it
would
do
perfectly
well
,
provided
you
have
a
horse
that
can
draw
it
—
I
should
be
sorry
to
lose
time
in
going
,
and
should
not
choose
to
be
later
than
the
hour
appointed
,
"
replied
Mary
.
"
I
'll
look
to
having
a
fitting
horse
,
ma'am
,
and
one
as
is
used
to
the
road
,
and
that
is
what
but
few
are
.
The
road
is
no
very
good
one
in
parts
,
that
's
the
truth
,
and
I
'm
not
over
sure
that
there
's
another
man
besides
myself
that
would
like
to
undertake
the
job
;
but
I
've
no
objection
to
driving
you
myself
,
ladies
,
provided
you
think
it
worth
while
to
pay
a
tradesman
for
the
loss
of
his
time
—
of
course
I
ca
n't
charge
my
labour
like
a
postboy
.
"
"
If
you
take
means
,
sir
,
to
get
us
to
Deep
Valley
Mill
,
by
the
hour
appointed
,
and
drive
us
back
again
safely
to
this
house
,
we
shall
not
dispute
about
the
price
.
But
remember
,
if
you
please
,
that
the
carriage
,
or
cart
,
or
whatever
it
is
,
must
have
accommodation
for
the
child
I
hope
to
bring
away
with
me
.
"
"
I
will
take
care
of
that
,
ma'am
.
I
will
put
a
little
stool
in
on
purpose
—
and
I
think
if
I
say
two
guineas
,
ma'am
,
for
the
job
,
which
is
no
easy
one
,
that
you
ca
n't
complain
of
the
price
.
"
"
I
certainly
shall
not
complain
of
it
,
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
.
Nine
o'clock
was
then
fixed
as
the
hour
of
setting
out
,
and
Mr.
Timothy
Smith
departed
.
Mrs.
Prescot
's
roast
chicken
and
French
beans
were
treated
very
differently
from
her
previous
breakfast
and
luncheon
.
Mary
Brotherton
was
in
higher
spirits
than
she
had
enjoyed
for
many
weeks
—
she
felt
confident
of
success
,
and
for
the
first
time
in
her
life
,
perhaps
,
fully
enjoyed
the
possession
of
the
wealth
which
gave
her
such
power
of
surmounting
difficulties
.
The
kind-hearted
Mrs.
Tremlett
was
at
length
as
sanguine
,
and
almost
as
happy
as
herself
;
and
very
freely
confessed
,
again
and
again
,
that
her
dear
young
lady
knew
ten
times
better
how
to
manage
things
than
she
did
,
old
as
she
was
.
The
evening
was
again
spent
in
a
long
late
ramble
,
and
though
they
did
not
forget
that
over
a
certain
towering
height
,
pointed
out
by
Mrs.
Prescot
,
lay
the
dismal
spot
called
the
Deep
Valley
,
the
exceeding
happiness
which
was
anticipated
for
one
who
dwelt
there
,
made
them
almost
forget
the
misery
of
the
rest
.
CHAPTER
XXIII
.
MISS
BROTHERTON
AND
HER
FRIEND
ARRIVE
AT
THE
DEEP
VALLEY
—
A
REVIEW
—
DISAPPOINTMENT
—
"
A
SUDDEN
THOUGHT
STRIKES
"
THE
HEIRESS
—
SHE
CONCLUDES
A
BARGAIN
,
THOUGH
NOT
THE
ONE
FOR
WHICH
SHE
MEDITATED
—
SHE
SETS
OUT
UPON
A
WALK
.
Mr.
Timothy
Smith
was
punctual
to
his
appointment
,
and
at
a
very
few
minutes
past
nine
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
and
Mary
were
jogging
along
in
the
miller
's
jockey-cart
,
on
a
seat
whereon
cushions
,
that
looked
very
like
pillows
,
had
been
carefully
strapped
,
and
with
a
little
stool
placed
before
them
,
