themselvesthe
while
in
talking
very
mystically
concerning
him
,
and
his
very
useful
and
judicious
destination
.
At
length
the
carriage
reached
the
point
at
which
Sir
Matthew
intended
his
airing
should
terminate
,
and
he
looked
out
to
reconnoitre
the
opening
of
a
lane
to
the
left
where
he
expected
to
see
the
covered
cart
.
Nor
was
he
disappointed
;
a
covered
cart
,
with
an
excellent
stout
horse
in
it
,
was
drawn
up
close
to
the
bank
to
take
advantage
of
the
shade
of
a
thick
elm-tree
that
grew
upon
it
.
As
the
carriage
approached
,
the
occupant
of
the
humbler
vehicle
peeped
out
,
and
Sir
Matthew
recognised
the
punctual
Parsons
.
"
Pull
the
check-string
,
Crockley
,
"
said
the
knight
,
"
We
will
get
out
here
.
That
is
,
you
may
if
you
will
,
there
is
no
occasion
,
I
suppose
,
for
me
to
trouble
myself
,
is
there
?
"
"
Oh
!
dear
no
,
"
replied
Dr.
Crockley
,
cheerfully
.
"
Here
comes
Parsons
,
good
man
and
true
.
Get
out
master
Michael
.
Jump
,
jump
,
and
enjoy
it
,
my
fine
fellow
!
Perhaps
you
wo
n't
have
much
time
for
jumping
when
you
begin
learning
your
trade
.
"
Without
thinking
it
needful
to
reply
to
what
he
did
not
very
clearly
understand
,
Michael
did
as
he
was
bid
,
and
sprang
from
the
carriage
to
the
ground
.
The
well-known
figure
of
Parsons
greeted
him
as
his
feet
touched
the
turf
,
and
the
next
instant
he
felt
his
hand
suddenly
seized
by
him
.
"
Shall
you
want
me
,
Mr.
Parsons
?
"
said
Dr.
Crockley
,
putting
his
head
out
of
the
carriage
.
"
Not
at
all
,
sir
,
"
replied
the
superintendent
,
leading
Michael
forward
.
"
Then
shut
the
carriage-door
,
John
,
"
said
Sir
Matthew
,
"
and
order
the
coachman
to
drive
home
.
"
"
Please
sir
!
Please
sir
!
—
"
uttered
the
plaintive
voice
of
Michael
,
as
he
turned
his
head
,
and
attempted
to
disengage
his
hand
.
"
Please
sir
,
is
Mr.
Parsons
to
take
me
away
?
"
"
Yes
,
my
boy
,
he
is
,
"
replied
the
knight
,
loud
enough
for
the
footman
to
hear
.
"
He
is
going
to
take
you
to
your
new
master
,
and
you
may
give
my
compliments
to
him
,
my
dear
,
and
tell
him
,
that
I
have
sent
him
a
very
good
boy
.
Good
bye
!
—
Good
bye
!
—
Home
!
"
So
ended
the
colloquy
;
the
carriage
turned
round
and
drove
off
by
the
way
it
came
,
and
Michael
Armstrong
was
left
alone
with
Mr.
Joseph
Parsons
.
He
need
not
,
however
,
have
held
the
little
fellow
's
hand
so
tight
,
for
there
was
no
rebellion
in
his
heart
,
nor
any
thought
of
escape
in
his
head
.
He
knew
his
companion
too
well
to
hope
for
any
explanation
from
him
respecting
this
sudden
manner
of
sending
him
off
,
and
child
as
he
was
,
he
had
no
inclination
to
weep
before
him
;
but
,
on
the
contrary
,
his
young
heart
swelled
with
a
proud
determination
to
behave
well
,
and
to
set
about
his
new
employment
with
a
stout
spirit
.
Nevertheless
,
when
he
arrived
at
the
cart
he
paused
for
a
moment
,
before
he
obeyed
the
orders
of
Parsons
to
"
climb
up
,
"
and
ventured
to
say
,
"
Please
sir
,
beant
I
to
see
mother
any
more
?
"
"
Climb
up
!
I
tell
you
,
"
said
the
brute
,
clenching
his
fist
at
him
,
"
and
if
you
bother
me
with
any
more
questions
,
I
'll
just
give
you
this
in
your
mouth
to
stop
your
jabbering
.
"
Had
Michael
counted
twenty
years
instead
of
ten
,
he
could
not
more
resolutely
have
screwed
his
spirit
to
endurance
than
he
did
as
he
now
clambered
up
,
and
placed
himself
,
as
he
was
directed
,
in
the
back
part
of
the
vehicle
,
not
another
syllable
passed
his
lips
.
For
four
hours
the
slow
but
sore-footed
cart-horse
,
jogged
on
through
a
lane
,
that
would
have
made
any
pace
beyond
a
walk
,
intolerable
.
At
the
end
of
that
time
,
the
cart
stopped
before
the
door
of
a
lonely
public-house
that
formed
a
corner
,
round
which
the
road
turned
off
at
nearly
a
right
angle
,
and
stretched
across
one
of
those
wild
and
desolate
moors
which
are
,
perhaps
,
only
to
be
found
in
such
perfection
of
dark
and
stoney
ruggedness
in
Derbyshire
.
Michael
,
as
he
descended
from
the
cart
,
looked
out
upon
the
unlimited
expanse
of
dreariness
,
and
shuddered
;
but
his
mind
had
not
been
sufficiently
filled
with
the
remembrance
of
brighter
objects
,
to
give
the
scene
as
full
effect
upon
him
,
as
it
might
have
produced
on
others
.
The
"
Mucklestone
Moor
,
"
haunted
by
the
black
dwarf
,
was
a
pleasant
spot
compared
to
it
;
for
there
the
barren
heath
was
only
strewed
with
fragments
of
stones
around
one
certain
spot
whence
rose
,
doubtless
with
some
pretence
to
picturesque
dignity
,
"
a
huge
column
of
unhewn
granite
.
"
But
on
the
Ridgetop
Moor
of
Derbyshire
,
no
object
reared
itself
above
the
rest
,
either
to
attract
or
relieve
the
eye
.
As
far
as
sight
could
reach
,
the
wild
heath
was
encumbered
with
a
crowded
layer
of
large
and
shapeless
gray
stones
,
defying
the
air
of
heaven
to
nourish
vegetation
among
them
,
and
making
any
effort
of
man
to
remove
the
congregated
mass
,
desperate
and
unavailing
.
Arid
,
rugged
,
desolate
,
was
the
desert
that
spread
around
;
and
to
those
who
knew
the
nature
of
the
operations
carrying
on
in
every
direction
near
it
,
no
great
stretch
of
imagination
would
have
been
necessary
to
suggest
the
idea
of
fitness
,
and
sympathy
between
the
district
,
and
the
most
influential
portion
of
its
population
.
This
is
,
indeed
,
a
fitness
that
seems
often
found
.
Where
towering
mountains
scale
the
heavens
the
hardy
natives
show
a
spirit
pure
and
clear
as
the
sweet
air
by
which
they
live
.
In
the
rich
valleys
of
the
East
the
lazy
peasant
eats
his
rice
,
purchased
with
easy
labour
,
and
is
content
to
dream
away
his
being
in
the
sultry
shade
.
And
in
the
flinty
region
of
our
northern
moors
,
the
race
of
Millocrats
batten
,
and
grow
fat
,
as
if
they
were
conscious
of
,
and
rejoiced
in
the
local
sympathy
.
A
stunted
elderly
lad
of
all
work
,
came
forth
on
hearing
the
rumbling
of
the
wheels
.
"
Ask
the
dame
if
she
has
got
two
beds
in
one
room
!
"
said
Mr.
Parsons
,
descending
from
the
driving-seat
,
of
which
he
had
had
quite
as
much
as
he
desired
.
The
message
brought
out
a
hideous
crone
,
whose
sharp
visage
looked
as
if
it
had
drawn
itself
up
into
points
and
angles
while
battling
with
the
rough
blasts
that
roared
,
whistled
,
and
moaned
about
her
dwelling
.
"
And
who
be
you
?
"
was
her
first
salutation
.
To
which
Mr.
Parsons
only
nodded
graciously
in
reply
.
"
Dear
me
!
Be
it
you
,
sir
?
"
exclaimed
the
woman
.
"
I
ax
your
pardon
,
for
not
knowing
your
honour
at
a
glance
.
Beds
?
Ay
,
ay
,
plenty
of
beds
,
sir
.
—
Please
to
walk
in
.
Who
is
this
fine
young'un
?
He
ca
n't
have
nothing
to
do
with
the
mills
,
any
way
.
"
"
This
a
fine
holiday
suit
,
dame
,
that
Sir
Matthew
has
been
pleased
to
bestow
upon
him
,
"
replied
Mr.
Parsons
,
"
and
if
he
had
behaved
himself
a
little
better
,
he
might
have
lived
like
a
prince
to
the
end
of
his
days
;
but
he
is
an
untoward
chap
,
and
chose
to
cry
,
when
he
should
have
laughed
.
And
so
,
you
see
,
the
fine
folks
at
the
lodge
got
tired
of
him
.
'
"
What
then
!
—
This
be
the
boy
,
be
it
,
as
we
have
had
so
many
talking
about
?
He
was
to
be
made
a
gentleman
of
by
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
?
And
so
he
is
turned
off
,
is
he
?
"
This
was
said
as
the
old
woman
led
the
way
to
the
receiving-room
,
that
is
to
say
,
the
kitchen
of
the
mansion
,
and
here
,
though
the
season
was
still
warm
elsewhere
,
a
large
fire
was
burning
.
That
its
warmth
was
welcome
might
be
gathered
from
the
fact
,
that
the
only
persons
in
possession
of
the
room
were
sitting
or
standing
close
beside
it
.
The
guests
,
before
the
arrival
of
the
new
comers
,
amounted
only
to
three
,
namely
,
a
young
woman
pacing
her
way
to
a
distant
service
,
a
stout
lad
,
her
brother
,
who
travelled
with
her
,
to
carry
her
box
and
guard
her
from
harm
;
and
a
venerable
looking
man
with
gray
hair
,
but
having
withal
bright
eyes
,
and
a
florid
skin
,
and
bearing
in
his
dress
and
demeanour
,
the
appearance
of
a
thriving
agriculturist
.
It
was
with
so
bustling
a
movement
,
that
the
landlady
pushed
back
the
little
round
table
on
which
stood
the
farmer
's
mug
of
beer
,
and
there
was
so
much
of
respect
in
the
manner
with
which
she
wiped
the
chair
brought
forward
for
Mr.
Parsons
,
that
the
fact
of
his
being
a
person
of
consequence
,
became
notorious
to
all
.
The
farmer
quietly
pushed
back
his
chair
,
to
follow
the
table
,
the
young
woman
modestly
squeezed
herself
very
closely
into
the
chimney-corner
,
and
her
brother
fairly
bolted
,
standing
with
eyes
and
mouth
widely
opened
,
to
gaze
at
ease
upon
the
distinguished
society
into
which
it
had
been
his
chance
to
fall
.
Mr.
Parsons
took
his
place
among
them
,
as
such
a
great
man
ought
to
do
.
That
is
to
say
,
he
looked
neither
to
the
right
nor
to
the
left
,
but
made
himself
comfortable
without
taking
the
trouble
of
considering
whether
any
other
person
were
present
,
or
not
.
Michael
crept
in
after
him
,
and
when
the
more
important
part
of
the
company
had
arranged
themselves
,
he
was
observed
standing
alone
in
the
most
distant
part
of
the
room
.
"
What
dost
stand
shivering
there
for
,
my
boy
?
"
said
the
old
farmer
,
in
north-country
dialect
,
so
broad
as
to
be
dangerous
for
south-country
folks
to
spell
,
"
I
could
be
after
thinking
there
was
some
mistake
here
.
Surely
you
ought
not
to
be
standing
,
while
some
other
folks
are
sitting
.
"
This
observation
,
though
the
genuine
result
of
the
old
man
's
notions
of
vulgar
,
and
the
reverse
,
might
not
have
been
so
bluntly
spoken
,
had
he
not
felt
himself
affronted
by
the
unceremonious
style
in
which
his
place
before
the
fire
had
been
taken
from
him
.
Michael
probably
did
not
understand
the
full
meaning
of
the
remark
,
nevertheless
he
looked
dreadfully
terrified
,
and
fixed
his
eyes
upon
the
back
part
of
Mr.
Parson
's
august
head
,
his
face
being
fortunately
turned
from
him
,
with
an
expression
of
desperate
fear
,
that
seemed
to
puzzle
the
good
farmer
.
"
Well
now
,
do
n't
he
look
like
as
well-behaved
and
pretty
a
young
gentleman
as
one
would
wish
to
see
?
"
continued
the
farmer
,
turning
to
the
young
girl
,
"
and
yet
there
's
no
mistaking
that
t'other
's
his
master
.
"
"
Fine
feathers
makes
fine
birds
,
for
them
as
can
see
no
farther
,
"
cried
Parsons
contemptuously
,
and
turning
one
of
his
threatening
scowls
upon
the
old
man
.
"
But
wait
a
bit
,
Goodman
Goose
,
and
you
'll
find
out
perhaps
,
as
all
is
not
gold
as
glitters
.
"
"
Poor
little
fellow
!
"
exclaimed
the
farmer
,
on
meeting
the
superintendent
's
ill-omened
eye
.
"
I
wish
,
with
all
my
heart
,
master
,
that
nobody
cared
no
more
for
your
ugly
looks
than
I
do
.
"
"
Dame
Pritchard
,
"
said
Parsons
,
without
appearing
to
hear
him
,
"
Let
the
boy
and
me
have
a
bit
of
supper
,
d'ye
hear
.
Spite
of
his
fine
clothes
,
however
,
which
were
but
a
gift
of
charity
,
the
boy
is
neither
better
nor
worse
,
than
one
of
our
factory
children
.
"
"
I
would
not
have
thought
it
!
"
said
the
old
man
,
apparently
satisfied
,
and
turning
to
his
mug
.
"
No
,
I
dare
say
,
"
retorted
Parsons
,
with
a
sneer
.
"
Such
chaps
as
you
,
seldom
finds
out
what
's
what
,
or
who
's
who
,
before
they
are
told
.
"
From
this
moment
no
further
interest
was
expressed
about
little
Michael
.
He
was
a
factory
boy
,
and
what
good
was
there
in
asking
any
further
questions
?
So
a
thick
slice
of
bread
,
and
a
scrap
of
bacon
were
set
before
him
,
and
as
soon
as
the
more
elaborate
supper
of
Mr.
Parsons
was
concluded
,
he
with
great
affability
took
the
little
fellow
by
the
hand
,
and
preceded
by
Dame
Pritchard
and
a
candle
,
conducted
him
to
a
pallet
bed
in
the
same
chamber
as
his
own
.
For
the
first
moment
after
he
was
left
alone
with
the
boy
,
the
superintendent
felt
a
strong
inclination
to
make
him
pay
for
the
affronts
he
had
been
the
cause
of
his
receiving
below
.
But
the
same
wisdom
which
had
cut
short
his
indignation
there
,
checked
him
now
;
and
having
locked
the
chamber
door
,
and
given
Michael
a
stimulating
kick
to
hasten
his
undressing
,
he
carefully
packed
in
a
bundle
the
Dowling
Lodge
suit
which
he
took
off
,
leaving
in
its
place
beside
the
bed
,
the
result
of
his
hasty
shoppings
at
Ashleigh
.
When
roused
from
his
slumbers
at
day-break
the
following
morning
,
Michael
found
these
new
garments
ready
for
him
,
and
for
a
moment
his
heart
sunk
at
the
change
,
for
though
new
,
they
were
of
the
very
lowest
kind
,
and
formed
as
strong
a
contrast
as
was
well
possible
with
the
dress
he
had
laid
aside
on
preparing
for
his
night
's
rest
.
But
the
human
mind
will
often
show
symptoms
of
philosophy
even
at
ten
years
old
;
which
truth
was
made
evident
by
the
manner
in
which
the
young
apprentice
invested
himself
in
his
new
suit
,
cheering
his
spirit
as
he
did
so
,
with
the
recollection
that
a
person
going
to
be
bound
to
a
trade
like
that
of
stocking-weaving
,
would
look
very
ridiculous
in
such
a
dress
as
had
been
just
taken
away
from
him
.
Early
as
it
was
,
Mrs.
Pritchard
was
ready
in
the
kitchen
with
"
a
pot
of
hot
tea
"
for
Mr.
Parsons
;
Michael
received
a
fitting
hunch
of
bread
,
the
covered
cart
was
brought
up
to
the
door
,
and
the
ill-matched
pair
set
off
again
upon
their
journey
.
It
might
seem
paradoxical
to
say
,
that
the
temper
of
Mr.
Parsons
was
irritated
by
the
patient
,
unsuspicious
,
and
submissive
demeanour
of
his
helpless
charge
;
yet
such
,
nevertheless
,
was
the
fact
.
It
was
many
years
since
the
bones
of
Mr.
Parsons
had
been
exposed
to
any
conveyance
more
rough
and
rude
than
Sir
Matthew
's
jockey
cart
,
which
was
constructed
with
excellent
and
efficient
springs
;
the
movement
,
therefore
,
of
the
covered
vehicle
which
had
brought
his
aching
joints
to
the
"
Crooked
Billet
"
on
Ridgetop
Moor
,
was
equally
unwonted
and
disagreeable
;
and
now
that
the
peaceable
demeanour
of
his
little
companion
had
convinced
him
that
it
was
altogether
unnecessary
,
he
felt
ready
to
twist
his
neck
round
,
as
an
atonement
for
all
he
had
endured
.
Ere
they
had
advanced
a
mile
further
,
however
,
his
spirit
found
a
species
of
consolation
that
was
perfectly
congenial
to
it
.
The
drear
dark
desert
that
spread
before
them
,
dimly
visible
as
far
as
the
eye
could
reach
through
the
chilling
mist
of
the
morning
,
was
just
such
a
region
as
his
heart
desired
for
the
dwelling
of
the
young
plague
who
had
caused
him
so
jolting
a
journey
;
and
here
too
the
covering
of
the
rough
machine
was
far
from
unwelcome
,
so
that
Mr.
Parsons
,
as
he
drove
slowly
and
cautiously
onward
amidst
the
deep
ruts
,
and
rumbling
stones
,
looked
out
upon
the
bleak
desolation
of
the
scene
,
with
a
feeling
that
almost
approached
to
complacency
.
At
length
the
moor
was
passed
,
and
for
a
few
miles
their
joints
enjoyed
the
luxury
of
a
turnpike-road
.
The
country
too
,
seemed
softening
into
a
species
of
wild
beauty
,
that
might
,
in
some
degree
,
atone
for
its
bleakness
.
But
ere
this
had
lasted
for
more
than
a
couple
of
hours
,
the
horse
's
head
was
again
turned
aside
from
the
main
road
,
and
by
a
steep
and
very
rough
descent
,
they
gradually
approached
the
level
of
a
stream
,
running
through
so
very
narrow
a
valley
,
as
in
many
places
to
afford
barely
space
enough
for
the
road
,
between
the
brook
and
the
precipitate
heights
which
shut
it
in
.
On
reaching
this
level
,
the
road
,
which
for
the
last
quarter
of
a
mile
had
seemed
to
be
leading
them
into
the
little
river
itself
,
turned
abruptly
,
and
by
an
angle
so
acute
,
following
the
indented
curve
of
the
lofty
hill
,
that
they
speedily
appeared
to
be
shut
in
on
all
sides
by
the
towering
hills
that
suddenly
,
and
as
if
by
magic
reared
themselves
in
every
direction
round
.
It
is
hardly
possible
to
conceive
a
spot
more
effectually
hidden
from
the
eyes
of
all
men
,
than
this
singular
valley
.
Hundreds
may
pass
their
lives
within
a
few
miles
of
it
,
without
having
the
least
idea
that
such
a
spot
exists
;
for
,
from
the
form
of
the
hills
it
so
happens
,
that
it
is
possible
to
wander
for
hours
over
their
summits
,
without
discovering
it
;
one
undulation
rising
beyond
another
,
so
as
to
blend
together
beneath
the
eye
,
leaving
no
opening
by
which
this
strip
of
water-level
in
their
very
centre
,
can
be
discerned
.
[
3
]
For
about
another
half
mile
,
the
narrow
cart-road
runs
beside
the
stream
without
encountering
any
single
object
,
except
its
lofty
barrier
and
the
brook
itself
,
more
remarkable
than
here
and
there
a
reed
of
higher
growth
than
common
,
or
a
plant
of
Foxglove
,
that
by
its
gay
blossom
seems
to
mock
the
desolate
sadness
of
the
spot
.
Another
turn
,
however
,
still
following
the
wavy
curvings
of
the
mountain
's
base
,
for
mountain
there
it
seems
to
be
,
opens
another
view
,
and
one
that
speaks
to
many
senses
at
once
,
the
difference
between
the
melancholy
caused
by
nature
,
and
that
produced
by
the
work
of
man
.
A
wide
spreading
cotton-factory
here
rears
its
unsightly
form
,
and
at
one
glance
makes
the
happy
wanderer
whose
foot
is
free
to
turn
which
way
he
will
,
feel
how
precious
is
the
power
of
retracing
his
steps
back
again
along
the
beguiling
path
that
has
led
him
to
it
.
This
was
a
joy
for
which
our
little
Michael
sighed
in
vain
.
On
jogged
the
cart
,
and
nearer
it
came
at
every
jolt
to
the
object
which
he
most
hated
to
look
upon
.
But
then
came
also
the
cheering
thought
,
that
he
was
no
longer
a
mere
factory
boy
,
but
about
to
become
an
apprentice
to
a
good
and
profitable
trade
,
in
which
hereafter
he
might
expect
to
get
money
enough
for
himself
,
for
mother
,
and
Teddy
too
!
Nevertheless
,
he
certainly
did
wish
,
at
the
very
bottom
of
his
heart
,
that
the
stocking-weaving
business
was
not
carried
on
in
a
building
so
very
like
a
cotton
factory
!
But
though
Michael
saw
this
hated
cotton
factory
,
he
as
yet
saw
but
a
small
portion
of
the
horrors
which
belonged
to
the
spot
he
had
reached
.
His
position
in
the
vehicle
made
it
impossible
for
him
to
look
round
,
and
perceive
how
completely
all
the
acts
that
might
be
committed
in
that
Deep
Valley
,
were
hid
from
the
eye
of
every
human
being
but
those
engaged
in
them
.
Neither
could
he
recognise
in
the
dismal
building
detached
,
yet
connected
both
with
the
manager
's
house
and
the
factory
,
the
Prison
Prentice-house
which
served
as
HOME
to
hundreds
of
little
aching
hearts
,
each
one
endowed
by
nature
with
light
spirits
,
merry
thoughts
,
and
fond
affections
;
but
all
of
whom
rose
to
their
daily
toil
under
circumstances
which
rendered
enjoyment
of
any
kind
both
morally
and
physically
impossible
.
The
gradations
by
which
all
the
misery
that
awaited
him
was
disclosed
,
were
,
however
,
neither
lingering
nor
uncertain
.
The
cart
stopped
,
Parsons
got
out
,
and
then
calling
forward
his
companion
,
seized
him
roughly
by
the
arm
,
and
swung
him
through
the
door
which
opened
to
receive
them
.
"
Soh
!
This
is
the
chap
you
are
going
to
bestow
upon
us
,
is
it
,
Mr.
Parsons
?
"
said
a
fellow
,
whose
aspect
must
have
withered
hope
in
the
gayest
spirit
that
youth
and
joy
ever
produced
between
them
.
"
Has
he
nimble
fingers
?
"
"
He
can
move
'
em
quick
enough
when
he
've
got
a
mind
for
it
,
"
replied
Parsons
.
"
But
you
must
not
spare
the
strap
,
I
can
tell
you
,
for
a
more
obstinate
hard-skinned
little
devil
,
never
crossed
the
threshold
of
a
factory
.
"
"
Never
mind
,
Mr.
Parsons
,
we
know
how
to
manage
all
those
matters
,
you
may
depend
upon
it
.
We
possess
many
advantages
over
you
,
sir
.
No
parents
here
you
know
,
to
come
bothering
us
about
bones
and
bruises
.
Here
they
all
count
at
what
they
are
worth
,
and
no
more
.
Children
is
plenty
,
Mr.
Parsons
;
and
that
's
about
the
best
thing
we
have
got
in
our
favour
;
for
it
ca
n't
be
denied
but
we
all
of
us
,
at
times
,
finds
that
we
have
managed
to
complete
more
work
than
'
tis
easy
to
dispose
of
.
"
"
No
doubt
of
that
,
Mr.
Woodcomb
.
But
you
had
better
hand
off
the
boy
,
if
you
please
,
and
then
we
'll
settle
our
little
matter
of
business
,
and
I
'll
be
off
.
Your
roads
are
none
of
the
best
,
sir
,
and
I
must
make
my
way
back
to
the
Crooked
Billet
to-night
.
"
"
Not
till
you
have
had
a
bit
,
and
a
drop
with
us
,
Mr.
Parsons
.
They
are
at
supper
in
the
Prentice-house
now
,
and
our
young
master
shall
be
handed
in
at
once
.
"
So
saying
,
the
scowling
manager
opened
a
door
in
the
farther
corner
of
the
room
,
and
made
Michael
a
sign
that
he
was
to
pass
through
it
.
The
child
obeyed
,
but
he
trembled
in
every
joint
.
Feelings
of
deeper
terror
than
had
ever
reached
his
heart
before
,
were
creeping
over
him
.
His
lips
moved
not
,
but
his
very
soul
seemed
to
whisper
within
him
,
"
Mother
!
Mother
!
"
Yet
at
that
moment
the
unhappy
boy
knew
not
what
was
before
him
;
the
influence
under
which
he
cowered
thus
,
was
like
that
produced
by
the
leaden
dimness
of
a
coming
storm
upon
the
birds
,
who
droop
their
pinions
and
seem
ready
to
fall
to
the
earth
,
even
before
a
single
hailstone
has
touched
them
.
A
long
low
passage
led
to
another
door
,
which
was
again
opened
by
the
condescending
hand
of
Mr.
Woodcomb
;
through
this
he
thrust
the
poor
Michael
,
and
having
either
by
a
word
or
a
sign
made
known
to
the
governor
of
the
Prentice-house
,
that
he
had
brought
an
accession
to
his
wretched
crew
,
he
retired
,
closing
the
door
behind
him
.
Michael
heard
the
door
close
,
and
looked
up
.
The
room
he
was
in
was
so
long
as
almost
to
appear
like
a
gallery
,
and
from
one
end
to
the
other
of
it
a
narrow
deal
board
stretched
out
,
having
room
for
about
two
hundred
to
sit
down
at
once
.
The
whole
of
this
table
was
now
occupied
by
a
portion
of
the
apprentice
children
,
both
boys
and
girls
,
belonging
to
Deep
Valley
Mill
,
and
their
appearance
might
have
wrung
the
heart
of
any
being
who
looked
upon
them
,
however
blessedly
wide
his
own
destiny
might
lead
him
from
the
melancholy
troop
.
But
to
Michael
,
the
spectacle
was
appalling
;
and
,
young
as
he
was
,
he
seemed
to
feel
that
the
filthy
,
half-starved
wretches
before
him
,
were
so
many
ghostly
representations
of
what
he
was
himself
to
be
.
A
sickness
like
that
of
death
came
over
him
,
and
he
would
have
given
a
limb
,
only
for
freedom
to
stretch
himself
down
upon
the
floor
and
see
no
more
.
But
the
master
of
the
ceremonies
at
this
feast
of
misery
bore
a
huge
horsewhip
in
his
hand
,
without
which
indeed
,
it
is
said
,
he
seldom
appeared
on
the
premises
,
and
with
it
an
eye
that
seemed
to
have
the
power
of
quelling
with
a
single
glance
,
the
will
of
every
little
wretch
it
looked
upon
.
The
place
that
Michael
was
to
take
at
the
board
was
indicated
to
him
,
and
he
sat
down
.
The
food
placed
before
him
consisted
of
a
small
bowl
of
what
was
denominated
stir-pudding
,
a
sort
of
miserable
water-porridge
,
and
a
lump
of
oaten
cake
,
of
a
flavour
so
sour
and
musty
,
that
the
little
fellow
,
though
never
accustomed
till
the
fatal
patronage
of
Sir
Matthew
fell
upon
him
,
to
any
viands
more
dainty
than
dry
bread
,
could
not
at
this
first
essay
persuade
himself
to
eat
it
.
The
wife
of
the
governor
of
the
Prentice-house
,
a
help
meet
for
him
in
every
way
,
chanced
to
have
her
eye
upon
the
stranger
child
as
he
pushed
the
morsel
from
him
,
and
the
smile
that
relaxed
her
features
might
have
told
him
something
,
had
he
chanced
to
see
,
and
understand
it
,
respecting
the
excellent
chance
there
was
of
his
having
a
better
appetite
in
future
.
A
girl
nearly
of
his
own
age
sat
on
one
side
,
and
a
boy
considerably
older
on
the
other
;
the
first
who
had
as
much
of
beauty
as
it
was
perhaps
,
possible
for
any
human
being
to
have
after
a
six
month
's
residence
at
Deep-Valley
Mill
,
looked
up
into
his
face
with
a
pair
of
large
blue
eyes
that
spoke
unbounded
pity
,
and
he
heard
a
soft
little
voice
whisper
,
"
Poor
boy
!
"
While
his
lanky
neighbour
on
the
other
side
made
prize
of
the
rejected
food
,
venturing
to
say
aloud
,
"
Any
how
,
it
is
too
good
to
be
wasted
.
"
The
wretched
meal
did
not
last
long
,
and
for
a
few
minutes
after
it
was
ended
,
the
governor
and
his
wife
disappeared
.
During
this
interval
,
those
who
had
strength
and
inclination
moved
about
the
room
as
they
listed
,
but
by
far
the
greater
number
were
already
dropping
to
sleep
after
a
day
of
protracted
labour
,
during
which
they
had
followed
the
ceaseless
movements
of
the
machinery
,
for
above
fifteen
hours
.
Among
the
former
was
the
hungry
lad
who
had
appropriated
the
oat-cake
of
Michael
,
and
no
sooner
were
the
eye
of
the
master
and
mistress
removed
,
than
he
turned
to
the
new-comer
,
and
in
a
tone
that
seemed
to
hover
between
good-humour
and
ridicule
,
said
,
"
So
you
could
not
find
a
stomach
for
your
supper
,
my
man
?
"
"
I
did
not
want
supper
,
"
replied
Michael
,
dolefully
.
"
You
did'nt
want
it
,
did
n't
you
?
That
speaks
better
for
the
living
as
you
have
left
,
than
I
can
speak
of
that
as
you
'll
find
,
"
returned
his
new
acquaintance
.
"
Do
n't
you
say
nothing
to
nobody
,
and
,
to-morrow
morning
,
after
the
lash
have
sounded
through
the
room
to
wake
us
all
,
just
you
start
up
,
and
jump
into
your
clothes
,
and
when
we
goes
to
pump
,
I
'll
show
you
where
we
gets
our
tit-bits
from
.
"
Michael
was
in
the
act
of
nodding
assent
to
this
proposal
,
when
the
woman
,
who
five
minutes
before
had
left
the
room
,
returned
to
it
,
and
by
a
very
summary
process
caused
the
ragged
,
weary
,
prayerless
,
hopeless
multitude
to
crawl
and
clamber
,
half
sleeping
and
half
waking
,
to
their
filthy
beds
.
They
were
divided
by
fifties
in
a
room
,
but
notwithstanding
the
number
,
and
the
little
space
in
which
they
had
to
stow
themselves
,
the
stillness
of
heavy
sleep
pervaded
every
chamber
,
ere
the
miserable
little
inmates
had
been
five
minutes
enclosed
within
the
walls
.
Poor
Michael
lay
as
motionless
as
the
rest
,
but
he
was
not
sleeping
.
Disappointment
,
fearful
forebodings
,
and
excessive
nausea
,
all
conspired
to
banish
this
only
blessing
that
an
apprenticed
factory
child
can
know
.
He
had
already
laboured
,
poor
fellow
,
for
nearly
half
his
little
life
,
and
that
under
most
hard
and
unrelenting
masters
;
but
till
now
,
he
had
never
known
how
very
wretched
his
young
thoughts
could
make
him
.
His
mother
's
fond
caresses
,
and
his
brother
's
fervent
love
,
had
in
spite
of
toil
,
and
sometimes
in
spite
of
hunger
,
cheered
and
comforted
the
last
moments
of
every
day
.
The
rude
bed
also
,
on
which
the
brothers
lay
,
was
too
clean
,
notwithstanding
all
the
difficulty
of
keeping
it
so
,
to
be
tainted
with
the
loathsome
scent
of
oil
,
or
sundry
other
abominations
which
rendered
the
place
where
he
now
lay
,
almost
intolerable
.
Yet
to
this
den
,
far
,
far
away
from
the
only
creatures
who
loved
and
cherished
him
,
he
was
come
by
his
own
consent
,
his
own
express
desire
!
The
thought
was
almost
too
bitter
to
bear
,
and
the
bundle
of
straw
that
served
him
for
a
pillow
,
received
for
the
first
hour
of
the
night
a
ceaseless
flood
of
tears
.
It
was
,
as
his
young
companion
had
predicted
,
by
the
sound
of
a
flourished
whip
,
that
he
was
awakened
on
the
following
morning
.
In
an
instant
he
was
on
his
feet
,
and
a
minute
or
two
more
sufficed
to
invest
him
in
his
clothes
;
this
speed
,
however
,
was
the
effect
of
terror
,
for
he
remembered
not
the
invitation
of
the
preceding
evening
.
But
hardly
had
he
finished
the
operation
of
dressing
,
when
Charley
Ford
,
the
boy
who
gave
it
,
was
by
his
side
,
and
giving
him
a
silent
hint
by
a
wink
of
the
left
eye
,
and
a
movement
of
the
right
elbow
that
he
might
follow
him
,
turned
away
,
and
ran
down
stairs
.
Michael
did
so
too
,
and
presently
found
himself
with
a
multitude
of
others
in
a
small
paved
court
,
on
one
side
of
which
was
a
pump
,
to
whose
spout
every
child
came
in
succession
to
perform
a
very
necessary
,
but
,
from
lack
of
soap
,
a
very
imperfect
act
of
ablution
.
Neglecting
to
watch
his
turn
for
this
,
and
not
permitting
Michael
to
do
so
either
,
Charles
Ford
made
his
way
to
a
door
that
opened
upon
another
part
of
the
premises
,
and
pushing
it
open
,
disclosed
to
the
eyes
of
Michael
a
loathsome
and
a
fearful
spectacle
.
Seven
or
eight
boys
had
already
made
their
way
to
the
sort
of
rude
farm-yard
upon
which
this
door
opened
,
one
and
all
of
whom
were
intent
upon
purloining
from
a
filthy
trough
just
replenished
for
the
morning
meal
of
two
stout
hogs
,
a
variety
of
morsels
which
,
as
Michael
's
new
acquaintance
assured
him
,
were
"
dainty
eating
for
the
starving
prentices
of
Deep
Valley
mill
.
"
"
Make
haste
,
young'un
,
"
cried
Charles
,
good-naturedly
,
"
or
they
wo
n't
leave
a
turnip
—
paring
for
us
.
"
And
on
he
rushed
to
the
scuffle
,
leaving
Michael
gazing
with
disgust
and
horror
at
the
contest
between
the
fierce
snouts
of
the
angry
pigs
,
and
the
active
fingers
of
the
wretched
crew
who
contested
with
them
for
the
offal
thus
cast
forth
.
Michael
Armstrong
was
a
child
of
deep
feeling
;
and
it
was
,
perhaps
,
lucky
for
him
,
that
the
burning
sense
of
shame
and
degradation
which
pervaded
every
nerve
of
his
little
frame
,
as
he
looked
on
upon
this
revolting
spectacle
,
come
upon
him
while
yet
too
young
for
any
notion
of
resistance
to
suggest
itself
.
He
felt
faint
,
sick
,
and
broken-hearted
;
but
no
worm
that
ever
was
crushed
to
atoms
by
the
foot
of
an
elephant
,
dreamed
less
of
vengeance
than
did
poor
Michael
,
as
the
horrid
thought
came
over
him
,
that
he
was
going
to
abide
in
a
place
where
little
boys
were
treated
with
less
care
and
tenderness
than
pigs
!
He
turned
away
shuddering
,
and
feeling
almost
unable
to
stand
—
and
then
the
image
of
his
mother
seemed
to
rise
before
him
—
he
felt
her
soft
gentle
kisses
on
his
cheeks
,
and
almost
unconsciously
pronounced
her
name
.
This
dear
name
,
lowly
as
it
was
murmured
,
came
upon
his
ear
so
like
the
knell
of
happiness
that
was
never
to
return
,
that
the
hard
agony
of
his
little
heart
melted
before
it
,
and
sitting
down
upon
a
bundle
of
fagots
that
were
piled
up
against
the
wall
,
he
rested
his
burning
head
against
the
bricks
,
and
burst
into
a
passion
of
tears
.
At
this
moment
he
felt
a
hand
upon
his
shoulder
,
and
trembling
from
head
to
foot
,
he
sprung
upon
his
feet
,
and
suddenly
turning
round
beheld
,
instead
of
the
savage
features
of
the
overlooker
which
his
fancy
had
conjured
up
,
the
meekest
,
gentlest
,
loveliest
little
face
,
that
ever
eyes
looked
upon
,
within
a
few
feet
of
him
.
It
was
the
same
little
girl
who
had
been
placed
next
him
at
the
miserable
supper
of
the
preceding
night
,
and
whose
low
murmur
of
pity
for
all
the
sorrow
he
was
come
to
share
with
her
,
had
reached
his
ears
and
his
heart
.
"
You
'll
be
strapped
dreadful
if
you
bide
here
,
"
said
the
child
.
"
Come
away
—
and
do
n't
let
them
see
you
cry
!
"
But
even
as
she
spoke
she
turned
from
him
,
and
ran
towards
the
door
through
which
the
miserable
pilferers
of
the
pig-trough
were
already
hurrying
.
Perhaps
no
other
warning-voice
would
have
been
so
promptly
listened
to
at
that
moment
by
poor
Michael
,
for
it
was
something
very
like
the
numbing
effect
of
despair
that
seemed
to
have
seized
upon
him
,
and
it
is
likely
enough
he
would
have
remained
in
the
attitude
he
had
taken
,
with
his
head
resting
against
the
wall
,
till
the
brutal
violence
of
his
task-master
had
dragged
him
from
it
,
had
not
this
pretty
vision
of
pity
appeared
to
warn
him
of
his
danger
.
He
rose
and
followed
her
so
quickly
,
that
by
the
time
she
had
reached
the
crowd
of
children
who
were
still
thronging
round
the
pump
,
he
was
by
her
side
.
"
Thank
you
!
"
whispered
Michael
in
her
ear
,
"
It
was
very
kind
of
you
to
call
me
—
and
I
should
n't
have
come
if
you
had
n't
—
for
I
should
n't
care
very
much
if
they
killed
me
.
"
"
That
's
very
naughty
!
"
said
the
little
girl
.
"
How
can
I
be
good
?
"
demanded
Michael
,
while
the
tears
again
burst
from
his
eyes
.
"
'
Twas
mother
that
made
me
good
before
,
and
I
do
n't
think
I
shall
ever
see
her
any
more
.
"
"
I
never
can
see
my
mother
any
more
,
till
I
go
to
Heaven
,
"
replied
the
little
girl
—
"
but
I
always
think
every
day
,
that
she
told
me
before
she
died
,
about
God
's
making
every
thing
come
right
in
the
end
,
if
we
hear
all
things
patiently
for
love
of
him
.
"
"
But
God
ca
n't
choose
I
should
be
taken
from
mother
,
and
that
's
why
I
ca
n't
bear
it
,
"
said
Michael
.
The
little
girl
shook
her
head
,
very
evidently
disapproving
his
theology
.
"
How
old
are
you
?
"
said
Michael
.
"
Eleven
years
old
three
months
ago
,
and
that
was
one
week
after
I
came
here
,
"
answered
his
new
acquaintance
.
"
Then
you
are
more
than
one
whole
year
older
than
me
?
"
said
Michael
;
"
and
I
dare
say
you
know
better
than
I
do
;
and
I
'll
try
to
be
good
too
,
if
you
'll
love
me
,
and
be
kind
to
me
always
,
like
poor
Edward
.
My
name
is
Michael
—
What
's
your
name
?
"
"
Fanny
Fletcher
,
"
replied
the
little
girl
,
"
and
I
will
love
you
and
be
kind
to
you
,
if
you
'll
be
a
good
boy
and
bear
it
all
patiently
.
"
"
I
would
bear
it
all
patiently
,
"
said
Michael
,
"
if
I
knew
when
I
was
to
get
away
,
and
when
you
was
to
get
away
too
.
But
perhaps
we
are
to
stay
here
for
ever
?
"
And
again
the
tears
ran
down
his
cheeks
.
"
That
's
nonsense
,
Michael
,
"
said
Fanny
.
"
They
ca
n't
keep
us
here
for
ever
.
When
we
die
,
we
are
sure
to
get
away
from
them
.
"
Michael
opened
his
large
eyes
and
looked
at
her
with
something
like
reproach
.
"
When
we
die
?
"
he
repeated
sadly
.
"
Are
we
to
stay
here
till
we
die
?
—
I
am
never
to
see
mother
and
Teddy
any
more
then
?
"
"
Do
n't
cry
,
Michael
!
"
said
the
little
girl
,
taking
his
hand
—
"
We
shall
be
sure
to
get
out
if
God
thinks
it
right
.
Do
n't
cry
so
!
"
"
I
wish
I
was
as
old
as
you
,
"
said
Michael
,
with
an
accent
expressive
of
great
respect
.
"
I
should
bear
it
better
then
.
"
As
Michael
ceased
speaking
he
felt
the
little
girl
shudder
.
"
Here
he
is
!
"
she
whispered
,
withdrawing
her
hand
from
him
—
"
we
must
n't
speak
any
more
now
.
"
"
Off
with
you
,
vagabonds
!
"
roared
the
voice
of
the
apprentice-house
governor
,
from
behind
them
.
"
Do
n't
you
see
the
factory-gates
open
?
"
.
The
miserable
little
troop
waited
for
no
second
summons
,
well
knowing
that
the
lash
,
which
was
now
only
idly
cutting
the
air
above
their
heads
,
would
speedily
descend
upon
them
if
they
did
;
but
not
even
terror
could
enable
the
wasting
limbs
of
those
who
had
long
inhabited
this
fearful
abode
,
to
move
quickly
.
Many
among
them
were
dreadfully
crippled
in
the
legs
,
and
nearly
all
exhibited
the
frightful
spectacle
of
young
features
pinched
by
famine
.
Let
none
dare
to
say
this
picture
is
exaggerated
,
till
he
has
taken
the
trouble
to
ascertain
by
his
own
personal
investigation
,
that
it
is
so
.
It
is
very
fearful
crime
in
a
country
where
public
opinion
has
been
proved
(
as
in
the
African
Slave
Trade
)
,
to
be
omnipotent
,
for
any
individual
to
sit
down
with
a
shadow
of
doubt
respecting
such
statements
on
his
mind
.
If
they
be
true
,
let
each
in
his
own
little
circle
,
raise
his
voice
against
the
horrors
detailed
by
them
,
AND
THESE
HORRORS
WILL
BE
REMEDIED
.
But
woe
to
those
who
supinely
sit
in
contented
ignorance
of
the
facts
,
soothing
their
spirits
and
their
easy
consciences
with
the
cuckoo
note
,
"
exaggeration
,
"
while
thousands
of
helpless
children
pine
away
their
unnoted
,
miserable
lives
,
in
labour
and
destitution
,
incomparably
more
severe
,
than
any
ever
produced
by
negro
slavery
.
It
was
with
a
feeling
certainly
somewhat
akin
to
comfort
,
that
Michael
found
himself
thrust
into
the
same
chamber
with
his
gentle
little
monitor
,
Fanny
.
The
mules
they
attended
,
were
side
by
side
,
and
though
no
intercourse
was
permitted
,
that
could
by
possibility
interfere
with
the
ceaseless
labour
of
piecing
,
nevertheless
,
a
word
when
their
walk
brought
them
near
enough
to
each
other
to
be
heard
,
was
often
exchanged
between
the
children
,
and
the
effect
of
this
on
Michael
,
was
most
salutary
.
Superlatively
,
and
above
all
others
,
wretched
as
are
the
miserable
young
victims
apprenticed
to
factory
masters
,
it
is
not
unusual
to
find
among
them
some
helpless
creature
,
whose
first
impressions
were
received
under
more
favourable
moral
circumstances
,
than
those
in
which
the
pauper
children
of
the
manufacturing
districts
are
placed
.
For
it
is
from
a
distance
from
those
unblessed
regions
,
that
the
great
majority
of
apprentices
are
furnished
,
and
the
chances
are
,
therefore
,
greatly
in
favour
of
their
having
first
opened
their
eyes
amidst
scenes
of
less
ignorance
,
degradation
,
and
suffering
,
than
those
born
within
reach
of
the
poisonous
factory
influence
.
Such
was
the
case
with
Fanny
Fletcher
.
It
was
not
till
mother
and
father
were
both
dead
,
that
she
had
ceased
to
hear
the
voice
of
love
,
and
the
precepts
of
religion
.
For
three
years
she
had
,
indeed
,
been
supported
by
the
labour
of
a
poor
widowed
mother
;
but
being
her
only
child
,
Fanny
had
wanted
nothing
,
had
never
been
exposed
to
the
hearing
of
coarse
language
,
or
the
witnessing
vicious
habits
,
and
all
her
little
studies
had
been
so
thoroughly
mixed
up
with
religious
feelings
,
that
by
the
time
she
was
ten
years
old
,
it
would
have
been
almost
impossible
to
eradicate
them
,
or
rob
her
entirely
of
the
gentle
courage
,
and
patient
endurance
,
such
feelings
invariably
lead
to
.
When
her
mother
died
,
all
the
world
—
her
little
world
,
consisting
of
a
score
of
poor
bodies
of
her
own
class
,
exclaimed
,
"
Poor
Fanny
Fletcher
!
"
But
there
was
not
one
among
them
rich
enough
to
save
her
from
the
workhouse
,
and
to
the
workhouse
therefore
she
went
,
whence
within
three
months
she
was
sent
,
with
many
others
,
as
apprentices
,
to
Deep
Valley
factory
,
ostensibly
,
and
as
doubtless
the
parish
authorities
believed
,
to
learn
a
good
trade
,
but
in
truth
,
to
undergo
a
species
of
slavery
,
probably
the
most
tremendous
that
young
children
were
ever
exposed
to
in
any
part
of
the
known
world
,
civilized
or
uncivilized
.
That
the
desolate
little
creature
suffered
fearfully
,
both
in
body
and
mind
,
cannot
be
doubted
;
yet
at
the
time
Michael
first
saw
her
,
there
was
still
that
beautiful
look
of
innocent
patience
in
her
eyes
,
which
shows
that
the
spirit
,
though
bending
under
sorrow
,
is
neither
reckless
nor
degraded
.
Herself
,
and
her
companions
from
the
workhouse
to
which
she
had
been
consigned
at
her
mother
's
death
,
were
the
latest
arrivals
at
Deep
Valley
when
Michael
reached
it
,
and
were
still
considered
by
the
rest
of
the
inmates
as
new-comers
,
who
did
not
yet
know
the
full
misery
of
incessant
labour
,
with
strength
daily
failing
for
want
of
pure
air
and
sufficient
food
.
Fanny
was
by
nature
a
slight
delicate
little
creature
,
with
an
elastic
sort
of
vitality
about
her
which
seemed
to
set
fasting
at
defiance
.
That
is
to
say
,
her
sweet
eye
had
not
yet
lost
its
brightness
,
but
her
beautifully
fair
cheek
was
very
pale
,
and
her
delicate
limbs
most
deplorably
thin
,
though
they
had
not
yet
reached
that
shrunk
and
wasted
condition
which
was
nearly
general
among
her
companions
.
Michael
looked
at
her
as
she
bent
over
her
threads
,
and
repaired
the
incessant
breakings
among
them
with
her
white
little
hands
,
with
a
degree
of
love
and
pity
which
while
it
wrung
his
heart
,
softened
the
hard
despair
that
had
nearly
seized
upon
him
,
by
making
him
feel
,
that
though
his
mother
and
his
brother
were
lost
to
him
for
long
long
years
,
during
which
he
was
to
taste
of
nothing
but
misery
,
still
there
was
somebody
who
might
grow
to
love
him
.
This
was
a
timely
solace
!
Young
as
he
was
,
he
perceived
at
once
,
that
instead
of
being
brought
to
Deep
Valley
to
learn
a
trade
,
he
had
been
beguiled
to
enter
there
bound
and
helpless
,
for
more
years
than
he
dared
to
count
,
and
with
no
prospect
of
learning
any
thing
beyond
the
same
slavish
process
of
waiting
upon
the
machinery
,
which
had
painfully
occupied
his
daily
existence
,
and
that
of
his
dearer
brother
,
as
long
as
they
could
remember
to
have
lived
.
Under
these
circumstances
,
it
was
truly
a
great
blessing
to
have
found
somebody
of
whom
he
might
make
a
friend
,
and
so
strongly
did
the
poor
little
fellow
feel
it
,
that
when
the
miserable
band
were
led
to
their
morning
meal
,
he
told
Fanny
as
he
walked
beside
her
,
that
he
thought
he
should
grow
to
behave
better
than
he
had
done
that
morning
,
if
she
would
always
talk
to
him
about
good
things
,
and
let
him
talk
about
mother
and
Teddy
to
her
in
return
.
"
There
's
a
good
boy
!
"
replied
Fanny
,
soothingly
.
"
I
will
talk
to
you
,
Michael
,
whenever
I
can
—
and
never
mind
,
"
she
added
,
as
they
sat
down
again
side
by
side
at
the
long
dirty
board
that
formed
their
breakfast
table
,
"
never
mind
not
having
what
's
good
to
eat
,
it
wo
n't
taste
so
nasty
by
and
bye
,
when
you
grow
used
to
it
.
"
"
I
wo
n't
mind
it
!
"
replied
Michael
,
manfully
,
as
he
supped
the
musty-flavoured
watery
mess
.
"
But
I
wish
I
had
got
a
bit
of
good
bread
for
you
,
Fanny
!
"
CHAPTER
XVIII
.
AN
EXPLANATORY
EPISTLE
,
WHICH
DOES
NOT
PROVE
SATISFACTORY
—
PLANS
FOR
THE
FUTURE
,
FOLLOWED
BY
ACTIVE
MEASURES
TO
CARRY
THEM
INTO
EFFECT
—
A
MORNING
VISIT
TO
MRS.
GABBERLY
.
During
the
whole
of
the
day
which
followed
Miss
Brotherton
's
expedition
to
Hoxley-lane
,
that
young
lady
remained
waiting
at
home
,
not
very
patiently
,
for
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
's
promised
communication
.
But
still
it
came
not
,
and
when
,
at
an
hour
too
late
to
hope
for
it
any
longer
,
she
at
length
retired
to
bed
,
it
was
in
a
state
of
irritation
and
anxiety
that
left
her
little
chance
of
quiet
slumber
.
Pale
,
harassed
,
and
fearing
she
knew
not
what
for
the
little
fellow
,
for
whose
safety
she
had
undertaken
to
answer
,
Miss
Brotherton
joined
her
good
nurse
at
the
breakfast-table
,
incapable
of
thinking
or
speaking
upon
any
other
subject
.
But
it
was
in
vain
that
the
gentle-spirited
Mrs.
Tremlett
again
and
again
declared
it
to
be
"
impossible
,
and
quite
out
of
all
likelihood
,
that
Sir
Matthew
should
mean
any
harm
by
the
boy
;
"
Mary
,
though
"
weary
of
conjectures
,
"
could
by
no
means
end
them
by
coming
to
the
same
conclusion
;
nor
did
the
following
letter
,
handed
to
her
while
she
still
sat
before
her
untasted
breakfast
greatly
tend
to
tranquillize
her
.
It
was
from
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
himself
,
delicately
enveloped
,
highly
scented
and
sealed
with
prodigiously
fine
armorial
bearings
on
a
shield
,
almost
large
enough
to
have
adorned
the
panels
of
a
carriage
.
But
all
this
perfection
of
elegance
was
lost
on
poor
Mary
,
whose
heart
,
indeed
,
seemed
to
leap
into
her
throat
,
as
she
tore
open
the
important
despatch
.
It
contained
the
following
lines
:
"
My
charming
Neighbour
!
"
If
you
knew
,
or
could
at
all
guess
,
how
fervently
I
admire
the
beautiful
benevolence
you
have
manifested
,
in
trying
to
quiet
the
fidgetty
spirit
of
poor
window
Armstrong
,
you
would
be
better
able
to
appreciate
the
vexation
I
feel
,
at
not
yet
being
able
fully
to
answer
your
inquiries
concerning
her
boy
.
Think
not
,
my
dearest
Miss
Brotherton
,
that
I
neglected
this
business
yesterday
,
on
the
contrary
,
I
do
assure
you
I
gave
my
whole
attention
to
it
;
nevertheless
,
I
have
by
no
means
succeeded
in
learning
what
you
wish
to
know
.
The
facts
of
the
case
are
these
.
A
most
respectable
stocking-manufacturer
,
with
whom
,
however
,
my
foreman
is
better
acquainted
than
myself
,
employs
a
multitude
of
young
hands
,
most
of
whom
are
apprentices
,
in
the
different
branches
of
his
business
.
It
was
to
this
person
,
that
the
weak
and
wavering
poor
woman
for
whom
you
are
interested
,
agreed
to
intrust
her
boy
.
Indentures
were
accordingly
prepared
,
and
I
gave
my
superintendent
orders
to
have
the
little
fellow
supplied
with
all
necessaries
,
desiring
that
no
time
might
be
lost
in
getting
him
ready
,
as
I
knew
that
people
belonging
to
this
stocking-weaving
establishment
were
likely
to
pass
through
Ashleigh
in
a
day
or
two
,
and
I
wished
,
if
possible
,
to
avoid
having
the
trouble
of
sending
him
to
his
destination
myself
.
Now
it
unfortunately
happened
,
that
my
man
,
Parsons
,
obeyed
this
order
much
more
literally
than
I
intended
;
for
meeting
in
Ashleigh
the
persons
I
had
named
to
him
the
very
next
day
,
he
immediately
mentioned
the
circumstance
to
them
,
and
finding
that
they
had
a
comfortable
van
,
and
every
thing
convenient
with
them
,
the
whole
business
was
arranged
and
done
before
I
returned
from
a
visit
I
had
been
making
at
Netherby
.
This
was
certainly
being
more
prompt
than
was
necessary
,
but
it
would
have
mattered
little
,
comparatively
speaking
,
had
he
not
been
such
a
goose
as
to
let
the
van
drive
off
,
without
even
asking
to
which
of
the
manufactories
of
the
establishment
it
was
going
.
Yet
,
although
this
is
vexing
,
my
dear
Miss
Brotherton
,
I
should
think
it
could
not
be
very
important
.
I
have
told
Parsons
to
write
about
it
immediately
,
and
he
shall
wait
upon
you
with
the
information
you
wish
for
,
as
soon
as
he
receives
it
.
"
Will
you
,
my
fair
friend
,
join
us
in
a
little
pic-nic
party
,
projected
by
our
young
people
for
Thursday
next
,
'
under
the
green-wood
tree
in
Blackberry
wood
?
'
Lady
Clarissa
is
,
of
course
,
to
be
one
of
our
society
,
and
she
will
communicate
all
particulars
respecting
place
and
time
.
"
Ever
,
my
dear
Miss
Brotherton
,
"
Very
faithfully
yours
,
"
Matthew
Dowling
.
"
Having
read
this
letter
to
the
end
,
she
turned
the
sheet
,
and
began
a
reperusal
of
it
,
without
uttering
a
word
,
and
when
she
had
again
reached
its
conclusion
,
she
put
it
into
the
hands
of
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
still
without
speaking
a
word
.
Before
,
however
,
that
excellent
,
but
not
rapid
lady
,
had
got
half
through
it
,
poor
Mary
's
agitation
broke
forth
—
"
What
do
you
think
of
it
,
nurse
?
for
Heaven
's
sake
,
give
me
your
opinion
without
delay
!
I
am
quite
sure
,
that
the
poor
creatures
in
Hoxley-lane
,
whom
I
have
beguiled
with
my
presumptious
promises
,
will
pine
themselves
to
death
with
this
uncertainty
.
Tremlett
!
for
mercy
's
sake
finish
reading
it
,
and
tell
me
what
I
can
do
more
!
"
It
might
not
have
been
very
easy
for
any
one
to
have
satisfactorily
answered
this
inquiry
;
but
the
good
Mrs.
Tremlett
was
altogether
incapable
of
forming
any
opinion
worth
hearing
on
the
subject
,
for
in
truth
she
neither
shared
,
nor
fully
comprehended
the
vague
fears
,
that
were
tormenting
her
young
mistress
.
Having
,
however
,
at
length
,
despite
of
Mary
's
interruptions
,
contrived
to
reach
the
end
of
the
epistle
,
her
first
words
were
—
"
Do
n't
,
my
darling
Miss
Mary
!
—
let
me
beg
of
you
to
refuse
at
once
.
There
is
nothing
in
the
whole
world
so
dangerous
and
cold-catching
,
as
these
foolish
parties
on
the
damp
grass
.
And
besides
,
the
evenings
are
drawing
in
now
,
and
I
'm
sure
"
—
"
Oh
!
Nurse
Tremlett
!
Nurse
Tremlett
!
"
interrupted
Mary
,
more
angry
with
her
than
she
had
ever
been
in
her
whole
life
before
,
"
How
can
you
be
so
cruel
as
to
trifle
thus
?
Why
wo
n't
you
try
to
think
a
little
for
me
about
this
strange
mysterious
business
,
and
give
me
your
opinion
?
"
"
Lord
bless
you
,
Miss
Mary
,
if
you
were
to
kill
me
,
I
could
no
more
help
thinking
of
you
first
than
I
could
fly
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Tremlett
.
"
And
,
indeed
,
my
dear
,
I
do
n't
see
what
you
should
put
yourself
into
such
a
fuss
for
.
What
can
you
think
is
going
to
happen
to
the
little
boy
!
You
'll
just
spoil
that
poor
sickly
body
,
my
dear
child
,
if
you
encourage
her
in
having
such
tantrums
,
because
her
boy
set
out
upon
his
journey
a
day
,
may
be
,
earlier
than
she
expected
.
"
"
Then
you
really
and
truly
do
not
believe
it
possible
,
nurse
,
that
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
should
have
smuggled
the
boy
away
,
without
intending
to
let
us
know
where
he
has
sent
him
?
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
.
"
Good
gracious
,
no
,
Miss
Mary
,
"
replied
her
friend
.
For
a
moment
,
this
opinion
brought
some
consolation
with
it
,
simply
from
the
decision
with
which
it
was
uttered
;
but
the
next
,
all
her
anxiety
returned
again
,
for
though
she
felt
that
there
was
,
perhaps
,
something
improbable
and
exaggerated
in
the
idea
of
the
child
's
being
kidnapped
in
the
face
of
day
,
and
at
it
were
before
a
hundred
witnesses
,
there
was
at
least
no
delusion
as
to
his
unhappy
mother
's
state
of
mind
respecting
him
,
nor
in
the
fact
of
her
having
in
some
sort
pledged
her
own
word
,
that
the
poor
woman
and
her
lame
boy
should
receive
tidings
of
him
.
A
little
further
conversation
with
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
convinced
her
that
her
opinion
on
the
subject
could
be
of
no
great
value
,
inasmuch
as
it
was
founded
solely
on
the
notion
,
that
"
it
was
not
likely
,
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
should
want
to
hide
away
the
little
boy
.
"
"
No
!
"
thought
Mary
.
"
Nor
was
it
likely
he
should
have
acted
,
looked
,
and
spoken
as
I
saw
him
do
,
when
his
poor
girl
lost
her
senses
from
agony
at
my
having
witnessed
it
.
If
I
misdoubt
him
unjustly
,
I
will
be
careful
that
it
shall
not
injure
him
.
I
will
await
his
own
time
for
information
.
If
it
comes
,
no
one
will
be
the
worse
for
the
impatience
with
which
I
shall
have
waited
for
it
.
But
,
if
it
comes
not
,
I
can
be
doing
no
wrong
by
taking
every
means
of
seeking
it
.
"
In
conformity
with
this
resolution
,
Miss
Brotherton
not
only
waited
with
tolerable
external
composure
herself
,
but
continued
in
a
great
degree
to
tranquillize
the
spirits
of
the
widow
Armstrong
,
likewise
;
and
during
a
whole
week
,
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
was
permitted
to
remain
unmolested
.
Miss
Brotherton
,
indeed
,
did
not
meet
him
under
the
greenwood-tree
,
pleading
an
indisposition
,
which
was
not
quite
imaginary
,
as
her
excuse
,
but
she
troubled
him
with
nor
more
questions
.
On
the
day
fixed
for
this
al
fresco
meeting
