thathis
countenance
instead
of
expressing
any
thing
of
the
kind
,
wore
a
look
of
more
than
usual
good-humour
,
as
he
replied
,
beginning
at
the
same
time
to
replace
the
red
tape
round
the
papers
.
"
That
shall
be
just
as
it
pleases
you
,
my
good
woman
,
we
wo
n't
say
any
thing
more
about
it
,
just
yet
.
"
Then
turning
to
Martha
,
he
said
,
in
a
sort
of
half-whisper
.
"
I
ca
n't
stay
now
,
Martha
,
we
must
go
,
dear
,
because
I
expect
to
find
some
one
waiting
for
me
at
home
.
But
we
must
not
deceive
the
poor
dear
woman
either
.
She
ought
to
know
,
Martha
that
this
is
a
chance
I
may
not
have
again
,
God
knows
when
,
if
ever
.
Ca
n't
you
explain
to
her
,
my
dear
,
that
this
is
a
sort
of
thing
that
by
no
means
happens
every
day
.
Sometime
ago
I
had
an
opportunity
of
doing
this
gentleman
a
good
turn
about
one
of
his
principal
hands
for
whom
he
was
greatly
interested
—
for
he
is
like
a
father
to
them
all
,
and
he
promised
then
to
return
it
whenever
I
had
any
thing
of
the
same
sort
at
heart
.
So
now
,
I
have
written
to
him
about
this
boy
,
and
he
has
answered
me
as
kind
as
possible
;
only
he
tells
me
that
he
has
got
such
quantities
of
applications
from
the
people
round
him
,
that
when
he
has
a
vacancy
among
the
bound
hands
,
he
ca
n't
keep
it
open
,
and
that
he
must
have
yes
or
no
at
once
.
I
am
afraid
,
therefore
,
that
we
must
give
it
up
,
my
dear
.
"
This
was
"
soft
soder
,
"
as
the
inimitable
Slick
calls
it
;
and
the
poor
doubting
,
trembling
,
helpless
bit
of
human
nature
,
lying
on
the
bed
from
whence
she
knew
full
well
she
should
never
rise
,
did
not
listen
to
it
unmoved
.
She
felt
,
as
he
intended
she
should
,
her
heavy
responsibility
,
and
looked
up
into
the
face
of
Martha
in
a
manner
that
very
speakingly
asked
for
counsel
.
The
good
girl
understood
the
appeal
,
and
frankly
answered
it
.
"
You
hear
what
my
father
says
,
Mrs.
Armstrong
,
"
said
she
,
leaning
over
the
poor
invalid
.
"
Yes
,
miss
,
I
do
,
"
replied
the
anxious
woman
,
"
and
,
God
help
me
!
—
I
feel
as
weak
and
ignorant
as
a
baby
about
what
I
ought
to
say
in
return
.
"
"
I
do
n't
know
how
that
can
be
,
"
said
the
innocent
Martha
a
little
reproachfully
.
"
You
know
exactly
how
the
case
stands
,
and
must
certainly
be
able
to
judge
what
you
think
it
right
to
do
under
these
circumstances
.
"
"
I
hope
excuse
,
miss
,
if
I
seem
over
mothersome
and
foolish
about
him
,
"
replied
the
poor
widow
in
a
deprecating
tone
,
"
but
he
's
a
precious
boy
to
me
,
and
the
binding
him
,
comes
upon
me
unawares
like
.
"
"
Well
then
,
there
's
nothing
more
to
be
said
,
I
think
,
"
said
Martha
withdrawing
herself
from
the
bed
.
"
It
seems
a
matter
of
feeling
,
papa
,
and
I
do
n't
think
we
ought
to
battle
against
it
,
for
it
is
very
likely
she
would
be
unhappy
if
we
persuaded
her
,
let
it
turn
out
as
it
would
.
"
Instead
of
answering
,
Sir
Matthew
suddenly
wheeled
round
,
and
looked
out
of
the
window
,
as
if
the
bit
of
stony
mould
extending
ten
feet
deep
to
the
ditch
that
fenced
it
,
contained
something
of
peculiar
interest
and
curiosity
.
During
this
interval
,
which
lasted
about
a
minute
,
the
widow
Armstrong
again
fixed
her
eyes
upon
the
face
of
Martha
,
with
an
appealing
look
that
seemed
to
implore
assistance
from
her
judgment
,
while
it
evidently
expressed
confidence
in
her
kindness
.
When
Sir
Matthew
again
permitted
his
countenance
to
be
visible
to
them
,
it
expressed
nothing
but
indifference
;
but
Martha
thought
it
was
such
an
easy
good-natured
sort
of
indifference
that
there
could
be
no
danger
in
bringing
him
back
to
the
subject
,
even
though
he
said
as
he
turned
round
,
"
Come
,
my
dear
Martha
,
I
cannot
stay
another
moment
,
I
do
assure
you
.
"
"
I
am
quite
ready
,
papa
,
"
she
replied
;
"
but
do
n't
you
think
it
is
almost
a
pity
to
let
such
an
opportunity
be
lost
for
poor
Michael
?
"
"
Certainly
it
is
,
my
dear
,
"
he
replied
in
the
most
good-humoured
accent
imaginable
.
"
But
what
would
you
have
me
do
,
my
dear
child
?
Depend
upon
it
there
is
no
real
charity
in
assisting
people
against
their
will
,
or
in
a
manner
in
any
way
contrary
to
their
inclinations
.
You
know
perfectly
well
,
that
it
was
my
real
and
sincere
wish
that
this
good
woman
's
child
should
be
well
provided
for
.
An
opportunity
for
doing
this
,
better
far
than
I
could
have
hoped
for
,
is
now
proposed
but
evidently
does
not
meet
her
wishes
.
Unfortunately
I
must
send
the
answer
by
to-day
's
post
,
and
surely
you
would
not
recommend
me
to
accept
this
situation
for
the
boy
,
excellent
as
it
is
,
against
his
mother
's
will
?
"
"
No
papa
—
only
it
seems
to
me
that
Mrs.
Armstrong
has
not
quite
made
up
her
mind
about
it
;
and
I
thought
perhaps
that
a
few
minutes
'
consideration
might
enable
her
to
perceive
how
great
a
loss
it
would
be
to
Michael
were
she
to
refuse
it
.
"
"
Well
,
Martha
!
"
returned
the
knight
with
a
sort
of
jocose
sigh
,
and
at
the
same
time
seating
himself
on
one
of
the
widow
's
treasured
rush-bottomed
chairs
,
"
I
would
rather
make
the
person
I
expect
wait
at
Dowling
Lodge
for
an
hour
,
than
either
disappoint
you
kind
heart
,
or
hurry
this
good
woman
into
saying
any
thing
that
she
does
not
really
mean
.
What
does
the
little
fellow
himself
say
about
it
?
"
"
He
's
grateful
and
thankful
,
sir
,
for
what
is
offered
to
him
,
and
willing
he
is
to
accept
it
.
—
'
Tis
only
my
poor
weak
sick
heart
that
has
got
no
courage
left
in
it
.
You
think
,
miss
,
he
had
better
take
it
?
"
she
added
,
turning
her
anxious
eyes
upon
Martha
.
For
a
moment
Martha
felt
a
repugnance
to
the
taking
upon
herself
,
as
it
were
,
the
responsibility
of
the
transaction
,
but
an
exclamation
from
her
father
settled
the
business
at
once
.
"
Poor
soul
!
"
said
he
.
"
How
natural
is
this
weakness
!
Give
her
,
by
your
advice
,
the
strength
she
wants
,
Martha
—
it
is
the
most
valuable
gift
you
can
bestow
!
"
"
Indeed
papa
is
very
right
,
Mrs.
Armstrong
,
"
said
Martha
cheerfully
.
"
Michael
will
never
forgive
me
if
I
let
you
throw
away
this
golden
opportunity
.
"
"
And
I
am
sure
I
should
never
forgive
myself
if
I
threw
away
for
him
any
thing
that
you
could
call
so
,
my
dear
young
lady
,
—
I
know
full
well
all
you
have
done
for
him
,
and
been
to
him
,
and
to
doubt
your
judgment
,
would
be
a
sin
indeed
.
So
if
you
please
,
miss
,
I
am
quite
ready
to
sign
.
"
Had
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
wanted
any
strengthening
of
the
motives
which
actuated
the
deed
he
was
about
to
perpetrate
,
he
would
have
found
it
in
this
speech
.
The
phrase
,
"
I
know
what
you
have
been
to
him
,
"
requiring
no
very
forced
interpretation
,
in
order
to
suggest
to
him
that
it
was
probable
she
knew
what
he
had
been
to
him
also
.
However
,
he
felt
no
inclination
to
disturb
the
business
which
was
proceeding
so
satisfactorily
,
and
therefore
again
smiled
very
kindly
as
he
said
,
"
I
am
sure
nobody
can
find
fault
with
your
conduct
in
this
business
,
Mrs.
Armstrong
.
It
has
been
exactly
what
it
ought
to
be
,
and
the
better
I
think
of
you
,
the
more
anxious
I
feel
to
ensure
this
excellent
situation
for
your
boy
.
But
stay
a
moment
,
I
came
down
here
in
such
a
hurry
,
that
I
forgot
the
necessity
of
having
a
witness
.
Wait
here
for
a
moment
,
Martha
,
and
I
dare
say
I
shall
find
some
of
Mrs.
Armstrong
's
neighbours
who
may
not
only
be
able
to
witness
these
indentures
,
but
also
to
give
her
their
opinion
upon
the
advantage
of
them
.
"
So
saying
the
knight
arose
,
and
walked
out
of
the
room
;
but
,
before
an
anxious
inquiry
from
the
poor
woman
about
the
possibility
of
writing
to
her
boy
could
be
answered
by
Martha
,
he
returned
again
,
followed
by
Parsons
and
another
overlooker
from
one
of
his
own
factories
,
whom
he
found
accidentally
close
to
the
premises
.
"
Here
is
a
bit
of
good
luck
for
us
,
Martha
,
"
said
Sir
Matthew
,
as
he
entered
,
"
I
should
have
been
sadly
put
to
it
for
time
,
if
I
had
had
to
run
about
till
I
could
find
a
man
who
knew
how
to
write
his
name
.
I
have
asked
two
fellows
already
,
but
they
both
said
,
'
No
.
'
—
There
is
one
comfort
for
you
,
at
any
rate
,
Mrs.
Armstrong
,
your
boy
will
never
be
in
such
a
state
of
ignorance
as
that
.
"
Sir
Matthew
as
he
spoke
,
again
untied
the
paper
,
and
dipping
a
pen
which
had
been
stuck
within
his
coat
sleeve
into
the
ink-bottle
,
he
gave
both
pen
and
paper
into
the
hands
of
Martha
,
saying
,
"
There
dear
,
you
will
hold
it
for
her
better
than
I
shall
—
only
make
haste
!
—
I
hate
to
break
an
appointment
.
"
Martha
received
the
paper
,
and
without
a
moment
's
delay
,
laid
it
before
the
pale
and
trembling
woman
,
placing
at
the
same
time
the
pen
in
her
right
hand
,
and
indicating
with
her
own
finger
the
place
,
to
which
Sir
Matthew
had
pointed
,
as
that
where
her
signature
should
be
.
The
poor
woman
received
both
submissively
;
and
after
a
moment
's
pause
,
looked
up
once
more
into
the
face
of
Martha
who
was
bending
over
her
.
A
kind
and
encouraging
smile
sat
upon
her
plain
but
expressive
features
,
and
without
further
hesitation
,
the
widow
Armstrong
signed
her
name
.
"
Here
Parsons
,
sign
away
!
"
said
Sir
Matthew
gaily
,
as
he
withdrew
the
document
from
the
bed
.
The
ready
servant
obeyed
,
and
his
fellow-driver
followed
his
example
,
without
waiting
for
any
further
instructions
.
"
Now
then
,
Martha
,
let
us
be
off
!
"
cried
the
knight
,
moving
towards
the
door
as
he
pocketed
the
papers
.
But
stopping
suddenly
before
he
opened
it
he
said
,
"
By
the
way
,
Parsons
,
as
chance
has
brought
you
here
,
we
may
as
well
make
use
of
you
about
getting
a
few
necessaries
for
our
little
stocking-weaver
.
We
must
trust
to
you
to
get
whatever
may
be
wanted
.
He
may
take
the
clothes
he
has
worn
at
the
lodge
,
for
Sundays
,
but
of
course
they
would
not
be
suitable
for
him
to
work
in
.
"
"
Very
well
,
Sir
Matthew
,
I
will
see
about
it
,
"
replied
the
important
overlooker
.
"
I
must
have
no
time
lost
,
if
you
please
,
"
rejoined
his
master
rather
sharply
;
"
for
Mr.
Elgood
Sharpton
mentioned
in
his
letter
,
that
he
should
be
having
some
of
his
people
passing
this
way
who
might
take
charge
of
him
,
and
I
am
sure
I
ca
n't
say
when
they
may
happen
to
call
.
So
go
directly
into
the
town
,
Parsons
,
and
buy
whatever
you
think
the
boy
may
want
.
I
dare
say
this
will
be
very
nearly
the
last
expense
,
Mrs.
Armstrong
,
"
he
added
,
"
that
I
shall
be
put
to
for
him
,
and
I
assure
you
that
I
shall
pay
it
very
willingly
.
"
With
these
words
he
left
the
room
,
and
martha
pronouncing
a
short
but
kind
farewell
,
followed
him
.
Soon
after
she
had
overtaken
him
,
and
again
passed
her
arm
through
his
,
she
was
startled
by
a
violent
burst
of
laughter
,
and
on
looking
back
,
perceived
at
no
great
distance
behind
them
,
Parsons
and
his
companion
,
taking
their
way
over
a
style
that
led
by
a
short
cut
to
Brookford
factory
.
It
was
from
them
the
hearty
laugh
had
proceeded
.
CHAPTER
XVI
.
MISS
BROTHERTON
VISITS
THE
WIDOW
ARMSTRONG
,
AND
LAYS
THE
FOUNDATION
OF
A
VERY
LASTING
FRIENDSHIP
—
SHE
THEN
CALLS
AT
DOWLING
LODGE
,
BUT
FAILS
OF
OBTAINING
WHAT
SHE
WENT
FOR
.
As
soon
as
Miss
Brotherton
and
Mrs.
Tremlett
had
finished
their
breakfast
on
the
morning
after
the
interview
with
Sophy
Drake
in
the
drawing-room
at
Milford
Park
,
they
set
off
together
on
foot
to
visit
the
widow
Armstrong
in
Hoxley-lane
.
"
Nothing
can
happen
to
us
worse
than
our
adventure
in
the
carriage
the
day
before
yesterday
,
"
observed
the
young
lady
;
"
you
will
confess
,
dear
friend
,
will
you
not
,
that
Sir
Matthew
's
walking
into
the
carriage
was
more
terrible
than
any
thing
likely
to
befall
us
on
the
high-road
without
one
?
"
"
Why
,
I
suppose
I
must
,
my
dear
,
"
answered
the
old
lady
;
"
for
to
tell
you
the
truth
,
I
do
n't
think
you
could
look
more
put
out
if
a
constable
were
to
come
up
and
arrest
you
.
"
"
Decidedly
not
,
Mrs.
Tremlett
;
and
listen
to
the
birds
,
and
sniff
the
sweet
air
,
and
then
tell
me
if
we
are
not
wise
to
walk
?
"
The
old
woman
confessed
that
she
really
did
enjoy
it
,
and
on
they
went
with
the
gardener
's
boy
for
a
guide
,
till
in
less
than
an
hour
they
found
themselves
before
the
door
of
No.
12
,
in
Hoxley-lane
.
Probably
their
little
pioneer
was
not
one
of
the
widow
's
visiters
,
for
the
pass
through
the
hedge
,
leading
to
the
back-kitchen
door
appeared
unknown
to
him
,
and
in
answer
to
Miss
Brotherton
's
knock
for
admittance
,
the
principal
entrance
to
No.
12
was
opened
by
the
ragged
mistress
of
the
tenement
.
"
Does
the
widow
Armstrong
live
here
?
"
inquired
Mary
.
"
Yes
,
ma'am
,
"
observed
the
woman
gloomily
;
continuing
as
she
made
way
for
the
ladies
to
enter
,
"
The
widow
Armstrong
is
a
lucky
woman
—
she
has
got
but
one
child
left
to
provide
for
,
and
yet
the
gentlefolks
keeps
coming
to
help
her
,
but
nobody
thinks
of
me
and
my
ten
young
ones
.
"
The
ready
hand
of
Miss
Brotherton
was
immediately
in
her
purse
.
"
That
is
a
large
family
indeed
,
my
good
woman
.
Are
they
none
of
them
old
enough
to
help
themselves
?
"
"
The
seven
oldest
have
all
been
in
the
factory
from
a'most
the
time
they
could
stand
,
ma'am
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Sykes
,
"
and
if
they
had
n't
,
they
must
have
been
dead
and
buried
long
ago
for
want
of
bread
.
But
though
they
have
worked
poor
creturs
,
early
and
late
,
there
's
no
more
come
of
it
,
than
that
their
bones
be
here
instead
of
in
the
churchyard
.
"
"
But
with
so
large
a
number
,
all
receiving
wages
,
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
,
gently
,
"
I
should
have
hoped
that
you
might
have
found
yourselves
better
off
than
you
seem
to
be
.
"
"
And
that
's
what
we
are
told
,
ma'am
,
from
year
's
end
to
year
's
end
,
and
we
must
bear
it
,
for
there
is
no
help
.
But
'
tis
a'most
as
bitter
as
the
work
that
grinds
us
.
"
Neither
the
person
or
manner
of
Mrs.
Sykes
were
in
any
degree
prepossessing
;
she
was
dirty
,
and
in
every
way
untidy
in
the
extreme
.
She
had
on
her
feet
the
fragments
of
a
pair
of
men
's
shoes
,
but
no
stockings
,
the
rest
of
her
clothing
being
barely
sufficient
to
cover
her
.
Her
eye
,
voice
,
and
complexion
,
furnished
strong
indications
of
her
being
accustomed
to
take
spirits
,
while
her
frightfully
thin
limbs
gave
her
the
appearance
of
being
half
starved
.
In
short
,
it
was
impossible
to
look
at
her
without
feeling
that
she
was
a
degraded
,
as
well
as
a
suffering
being
.
Mary
Brotherton
did
feel
this
,
and
her
heart
sunk
within
her
as
she
thought
of
Sophy
Drake
,
of
her
drunken
father
,
and
of
all
Mrs.
Tremlett
had
told
her
respecting
the
vice
,
which
like
a
wide-spreading
and
hideous
epidemic
,
seemed
to
ravage
in
all
directions
the
miserable
neighbourhood
in
which
fate
had
placed
her
.
She
shuddered
as
she
contemplated
the
wretched
being
that
stood
before
her
,
and
till
she
had
spoken
the
words
given
above
,
a
deep
feeling
of
the
woman
's
unworthiness
chilled
the
ready
pity
of
her
warm
young
heart
.
But
both
in
these
words
themselves
,
and
in
the
tone
of
quiet
settled
despair
in
which
they
were
spoken
,
there
was
a
frightful
and
mysterious
allusion
to
some
species
of
injustice
and
cruelty
,
under
which
accusation
she
seemed
herself
to
be
included
.
The
distaste
and
reprobation
that
were
a
moment
before
making
hasty
inroads
upon
her
benevolence
,
seemed
suddenly
arrested
as
she
listened
;
and
she
was
about
to
repeat
again
the
questions
she
had
already
so
uselessly
asked
,
as
to
whence
this
universal
severity
of
judgment
against
the
factory
labourers
arose
;
and
wherefore
,
beyond
all
others
,
submitted
to
the
sentence
which
dooms
human
beings
to
toil
,
these
people
should
appear
to
loath
their
employment
,
and
execrate
,
as
it
should
seem
,
the
very
means
by
which
they
lived
.
But
ere
her
lips
opened
to
demand
the
explanation
to
which
she
so
eagerly
desired
to
listen
,
a
glance
at
the
hard
features
of
the
wretched
woman
checked
her
.
"
It
cannot
be
from
such
as
these
,
"
thought
she
,
"
that
truth
and
instruction
can
be
reasonably
looked
for
"
—
and
as
she
silently
gave
her
alms
,
and
moved
onwards
towards
the
door
which
had
been
pointed
to
,
as
that
of
the
widow
Armstrong
,
something
like
a
systematic
project
for
making
herself
mistress
of
the
knowledge
she
wanted
,
for
the
first
time
suggested
itself
to
her
imagination
.
Mrs.
Sykes
eyed
the
silver
largesse
,
as
it
fell
into
her
hand
,
with
a
glance
that
seemed
to
devour
it
,
and
the
words
of
thanks
she
uttered
were
almost
hysterical
in
their
eager
vehemence
.
After
delaying
a
moment
for
the
contemplation
of
this
precious
"
drudge
'
twixt
man
and
man
,
"
she
opened
the
door
of
communication
,
and
Miss
Brotherton
and
her
friend
passed
into
the
dwelling-room
of
the
widow
Armstrong
.
Contrary
to
custom
,
her
lame
boy
,
Edward
,
was
sitting
on
the
side
of
her
bed
,
and
when
Mary
entered
,
he
was
holding
her
hand
,
and
gazing
in
her
face
with
an
expression
of
countenance
which
appeared
to
both
the
intruders
to
be
the
most
piteous
they
had
ever
looked
upon
.
The
poor
child
was
looking
,
too
,
most
wretchedly
ill
,
and
the
first
idea
which
suggested
itself
was
,
that
he
felt
himself
to
be
dying
.
Notwithstanding
the
extreme
poverty
of
the
widow
Armstrong
,
there
was
an
air
of
decency
and
decorum
about
her
,
that
might
in
any
situation
have
commanded
respect
;
but
when
contrasted
with
the
appearance
of
her
neighbour
,
seemed
to
indicate
a
claim
to
more
observance
than
her
visiters
were
showing
by
this
sudden
and
uninvited
entrance
.
"
I
beg
your
pardon
,
Mrs.
Armstrong
,
"
said
Mary
,
gently
,
"
for
breaking
in
upon
you
so
abruptly
;
and
I
fear
our
doing
so
may
have
startled
your
sick
child
.
—
This
little
fellow
is
very
ill
,
I
fear
.
"
"
It
is
long
since
he
has
known
health
,
ma'am
,
"
replied
the
widow
;
"
but
it
is
not
that
which
makes
him
look
so
white
and
trembling
now
.
We
have
lost
what
was
dearer
to
us
both
than
all
the
world
beside
—
and
though
I
do
n't
think
as
this
one
will
ever
look
up
again
,
I
ca
n't
find
a
word
in
my
heart
to
comfort
him
!
"
"
What
,
then
,
has
happened
to
you
?
"
said
Mary
,
with
much
interest
—
"
Nothing
bad
to
your
son
Michael
,
I
hope
?
"
"
You
know
Michael
,
ma'am
?
"
said
the
poor
woman
,
anxiously
.
"
I
have
seen
him
at
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
's
,
"
she
replied
.
"
I
wish
you
never
had
,
ma'am
!
"
rejoined
the
widow
,
bitterly
—
"
We
were
only
starving
before
,
but
now
we
are
worse
than
that
.
"
"
Do
explain
to
me
what
you
mean
,
Mrs.
Armstrong
,
"
said
Mary
.
"
I
ought
to
do
it
,
ma'am
,
for
you
speak
kindly
;
and
that
's
a
claim
poor
folks
can
seldom
withstand
.
—
But
how
can
I
tell
you
the
matter
,
ma'am
?
I
know
nothing
—
and
that
's
the
reason
why
poor
Edward
and
I
are
so
miserable
.
"
"
But
that
is
a
bad
way
to
get
into
,
my
good
Mrs.
Armstrong
,
"
said
Mary
,
cheerfully
.
"
Do
n't
fret
yourself
about
fancied
evils
,
which
perhaps
do
not
exist
.
Little
Edward
here
should
know
better
than
that
.
"
The
pale
,
brokenhearted
boy
looked
at
her
with
lack-lustre
eyes
,
but
said
nothing
.
"
Are
you
uneasy
because
Michael
has
not
been
down
to
see
you
lately
?
"
resumed
Miss
Brotherton
.
"
He
never
failed
to
come
,
ma'am
,
till
he
was
carried
away
from
us
!
"
replied
the
widow
,
with
a
sob
,
that
seemed
the
result
of
strength
exhausted
,
and
weakness
that
could
struggle
no
longer
.
"
Carried
away
from
you
!
"
cried
Mary
,
changing
colour
.
"
What
do
you
mean
,
Mrs.
Armstrong
?
who
has
carried
away
Michael
from
you
?
"
"
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
,
ma'am
,
has
had
him
taken
away
,
"
and
another
sob
followed
the
words
.
"
Do
not
think
I
torment
you
thus
from
idle
curiosity
,
"
pursued
Mary
,
bending
over
her
;
"
but
I
entreat
you
to
explain
to
me
fully
what
you
mean
.
I
am
greatly
interested
for
your
little
boy
.
"
"
I
thank
you
for
it
,
ma'am
,
"
returned
the
poor
mother
,
mournfully
;
"
but
I
can
tell
little
that
you
,
or
any
grand
lady
,
the
friend
of
Sir
Matthew
,
would
think
to
the
purpose
.
Yet
the
parting
with
him
without
one
blessing
,
or
one
kiss
,
is
hard
to
bear
,
though
we
do
n't
justly
know
that
any
harm
's
to
come
to
him
.
"
"
I
am
no
particular
friend
of
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
's
,
"
replied
Mary
,
with
an
accent
which
perhaps
spoke
more
than
her
words
.
"
Then
I
will
tell
you
about
Michael
!
"
exclaimed
the
lame
boy
,
coming
round
the
bed
to
the
place
where
she
was
standing
,
and
looking
into
her
face
as
if
he
thought
he
could
read
all
her
thoughts
there
.
"
You
have
seen
poor
Mike
when
he
was
living
there
,
ma'am
?
"
"
Yes
,
I
have
,
my
dear
boy
,
"
she
replied
,
gazing
with
deep
feeling
at
his
pale
,
but
beautiful
countenance
;
"
I
have
seen
him
there
more
than
once
,
Edward
,
and
I
am
quite
sure
he
was
not
happy
,
though
he
was
dressed
so
fine
.
"
"
He
was
more
unhappy
ten
times
over
,
"
replied
Edward
,
"
than
when
he
was
as
ragged
as
me
.
"
"
Was
he
unkindly
treated
?
"
demanded
Mary
.
"
He
was
beaten
,
kicked
,
and
spit
upon
!
"
cried
Edward
,
bursting
into
tears
;
"
and
then
he
was
told
to
laugh
,
and
look
merry
.
"
"
A
wretched
,
wretched
,
sort
of
cruelty
!
"
she
replied
,
"
of
which
I
can
well
believe
Sir
Matthew
capable
.
But
you
surely
do
not
suppose
that
he
has
run
away
from
it
without
telling
you
or
his
mother
that
he
had
such
an
intention
?
"
"
If
you
knew
Mike
better
,
ma'am
,
you
would
n't
think
that
he
could
do
such
wickedness
,
"
said
the
mother
.
"
He
has
stood
beating
with
strap
and
stick
for
years
,
ma'am
,
young
as
he
is
;
and
never
asked
to
stop
from
the
mill
a
day
,
though
he
has
been
bruised
almost
to
a
jelly
;
—
and
worse
than
that
,
too
,
poor
lamb
!
a
hundred
fold
,
with
such
a
heart
as
his
,
he
has
seen
his
lame
brother
there
,
that
was
always
dearer
,
a
great
deal
,
to
him
than
himself
—
he
has
seen
the
cruel
stripes
fall
on
his
poor
shoulders
,
too
;
and
though
he
has
come
home
with
his
little
face
washed
with
tears
from
it
,
he
did
n't
think
of
running
away
.
"
Mary
saw
that
she
had
given
pain
,
and
hastened
to
atone
for
it
by
expressing
her
sorrow
for
supposing
such
a
thing
possible
;
and
then
repeated
her
request
,
that
she
might
be
told
what
it
was
that
had
happened
.
The
widow
then
related
more
succinctly
than
might
have
been
expected
,
all
that
had
passed
between
herself
,
her
boy
,
and
Miss
Martha
Dowling
,
on
the
morning
which
followed
the
theatrical
representation
at
Dowling
Lodge
.
And
before
she
proceeded
further
,
Edward
bore
testimony
to
the
spirited
and
courageous
willingness
with
which
his
brother
had
adopted
the
proposed
scheme
.
He
had
,
it
seemed
,
as
usual
,
watched
Teddy
's
return
from
the
factory
—
told
him
what
Sir
Matthew
proposed
doing
for
him
,
and
declared
,
that
hard
as
it
would
be
to
part
with
him
and
"
mother
,
"
he
was
ready
and
willing
to
start
,
and
was
quite
determined
to
be
the
best
boy
that
ever
was
'
prenticed
,
and
to
be
workman
enough
to
maintain
them
both
as
soon
as
his
time
was
out
.
Here
the
widow
again
resumed
her
narrative
,
and
related
very
accurately
the
scene
of
the
following
morning
;
dwelling
much
on
the
young
lady
's
kind
manner
,
and
on
her
own
putting
it
to
her
whether
she
advised
that
the
child
should
go
,
or
not
.
"
And
Martha
Dowling
counselled
you
to
let
him
go
?
"
demanded
Miss
Brotherton
.
"
Yes
,
again
and
again
,
she
did
,
"
replied
the
poor
mother
.
"
You
are
quite
sure
it
was
Miss
Martha
?
"
"
Oh
,
yes
!
ma'am
;
my
Mike
took
care
to
make
me
understand
that
,
the
day
they
came
together
.
"
"
Then
be
quite
easy
in
your
mind
,
Mrs.
Armstrong
,
"
said
Mary
,
eagerly
.
"
I
have
no
great
liking
for
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
.
I
do
not
think
well
of
him
,
nor
have
I
much
to
say
in
favour
of
any
of
his
family
.
They
seem
to
me
to
be
cold-hearted
,
selfish
people
.
But
for
this
one
,
this
Miss
Martha
that
you
speak
of
,
I
will
undertake
to
answer
for
it
that
she
has
never
deceived
you
,
and
that
if
she
advised
you
to
let
Michael
go
,
it
was
because
she
thought
the
doing
so
would
be
advantageous
for
him
.
"
"
Bless
you
for
ever
and
for
ever
,
ma'am
!
"
cried
Mrs.
Armstrong
,
seizing
the
hand
of
Mary
,
and
pressing
it
to
her
lips
.
"
There
is
truth
,
ma'am
,
in
your
voice
,
and
in
your
eyes
.
Do
as
I
do
,
Edward
,
dear
!
look
at
the
kind
face
of
this
young
lady
,
and
see
if
you
ca
n't
find
comfort
from
what
she
says
?
I
did
think
,
myself
,
ignorant
as
I
am
,
that
the
young
lady
had
an
honest
face
.
But
,
oh
!
ma'am
,
let
it
be
as
it
will
,
and
make
the
very
best
of
it
,
'
tis
cruel
to
have
our
darling
taken
away
in
this
fashion
,
without
one
word
of
take-leave
and
blessing
!
"
"
Indeed
it
is
!
"
replied
Mary
;
"
and
your
being
ignorant
of
the
place
of
his
destination
increases
this
anxiety
.
But
on
this
point
,
at
least
,
I
think
I
shall
be
able
to
set
your
mind
at
rest
.
Before
this
time
to-morrow
,
I
will
take
care
to
see
some
part
of
the
family
at
the
Lodge
,
and
shall
certainly
not
scruple
to
inquire
every
particular
respecting
your
boy
.
Keep
up
your
spirits
therefore
,
both
of
you
;
and
for
the
future
,
let
this
little
fellow
here
look
to
me
for
his
wages
.
I
wo
n't
have
him
go
to
the
factory
any
more
.
What
sum
has
he
been
receiving
for
his
work
?
"
Astonishment
very
literally
rendered
the
widow
Armstrong
dumb
,
on
hearing
this
most
extraordinary
proposal
.
Poor
soul
!
a
few
short
days
ago
it
would
have
been
sufficient
to
make
her
forget
her
weakness
and
her
want
,
and
have
put
her
in
a
state
of
mind
that
queens
might
envy
;
for
she
would
hardly
have
been
able
to
remember
that
it
was
possible
to
have
another
wish
;
but
now
the
first
use
she
made
on
recovering
her
speech
,
was
to
exclaim
,
"
Oh
!
Michael
!
Michael
!
why
beant
you
by
to
hear
this
?
"
"
He
shall
hear
it
,
Mrs.
Armstrong
,
"
said
Mary
,
in
a
voice
of
such
cheerful
confidence
,
that
the
terrors
of
both
mother
and
son
seemed
to
vanish
before
it
.
Mrs.
Tremlett
,
too
,
ventured
to
add
an
encouraging
commentary
upon
Mary
's
promised
visit
of
inquiry
at
the
Lodge
,
observing
,
that
it
was
altogether
out
of
probability
that
they
should
want
to
make
any
mystery
as
to
where
the
little
fellow
was
gone
.
Mrs.
Armstrong
,
as
she
listened
,
seemed
almost
too
happy
to
credit
the
evidence
of
her
own
senses
;
but
in
the
deep-set
melancholy
eye
of
Edward
,
there
was
still
an
expression
of
suffering
and
of
fear
that
looked
as
if
misery
had
taken
a
hold
upon
him
that
could
not
be
relinquished
.
"
Now
I
must
go
!
"
said
the
young
lady
,
rising
,
"
or
I
shall
hardly
have
time
to
keep
my
promise
.
But
I
must
settle
with
you
first
,
my
dear
boy
.
What
was
the
amount
of
your
wages
by
the
month
?
"
"
Six
shillings
,
ma'am
,
"
replied
Edward
,
looking
at
her
,
as
she
drew
out
her
purse
,
with
an
eye
that
seemed
to
doubt
what
it
beheld
.
"
Six
shillings
!
"
cried
Miss
Brotherton
,
as
she
put
the
pitiful
wages
of
a
long
month
's
agony
into
the
little
trembling
hand
.
"
And
have
you
lost
your
health
and
liberty
for
this
?
"
Tears
started
to
her
eyes
,
as
she
contemplated
the
look
of
wonder
and
delight
expressed
by
the
countenance
of
the
poor
widow
;
yet
that
look
was
not
turned
upon
her
.
Stretching
out
her
arms
to
the
boy
,
she
caught
him
to
her
bosom
,
and
held
him
there
,
much
as
if
she
had
suddenly
beheld
him
snatched
from
the
fangs
of
some
devouring
monster
.
The
face
of
the
child
himself
,
she
could
not
see
,
but
his
whole
frame
trembled
,
and
they
fancied
he
was
shedding
tears
.
"
God
bless
you
both
!
"
she
said
,
"
to-morrow
you
shall
see
me
again
.
"
And
so
saying
she
took
the
arm
of
her
friend
,
and
again
passed
through
the
dwelling-room
of
Mrs.
Sykes
.
The
woman
had
now
three
little
dirty
creatures
round
her
,
to
whom
she
was
giving
bread
.
"
Heaven
keep
you
,
ma'am
!
This
is
your
treat
!
"
she
said
,
as
Mary
and
her
friend
passed
through
,
"
It
is
the
first
time
for
many
a
week
that
I
have
fed
'
em
so
freely
,
poor
creturs
.
"
Miss
Brotherton
's
heart
was
too
full
to
answer
—
she
nodded
her
head
and
passed
on
.
Their
homeward
walk
,
up
Hoxley-lane
,
across
the
London
road
,
and
along
a
pretty
shaded
bridle-road
that
led
to
a
gate
in
her
own
park-paling
,
was
performed
almost
entirely
in
silence
.
There
is
a
state
of
mind
in
which
ideas
come
with
too
much
violence
and
rapidity
to
be
told
off
in
words
.
When
this
happens
from
an
excess
of
happy
imaginings
,
no
condition
can
be
more
delightful
:
but
when
,
as
in
the
present
case
,
it
arises
from
the
remembrance
of
painful
realities
,
it
is
greatly
the
reverse
.
The
misery
around
her
was
no
longer
a
matter
of
doubtful
speculation
,
but
of
most
frightful
certainty
.
Neither
was
it
any
vice
in
little
Edward
Armstrong
,
which
drove
him
to
offer
up
his
sickly
suffering
frame
to
ceaseless
labour
at
the
rate
of
threepence
for
each
long
,
painful
day
.
She
felt
oppressed
,
overwhelmed
,
and
almost
hopeless
.
Yet
at
that
time
Mary
Brotherton
knew
not
,
guessed
not
,
dreamed
not
,
of
the
hundredth
part
of
what
the
unhappy
class
who
had
thus
roused
her
human
sympathies
,
were
daily
and
hourly
suffering
around
her
.
The
first
words
she
spoke
on
entering
her
house
were
to
order
her
carriage
,
and
having
gone
so
far
in
the
performance
of
the
task
she
had
undertaken
,
she
turned
with
tender
kindness
to
her
old
friend
,
and
gave
as
much
care
to
her
comfort
and
refreshment
,
as
if
the
relative
situation
which
they
had
borne
to
each
other
in
days
of
yore
was
just
reversed
,
and
that
Mary
was
the
nurse
,
and
Mrs.
Tremlett
the
nursling
.
"
You
shall
do
nothing
more
before
dinner
,
my
dear
good
soul
,
but
lie
down
upon
the
sofa
,
and
get
cool
.
Not
even
Mrs.
Gabberly
,
I
suppose
,
could
see
any
thing
particularly
dangerous
and
improper
,
in
my
going
alone
to
pay
a
visit
to
Martha
Dowling
.
"
And
alone
to
Dowling
Lodge
the
heiress
went
,
pretty
steadfastly
determined
not
to
leave
it
,
till
she
had
learnt
exactly
at
what
point
of
the
earth
's
surface
Michael
Armstrong
might
be
found
.
She
inquired
for
Martha
,
and
was
shown
as
usual
into
my
lady
's
morning
drawing-room
,
where
to
her
extreme
annoyance
she
found
her
ladyship
,
Sir
Matthew
,
Lady
Clarissa
Shrimpton
,
and
Miss
Mogg
.
If
Lady
Dowling
could
have
been
glad
to
see
any
pretty
young
lady
,
it
would
have
been
Miss
Brotherton
,
and
she
did
exert
herself
,
more
than
usual
,
to
be
civil
;
while
,
on
the
contrary
,
Sir
Matthew
both
felt
and
evinced
considerably
less
satisfaction
at
the
sight
of
her
,
than
he
had
ever
done
since
the
fact
of
her
heiress-ship
had
become
matter
of
unquestionable
notoriety
to
the
whole
neighbourhood
.
But
if
his
reception
was
cold
,
that
of
Lady
Clarissa
was
warm
,
for
she
actually
threw
her
arms
round
the
young
lady
,
reproaching
her
at
the
same
time
very
tenderly
for
not
having
sent
to
say
she
was
going
to
drive
to
Dowling
Lodge
.
"
I
should
have
liked
your
carriage
,
my
dear
,
so
much
better
than
my
broiling
little
phaeton
!
"
It
was
hardly
possible
at
that
moment
,
that
either
one
of
the
four
persons
present
could
have
said
any
thing
to
her
sufficiently
interesting
to
fully
awaken
her
sense
of
hearing
;
unless
,
indeed
,
Sir
Matthew
had
led
the
conversation
to
Michael
Armstrong
.
But
this
he
did
not
do
;
and
,
therefore
,
having
endured
Lady
Clarissa
's
embrace
,
and
answered
her
mechanically
,
she
knew
not
what
,
Miss
Brotherton
walked
up
to
the
sofa
where
the
lady
of
the
mansion
as
usual
sat
enthroned
,
and
said
,
"
Will
you
be
so
good
,
ma'am
,
as
to
let
Miss
Martha
be
told
that
I
am
come
to
call
upon
her
?
"
The
surprised
eyebrows
with
which
her
ladyship
listened
to
this
speech
would
,
probably
,
under
other
circumstances
,
have
given
birth
to
an
exceedingly
comical
caricature
,
but
at
this
moment
Mary
Brotherton
had
no
fun
in
her
thoughts
,
and
not
immediately
receiving
an
answer
,
she
said
,
loud
enough
for
Sir
Matthew
to
hear
,
"
Will
you
give
me
leave
to
ring
the
bell
,
and
ask
for
the
pleasure
of
seeing
Miss
Martha
?
"
Lady
Dowling
still
remained
silently
staring
at
her
;
but
not
so
Sir
Matthew
.
He
reached
the
bell
almost
as
soon
as
the
young
lady
herself
,
and
fully
persuaded
that
this
most
unaccountable
request
could
only
proceed
from
some
little
manoeuvring
project
at
that
moment
labouring
in
the
fair
Brotherton
's
head
,
which
had
,
somehow
or
other
,
his
son
Augustus
for
its
object
,
his
countenance
resumed
all
its
former
affectionate
urbanity
towards
her
,
and
taking
her
hand
too
suddenly
for
any
contrivance
to
prevent
it
,
he
said
—
"
Martha
?
...
Do
you
want
to
see
Martha
,
my
dear
?
—
To
be
sure
you
shall
.
She
is
a
Dowling
,
Miss
Brotherton
,
though
not
quite
like
the
rest
of
us
.
But
where
is
the
Dowling
,
young
or
old
,
male
or
female
,
who
would
not
fly
from
the
farthest
corner
of
the
world
to
see
you
?
"
"
I
only
want
to
see
Miss
Martha
just
now
,
sir
,
"
replied
Mary
,
half
smiling
.
"
And
Martha
you
shall
see
,
my
dear
,
without
a
moment
's
delay
.
Desire
Miss
Martha
Dowling
to
come
here
instantly
!
"
he
continued
,
as
the
door
opened
,
and
a
servant
appeared
at
it
—
adding
,
when
the
door
closed
again
,
"
You
do
her
an
honour
,
my
dear
Miss
Brotherton
,
in
thus
asking
for
her
,
that
more
than
one
of
her
family
,
perhaps
,
might
feel
inclined
to
envy
.
"
But
as
Miss
Brotherton
made
no
answer
at
all
,
and
Lady
Clarissa
began
to
hem
,
and
fidget
,
and
walk
towards
the
window
,
all
which
the
observant
knight
well
knew
were
pretty
lures
,
meant
to
recal
him
,
he
contented
himself
with
gallantly
drawing
forward
an
arm-chair
for
the
heiress
,
at
no
great
distance
from
Lady
Dowling
,
and
then
strode
across
the
apartment
to
sooth
the
irritation
of
his
noble
friend
.
Martha
never
suffered
a
summons
from
her
father
to
remain
a
moment
unanswered
.
The
message
had
been
delivered
to
her
in
his
name
,
and
she
entered
almost
immediately
.
Miss
Brotherton
,
who
was
in
no
humour
to
make
small
talk
for
her
ladyship
,
instantly
rose
,
and
went
forward
to
meet
her
.
"
I
took
the
liberty
of
sending
for
you
,
my
dear
Miss
Martha
,
"
she
said
,
"
to
request
you
would
let
me
speak
to
you
alone
,
for
five
minutes
.
—
Will
you
take
a
parasol
,
and
let
us
walk
into
the
shrubbery
together
?
"
Martha
,
who
certainly
liked
Miss
Brotherton
,
notwithstanding
the
late
painful
scene
,
produced
by
her
indiscretion
,
and
who
,
moreover
,
at
this
moment
,
joyfully
recollected
how
charming
an
anecdote
she
had
now
to
relate
concerning
her
father
,
acquiesced
in
this
proposal
with
a
ready
smile
,
and
saying
that
her
parasol
was
always
in
the
hall
,
the
two
young
ladies
left
the
room
together
.
No
sooner
did
she
find
herself
beneath
the
sheltering
trees
of
the
extensive
shrubbery
,
and
ascertained
,
by
looking
round
,
that
they
were
really
alone
,
than
Miss
Brotherton
,
passing
her
arm
through
that
of
her
companion
,
said
,
"
My
dear
Miss
Martha
,
I
cannot
help
feeling
great
interest
in
the
welfare
of
the
little
boy
whom
we
saw
performing
the
other
night
—
little
Michael
Armstrong
,
I
mean
.
Will
you
have
the
kindness
to
tell
me
where
he
is
now
?
"
Instead
of
giving
a
direct
answer
,
Martha
eagerly
exclaimed
,
"
I
am
so
glad
,
Miss
Brotherton
,
that
you
asked
to
see
me
,
for
I
have
quite
longed
to
tell
you
all
particulars
about
that
little
fellow
—
and
all
that
papa
has
been
doing
for
him
.
I
do
assure
you
,
Miss
Brotherton
,
that
notwithstanding
what
you
saw
the
other
night
,
papa
has
been
,
and
still
is
,
most
excessively
kind
to
him
.
Only
he
was
very
troublesome
about
the
acting
,
and
papa
's
temper
is
hasty
.
That
,
as
you
must
be
aware
,
Miss
Brotherton
,
is
the
case
with
many
people
;
but
there
are
very
few
who
have
courage
and
candour
to
own
it
,
as
my
father
does
.
In
justice
to
him
,
I
must
tell
you
what
happened
the
morning
after
the
unfortunate
play
.
My
father
sent
for
me
,
and
said
,
that
he
was
perfectly
miserable
in
his
mind
on
account
of
the
anger
he
had
shown
towards
Michael
.
He
told
me
,
as
frankly
as
possible
,
that
he
had
beat
him
,
and
that
in
consequence
of
this
,
the
boy
was
evidently
so
afraid
of
him
that
he
had
no
enjoyment
when
in
his
presence
.
And
he
went
on
to
say
that
such
being
the
case
,
he
was
determined
to
apprentice
the
child
to
a
good
trade
,
where
he
might
learn
to
maintain
himself
comfortably
,
and
assist
his
family
besides
.
So
you
see
,
Miss
Brotherton
,
"
concluded
Martha
,
in
an
eager
voice
,
and
with
heightened
colour
,
"
you
see
that
if
papa
loses
his
temper
,
he
knows
how
to
atone
for
it
.
"
Miss
Brotherton
listened
to
this
statement
with
the
most
unbroken
attention
;
and
had
she
not
been
previously
aware
of
the
kind
and
excellent
nature
of
Martha
Dowling
,
she
would
have
become
so
then
.
Her
hopes
,
too
,
that
all
was
fair
and
right
concerning
the
disposal
of
the
little
boy
,
were
strengthened
;
and
in
full
confidence
of
receiving
a
satisfactory
answer
,
she
said
,
"
I
am
very
much
obliged
to
you
,
Martha
,
for
telling
me
all
this
,
because
I
truly
feel
an
interest
in
the
little
fellow
.
And
now
I
hope
you
will
tell
me
also
to
what
part
of
the
country
he
has
been
sent
.
"
"
I
would
tell
you
in
a
moment
,
if
I
knew
,
my
dear
Miss
Brotherton
,
but
I
do
not
.
His
departure
at
last
was
very
sudden
;
owing
,
I
believe
,
to
papa
's
having
found
some
particularly
good
opportunity
of
sending
him
.
"
"
I
wonder
you
should
never
have
asked
where
he
was
sent
to
,
Miss
Martha
,
"
said
Mary
,
gravely
.
"
I
did
ask
,
Miss
Brotherton
,
"
replied
Martha
;
"
but
papa
said
he
could
not
recollect
the
name
of
the
place
.
"
Mary
changed
colour
,
as
she
remembered
the
promise
she
had
given
to
the
child
's
mother
;
but
after
a
moment
's
reflection
,
said
,
"
Perhaps
he
may
have
recollected
it
,
since
,
my
dear
—
I
wish
you
would
run
in
,
and
ask
him
to
come
to
me
for
a
moment
.
"
Martha
seemed
to
hesitate
.
"
I
am
sure
,
"
said
she
,
after
a
little
hesitation
,
"
that
papa
would
be
delighted
to
come
here
to
talk
with
you
,
Miss
Brotherton
—
only
Lady
Clarissa
might
—
"
"
Nay
,
then
,
I
'll
go
to
him
myself
,
"
said
Mary
,
rather
abruptly
.
"
There
is
no
particular
objection
,
I
suppose
,
to
Lady
Clarissa
's
being
let
into
the
secret
of
little
Michael
's
abode
.
"
And
immediately
turning
her
steps
towards
the
house
,
she
re-entered
the
drawing-room
,
followed
by
Martha
.
They
found
Sir
Matthew
engaged
in
exhibiting
a
portfolio
of
splendid
engravings
to
her
ladyship
,
who
was
descanting
upon
them
with
rapture
;
though
the
application
of
a
near-sighted
glass
to
one
long-sighted
eye
,
while
the
other
was
effectually
closed
,
rendered
them
pretty
nearly
invisible
to
her
.
"
I
beg
ten
thousand
pardons
,
Sir
Matthew
,
"
said
the
heiress
,
placing
herself
at
the
opposite
side
of
the
loo-table
,
and
thereby
commanding
a
perfect
view
of
his
countenance
;
"
but
you
are
too
goodnatured
,
I
am
sure
,
to
be
angry
with
me
,
even
though
I
do
interrupt
you
.
Will
you
have
the
kindness
to
tell
me
,
sir
,
while
Lady
Clarissa
is
lost
in
admiration
of
that
enchanting
Venus
,
where
little
Michael
Armstrong
has
been
sent
to
?
"
The
question
was
too
unexpected
for
even
Sir
Matthew
's
sturdy
self-possession
,
to
receive
it
as
he
would
have
wished
to
do
.
His
bold
eye
,
which
had
been
gaily
fixed
on
the
young
lady
,
as
she
spoke
to
him
,
fell
before
her
keen
,
inquiring
glance
,
and
he
turned
the
page
of
Lady
Clarissa
's
adoration
with
rather
unseemly
rapidity
,
as
he
replied
,
"
To
a
tradesman
—
that
is
,
to
a
manufacturer
,
some
miles
further
north
,
Miss
Brotherton
.
I
have
just
been
telling
Lady
Clarissa
,
"
continued
the
knight
,
recovering
his
audacity
,
"
I
have
just
been
telling
her
all
the
little
fellow
's
adventures
.
The
love
of
novelty
seemed
to
have
superseded
all
other
love
in
his
young
heart
,
for
he
was
delighted
to
go
.
"
"
But
he
could
not
have
liked
going
without
taking
leave
of
his
mother
and
brother
,
Sir
Matthew
.
I
have
just
seen
them
,
and
they
are
in
a
perfect
agony
about
him
—
in
fact
,
I
am
come
here
on
purpose
to
ask
where
he
has
been
sent
.
"
"
Fairest
of
messengers
!
"
exclaimed
the
knight
,
with
a
tender
smile
,
"
how
utterly
miserable
shall
I
be
if
I
cannot
answer
you
!
—
I
think
it
is
to
Halifax
,
I
am
almost
sure
that
it
is
either
to
Halifax
or
Wakefield
that
he
is
gone
.
"
"
You
have
bound
the
little
fellow
apprentice
,
you
do
not
know
where
?
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
,
with
undisguised
astonishment
.
"
I
do
not
say
that
,
my
dear
young
lady
,
I
know
he
is
apprenticed
to
an
excellent
good
man
,
who
is
a
stocking-weaver
;
but
her
has
two
or
three
large
concerns
belonging
to
him
,
and
I
protest
to
you
that
at
this
moment
I
really
cannot
say
to
which
this
little
fellow
has
been
sent
.
"
"
I
am
quite
shocked
to
give
you
so
much
trouble
,
Sir
Matthew
,
"
returned
Mary
,
"
but
I
should
be
exceedingly
obliged
if
you
would
learn
the
name
of
the
place
,
and
let
me
know
it
.
I
ventured
,
sir
,
to
promise
the
boy
's
mother
that
I
would
learn
this
for
her
,
and
I
am
quite
sure
that
you
will
not
let
me
disappoint
her
.
"
"
Most
assuredly
not
!
I
will
call
or
send
to-morrow
at
the
latest
,
my
charming
Miss
Brotherton
!
How
I
adore
your
benevolence
!
No
wonder
you
are
such
friends
,
Lady
Clarissa
!
Your
hearts
are
made
upon
the
same
model
!
"
To
this
satisfactory
assurance
Miss
Brotherton
made
no
answer
;
but
telling
Sir
Matthew
that
she
should
remain
at
home
on
the
morrow
for
the
purpose
of
receiving
his
promised
information
,
took
her
leave
.
With
increased
dislike
of
Sir
Matthew
,
perhaps
,
yet
with
no
very
serious
fears
about
the
fate
of
little
Michael
,
Miss
Brotherton
boldly
determined
to
brave
all
the
wonder
which
the
act
might
occasion
,
and
ordered
her
carriage
to
stop
at
No.
12
,
Hoxley-lane
,
Ashleigh
.
As
it
happened
,
however
,
she
escaped
all
her
military
admirers
,
and
reached
the
widow
Armstrong
without
interruption
;
the
absorbing
mills
were
in
full
activity
,
and
few
of
the
inhabitants
of
the
miserable
region
through
which
she
passed
were
left
to
gaze
on
the
unwonted
spectacle
.
The
answer
she
brought
was
received
by
the
widow
and
her
boy
with
breathless
attention
;
but
it
was
quite
evident
that
it
did
not
altogether
remove
the
sort
of
vague
terror
which
seemed
to
have
taken
possession
of
them
.
Mary
's
cheerful
assurance
,
however
,
that
she
should
soon
bring
them
more
satisfactory
intelligence
,
could
not
be
listened
to
without
good
effect
;
and
she
left
them
at
last
so
infinitely
happier
than
she
had
found
them
,
that
spite
of
Sir
Matthew
's
unsatisfactory
reply
,
and
more
unsatisfactory
manner
,
she
still
blessed
her
morning
's
work
.
CHAPTER
XVII
.
A
JOURNEY
,
BEGUN
IN
VERY
GOOD
STYLE
,
BUT
ENDING
NOT
QUITE
SO
WELL
—
A
FAITHFUL
DESCRIPTION
OF
A
VALLEY
IN
DERBYSHIRE
—
MICHAEL
MAKES
SOME
NEW
ACQUAINTANCE
.
And
where
was
little
Michael
?
The
indentures
,
when
duly
signed
and
executed
,
did
not
remain
two
hours
in
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
's
possession
before
he
began
to
put
in
action
the
power
they
gave
him
.
Mr.
Joseph
Parsons
perfectly
understood
the
nature
of
the
"
few
necessaries
"
which
he
was
commanded
to
procure
for
the
young
stocking-weaver
;
and
accordingly
,
by
the
time
Sir
Matthew
had
taken
leave
of
Martha
in
the
hall
,
after
their
walk
back
from
Hoxley-lane
,
his
confidential
agent
was
ready
to
attend
him
in
his
study
.
"
Now
,
Mr.
Parsons
,
I
flatter
myself
that
you
will
allow
I
have
managed
this
business
tolerably
well
.
My
excellent
friend
,
Elgood
Sharpton
,
will
owe
me
a
good
turn
—
for
,
thanks
to
the
meddling
of
old
Sir
Robert
,
'
prentice-boys
are
not
so
easily
got
as
they
used
to
be
—
and
you
and
I
,
Mr.
Parsons
,
have
got
rid
of
a
most
infernal
spy
.
Now
then
,
to
business
.
How
soon
can
you
set
off
with
him
?
"
"
As
soon
as
a
horse
can
be
harnessed
to
the
jockey-cart
,
Sir
Matthew
.
"
"
The
jockey-cart
!
—
the
devil
!
What
a
fool
you
are
,
Parsons
!
Have
you
really
no
more
wit
in
you
than
to
propose
setting
off
,
willynilly
,
with
this
young
cur
,
that
yelped
at
the
rate
he
did
the
other
night
,
before
all
the
fine
folks
in
the
county
,
in
an
open
jockey-cart
?
Fie
,
Mr.
Parsons
,
fie
!
—
I
really
had
a
better
opinion
of
your
understanding
.
"
"
I
thought
he
was
going
to
set
off
,
at
any
rate
,
by
his
own
free
will
,
Sir
Matthew
,
"
replied
the
superintendent
,
"
and
I
knew
when
we
got
among
the
moors
,
it
would
n't
much
matter
to
me
,
if
he
did
sing
out
.
"
"
You
are
an
excellent
fellow
,
Parsons
—
true
to
the
backbone
,
and
as
firm
as
a
rock
—
but
do
n't
you
ever
undertake
to
carry
through
such
a
pretty
little
kidnapping
scheme
as
this
,
where
every
thing
is
to
be
done
according
to
law
,
unless
you
have
got
the
help
of
a
little
such
stuff
as
this
,
"
and
the
knight
touched
his
own
forehead
expressively
as
he
spoke
.
"
There
's
few
men
as
would
n't
be
the
better
for
a
little
of
that
,
Sir
Matthew
,
"
returned
the
judicious
Parsons
with
a
submissive
nod
;
"
but
I
'm
ready
and
willing
to
do
your
bidding
,
be
it
what
it
may
,
and
that
's
the
best
way
of
putting
your
honour
's
wit
to
profit
.
"
"
You
are
right
there
,
my
good
fellow
—
one
captain
is
always
better
than
two
.
But
,
however
,
as
to
master
Michael
,
Parsons
,
we
must
neither
let
him
stay
loitering
here
till
his
dainty
mother
has
questioned
all
the
gossips
who
will
come
to
prate
with
her
about
her
boy
,
and
about
all
the
nonsense
current
concerning
Squire
Elgood
Sharpton
's
,
of
Thistledown
House
;
nor
yet
must
we
carry
him
off
at
noonday
in
an
open
jockey-cart
,
without
permitting
him
to
kiss
mother
and
brother
,
and
uncle
and
aunt
,
and
the
devil
knows
who
beside
,
from
one
end
of
Ashleigh
to
the
other
,
—
all
ready
perhaps
to
tell
him
some
amusing
anecdotes
concerning
his
future
master
.
"
"
But
what
be
the
indentures
good
for
,
Sir
Matthew
,
"
shrewdly
inquired
Mr.
Parsons
,
"
if
they
do
n't
give
you
power
over
the
chap
,
let
him
hear
what
he
will
?
"
"
Fair
and
softly
,
Mr.
Parsons
—
there
is
a
when
and
a
where
in
all
things
.
It
has
cost
me
some
pounds
,
and
a
d
—
d
deal
of
trouble
to
get
up
a
cry
hereabouts
concerning
my
goodness
and
charity
to
these
Armstrongs
.
Once
get
the
boy
off
,
and
you
and
I
between
us
,
can
make
folks
talk
as
loud
of
the
great
preferment
he
is
come
to
,
as
mother
Armstrong
can
about
her
doubts
and
alarms
.
There
is
no
fear
of
that
—
I
have
more
than
one
friend
who
will
swear
a
thing
or
two
for
me
.
But
once
get
up
a
screaming
bout
at
the
widow
's
,
and
a
struggling
scene
in
taking
off
the
young
gentleman
,
and
we
never
shall
hear
the
last
of
it
.
So
,
if
you
please
,
Mr.
Parsons
,
we
will
just
get
the
young
gentleman
to
take
a
ride
before
he
is
an
hour
older
.
But
not
in
a
jockey-cart
though
.
I
believe
you
know
the
road
and
the
baiting-place
?
—
By
Jove
!
Parsons
,
now
I
think
of
it
,
there
would
be
no
better
joke
than
taking
him
in
my
own
carriage
for
the
first
few
miles
,
and
letting
you
drive
on
,
as
far
as
Wood-End
or
there
about
,
and
wait
till
our
coming
.
You
know
I
have
taken
him
out
in
the
carriage
lots
of
times
,
so
he
will
think
nothing
of
that
—
and
I
will
have
Crockley
go
with
me
to
make
the
party
agreeable
.
So
off
with
you
to
Wood-End
as
fast
as
you
can
go
.
But
it
must
be
in
the
covered
cart
remember
—
and
a
trifle
of
cord
must
be
in
the
way
in
case
he
gives
trouble
.
"
Within
an
hour
from
this
time
,
Sir
Matthew
Dowling
's
carriage
was
proceeding
at
a
dignified
and
leisurely
pace
along
a
cross-country
road
which
led
to
a
lane
,
which
led
to
a
moor
,
across
which
was
a
track
which
led
by
another
lane
to
Mr.
Elgood
Sharpton
's
factory
in
the
desolate
hollow
,
known
by
the
name
of
"
Deep
Valley
.
"
The
party
,
as
arranged
by
Sir
Matthew
,
consisted
of
himself
,
his
friend
Dr.
Crockley
,
and
Michael
Armstrong
.
The
little
fellow
had
been
repeatedly
honoured
by
a
seat
in
the
same
stately
vehicle
before
,
for
the
purpose
of
being
shown
off
at
various
houses
in
the
neighbourhood
,
and
had
a
notion
that
he
was
now
taken
out
,
in
order
to
hear
the
remainder
of
his
great
fortune
announced
.
That
this
final
proof
of
Sir
Matthew
's
benevolence
should
have
for
its
object
the
sending
him
far
away
from
Dowling
Lodge
would
have
been
,
but
for
the
dreaded
parting
with
his
mother
and
brother
,
a
source
of
unmixed
joy
to
the
little
apprentice
;
and
,
even
with
this
drawback
,
the
distant
hopes
of
his
young
heart
might
have
been
read
in
the
contented
meditation
of
his
eye
,
as
he
rode
silently
along
in
front
of
his
jocose
companions
,
who
amused
