hadcommitted
more
than
one
act
of
bankruptcy
before
he
made
the
settlement
upon
her
ladyship
,
and
for
that
good
and
excellent
reason
her
ladyship
will
have
no
right
to
one
single
penny
that
he
leaves
behind
him
;
and
that
is
a
comfort
to
an
honest
man
like
me
,
who
likes
to
see
justice
done
to
high
and
low
.
"
"
Villain
!
"
screamed
Lady
Clarissa
,
"
it
is
false
!
"
"
No
,
no
,
no
,
no
!
"
issued
from
the
pillows
,
in
a
voice
that
shook
with
ghastly
laughter
.
"
True
,
all
true
;
and
now
she
may
go
to
Scotland
.
"
"
Just
ask
her
to
give
you
your
green
pocket-book
,
Sir
Matthew
,
before
she
goes
,
"
said
Parsons
,
grinning
.
"
I
saw
her
ladyship
take
it
out
of
your
bureau
,
and
if
she
will
be
pleased
to
open
her
hand
,
I
think
it
will
tumble
out
of
it
.
"
With
a
look
of
inexpressible
rage
,
Lady
Clarissa
turned
away
from
him
and
made
towards
the
door
.
"
Stop
her
,
Crockley
!
"
cried
Sir
Matthew
,
feebly
,
adding
with
panting
difficulty
,
"
and
—
you
—
shall
—
have
—
it
.
"
Dr.
Crockley
had
a
great
respect
for
the
peerage
,
and
would
,
beyond
all
question
,
have
preferred
snatching
a
pocket-book
from
nine
hundred
and
ninety-nine
untitled
ladies
in
succession
,
rather
than
from
one
Lady
Clarissa
;
but
he
felt
that
this
was
no
moment
for
ceremony
,
and
obeying
what
was
very
likely
to
be
the
last
behest
of
his
patron
,
he
rolled
his
fat
person
after
her
with
extraordinary
muscular
exertion
,
and
grasping
the
lady
's
robe
with
one
hand
,
seized
on
her
rigidly
clenched
fist
with
the
other
,
in
such
a
sort
,
that
,
according
to
the
prophecy
of
Mr.
Parsons
,
the
green
pocket-book
dropped
out
of
it
.
Unfortunately
,
however
,
the
attitude
in
which
this
feat
was
performed
,
was
one
which
could
not
be
retained
by
the
ill-balanced
person
of
the
doctor
,
after
the
supporting
form
of
the
lady
on
whom
he
had
thrown
himself
had
escaped
from
his
grasp
,
and
,
struggling
with
as
much
anxious
care
as
Cæsar
to
fall
well
i.e.
upon
the
pocket-book
)
,
he
measured
his
length
upon
the
ground
.
Parsons
,
though
certainly
not
hoping
for
so
lucky
an
accident
,
had
,
with
the
same
sort
of
instinct
which
brings
the
crow
beside
a
sickly
sheep
,
followed
closely
the
retreating
steps
of
her
ladyship
,
and
adroitly
jerking
the
coveted
pocket-book
with
his
foot
,
so
that
it
should
escape
the
being
buried
under
the
stumbling
physician
,
prepared
himself
to
dip
and
catch
it
.
But
the
success
of
the
manoeuvre
was
less
perfect
than
its
ingenuity
deserved
;
for
ere
his
tall
rigid
person
had
bent
itself
sufficiently
for
him
to
reach
the
ground
,
Mrs.
Gabberly
,
who
had
become
one
of
the
group
at
the
same
instant
with
Dr.
Crockley
,
was
in
possession
of
it
,
and
ere
the
prostrate
Crockley
or
the
stooping
Parsons
could
raise
their
eyes
,
the
prize
had
dropped
into
the
deepest
recesses
of
a
prodigious
pocket
,
which
reached
nearly
to
the
bottom
of
her
little
petticoat
.
It
is
probable
that
both
inquiry
and
search
might
have
been
instituted
in
consequence
of
this
,
had
not
the
condition
of
the
patient
at
that
moment
rendered
it
impossible
.
Sir
Matthew
's
ghastly
eyes
had
fixed
themselves
on
Lady
Clarissa
during
the
foregoing
scene
,
but
as
if
,
though
they
had
still
the
power
of
discerning
objects
,
they
had
lost
that
of
moving
after
them
,
he
appeared
to
lose
sight
of
her
as
she
approached
the
door
,
and
the
heavy
orbs
seemed
seeking
for
something
on
which
to
rest
themselves
without
any
change
of
position
.
It
chanced
that
Michael
,
who
,
quite
aware
that
the
last
moments
of
Sir
Matthew
were
approaching
,
determined
not
to
leave
the
premises
till
he
had
learned
the
wishes
and
intentions
of
Martha
,
was
at
that
moment
moving
from
the
corner
he
had
occupied
near
a
window
,
not
within
sight
of
the
bed
,
to
a
table
exactly
at
the
foot
of
it
,
on
which
was
placed
a
flacon
of
Cologne
water
,
which
poor
Martha
,
almost
exhausted
by
the
painful
attitude
necessary
to
sustain
the
pillows
,
had
made
him
a
sign
to
get
for
her
.
This
movement
brought
him
within
the
range
of
Sir
Matthew
's
eyes
,
and
something
in
his
aspect
as
he
cautiously
bent
to
take
the
bottle
,
or
else
the
thick-coming
fancies
of
a
brain
diseased
,
though
not
paralyzed
,
suddenly
produced
a
terrible
effect
upon
the
dying
man
,
and
he
uttered
a
cry
so
harsh
and
terrible
as
to
constrain
the
attention
even
of
the
preoccupied
group
at
the
door
.
"
There
's
a
dead
body
walking
about
the
room
!
"
he
ejaculated
in
an
unnatural
and
frightful
accent
.
"
He
is
come
for
me
!
and
I
must
go
!
"
The
shriek
which
followed
these
words
was
terrible
.
In
a
minute
or
two
he
spoke
again
,
but
almost
in
a
whisper
.
"
One
?
No
!
—
it
is
not
one
,
it
is
five
hundred
!
Take
them
!
—
take
them
away
from
me
,
I
tell
you
!
They
are
all
dirty
,
beastly
factory-children
.
Their
arms
and
legs
are
all
broken
and
smashed
,
and
hanging
by
bits
of
skin
.
Take
them
away
,
I
tell
you
,
Crockley
!
Their
horrid
joints
will
drop
upon
me
!
They
are
dangling
and
loose
,
I
tell
you
!
"
and
then
again
he
shouted
with
so
fearful
a
cry
,
that
even
Parsons
pressed
his
hands
upon
his
ears
to
save
them
from
the
sound
.
"
Calm
him
!
calm
him
!
"
cried
the
trembling
Martha
.
"
Can
you
not
give
him
something
that
may
still
this
dreadful
agony
,
Doctor
Crockley
?
"
"
It
is
not
a
very
easy
symptom
to
master
,
Miss
Martha
,
"
replied
the
physician
drily
.
"
However
,
it
is
not
likely
that
it
will
last
long
.
All
the
life
that
's
left
is
just
about
the
heart
and
brain
,
which
is
always
unlucky
if
there
happens
to
be
any
thing
particular
upon
the
mind
.
"
"
Parsons
!
"
cried
the
dying
man
,
again
raising
his
voice
,
but
without
looking
towards
the
person
he
addressed
.
"
Parsons
!
are
you
not
ashamed
of
yourself
to
turn
the
whole
set
of
them
out
upon
me
at
once
in
this
way
?
You
that
have
paid
,
and
bribed
,
and
tipped
so
often
!
Rascal
!
Take
them
off
me
,
I
tell
you
!
Do
you
mean
that
they
shall
stifle
me
?
They
will
stifle
me
?
—
they
will
,
they
will
.
I
cannot
breathe
for
them
!
Parsons
!
—
I
tell
you
they
will
stifle
me
!
"
"
Papa
!
my
dear
,
dear
papa
!
"
cried
Martha
,
bending
forward
till
her
cheek
touched
that
of
her
father
.
"
Compose
yourself
!
It
is
only
that
you
are
unwell
and
fancy
things
.
There
are
no
children
here
,
papa
,
but
your
own
Martha
.
"
Her
tender
caresses
,
and
her
gentle
voice
together
,
seemed
to
reach
,
and
quiet
for
a
moment
his
wandering
intellect
.
He
made
an
effort
to
turn
his
head
towards
her
,
but
that
was
impossible
;
and
Michael
,
who
had
,
upon
his
first
frightful
cry
,
removed
himself
to
the
head
of
the
bed
,
where
the
eye
of
the
wretched
man
could
not
reach
,
silently
offered
to
take
Martha
's
place
,
that
she
might
station
herself
where
it
could
.
She
quickly
understood
him
,
and
in
a
moment
stood
where
that
dying
eye
could
gaze
upon
her
.
His
hand
,
with
its
glittering
ring
,
still
lay
upon
the
bed
;
she
took
it
in
hers
,
and
fondly
chafed
and
kissed
it
.
But
it
was
stiff
and
cold
as
marble
!
"
Father
!
dearest
father
!
"
she
said
,
"
speak
one
word
to
me
!
"
But
it
was
too
late
;
his
lips
never
opened
more
.
For
some
hours
longer
he
continued
to
breathe
,
but
,
on
again
feeling
his
pulse
,
Dr.
Crockley
declared
that
its
faint
pulsations
must
inevitably
cease
before
night
.
"
I
suppose
your
old
servant
Betty
Parker
is
still
in
the
house
,
Miss
Martha
?
"
said
he
.
The
poor
girl
bowed
an
affirmative
,
but
had
no
power
to
speak
.
"
Well
,
then
,
"
said
the
doctor
,
"
I
should
recommend
that
you
should
put
her
to
sit
here
;
it
is
no
good
for
any
of
us
to
stay
any
longer
,
for
it
's
all
over
just
as
much
as
if
he
was
already
in
his
coffin
.
You
had
better
go
away
,
and
see
what
you
can
pack
up
to
get
off
with
,
Miss
Martha
,
that
's
all
that
is
left
to
be
done
,
as
far
as
I
can
see
.
Come
,
Mrs.
Gabberly
,
"
he
added
,
"
I
have
got
a
friendly
word
or
two
to
say
to
you
,
so
your
boy
shall
mount
my
pony
and
I
'll
drive
your
donkey
for
you
.
"
And
so
saying
,
he
took
the
little
woman
under
his
arm
and
trudged
off
,
without
waiting
for
her
to
inform
him
whether
she
approved
his
proposal
,
or
not
.
Mr.
Parsons
,
giving
one
scowling
look
at
the
silent
bed
,
followed
them
,
and
Martha
and
Michael
were
left
together
beside
the
dying
man
.
Upon
perceiving
the
totally
unconscious
state
into
which
Sir
Matthew
had
fallen
,
Michael
had
gently
withdrawn
himself
from
behind
his
pillows
,
and
now
stood
,
almost
as
silent
and
motionless
as
himself
,
beside
the
bed
,
respectfully
waiting
to
receive
from
the
desolate
and
weeping
martha
some
hint
or
instruction
respecting
his
staying
where
he
was
,
or
leaving
her
.
Never
,
when
the
poor
dependant
of
her
family
,
had
the
young
heart
of
Michael
been
impressed
with
a
feeling
of
respect
so
profound
as
he
at
that
moment
felt
for
the
unhappy
girl
.
In
truth
the
feeling
was
so
powerful
as
to
interfere
with
his
usefulness
,
for
he
shrank
from
appearing
to
put
himself
forward
too
presumptuously
by
giving
her
advice
,
or
venturing
in
any
degree
to
dictate
what
it
might
be
best
for
her
to
do
.
But
when
,
after
remaining
thus
bashfully
silent
for
a
quarter
of
an
hour
,
he
perceived
that
she
gave
no
other
sign
of
life
than
by
tears
that
flowed
incessantly
,
and
sighs
that
seemed
to
heave
her
breast
"
almost
to
bursting
,
"
—
when
he
saw
this
,
he
began
to
think
that
some
degree
of
seeming
presumption
on
his
part
might
be
better
and
more
profitable
for
her
,
whom
he
would
really
have
died
to
serve
,
than
the
continuance
of
a
degree
of
deference
,
which
must
render
him
useless
.
Approaching
,
therefore
,
to
the
chair
on
which
she
had
thrown
herself
,
he
ventured
to
say
,
"
Miss
Martha
!
where
can
I
find
your
old
servant
Betty
Parker
?
I
remember
her
very
well
—
she
used
to
be
always
in
the
nursery
.
If
you
would
tell
me
where
she
is
likely
to
be
,
I
will
go
for
her
.
"
Poor
Martha
for
a
moment
ceased
to
weep
,
and
looked
up
at
him
.
"
Michael
Armstrong
!
"
she
replied
,
"
I
am
not
conscious
of
ever
having
injured
any
human
being
but
yourself
;
and
yet
you
are
the
only
one
who
is
near
to
support
and
help
me
at
this
dreadful
hour
.
God
bless
you
for
your
kindness
,
my
good
boy
!
Do
not
go
away
,
Michael
—
that
is
,
I
mean
,
do
not
leave
the
house
till
all
is
over
—
indeed
,
I
think
you
may
be
useful
to
me
!
"
"
Miss
Martha
,
"
he
returned
,
"
will
you
trust
me
to
sit
here
,
while
you
yourself
summon
whomever
you
may
wish
to
keep
you
company
.
I
will
keep
out
of
sight
in
case
—
"
and
here
he
stopped
.
"
His
eyes
will
never
open
more
,
Michael
!
"
she
replied
,
while
the
tears
again
burst
forth
,
"
and
thank
God
their
last
look
at
me
was
gentle
!
But
I
almost
fear
to
leave
the
room
,
Michael
—
I
would
not
that
he
should
breathe
his
last
,
and
I
not
by
him
.
"
But
Michael
,
unskilful
as
he
was
,
felt
that
the
scene
was
too
awful
a
one
for
the
poor
girl
to
be
left
alone
in
,
and
he
therefore
persisted
to
declare
with
the
authority
which
such
subduing
sorrow
gives
to
all
around
who
will
take
the
trouble
to
exercise
it
,
that
he
would
watch
by
the
bedside
of
her
father
while
she
sought
the
old
woman
mentioned
by
Dr.
Crockley
.
Reluctantly
,
and
unresistingly
she
consented
,
and
giving
a
look
at
the
bed
that
seemed
to
wring
her
very
heart
,
she
quitted
the
room
,
leaving
Michael
Armstrong
alone
with
the
motionless
mass
of
still
living
clay
,
before
which
he
had
so
often
trembled
.
How
strangely
eventful
had
been
the
interval
between
those
well-remembered
days
,
and
the
one
actually
present
with
him
!
How
extraordinary
the
change
in
the
circumstances
of
both
parties
!
It
was
not
triumph
,
but
it
was
thankfulness
,
which
Michael
felt
,
as
the
sense
of
this
came
fully
upon
him
during
these
moments
of
profound
stillness
;
and
the
result
of
all
the
moving
thoughts
that
crowded
upon
his
mind
was
an
earnest
prayer
to
Heaven
that
he
might
never
be
placed
in
any
circumstances
likely
to
harden
his
heart
,
and
make
him
the
cause
of
suffering
to
others
,
—
a
fearful
and
a
dreadful
crime
,
which
he
felt
,
as
he
gazed
with
trembling
awe
on
the
sunken
features
of
the
living
corse
before
him
,
must
in
the
sight
of
God
be
held
as
one
of
the
most
daring
rebellion
to
his
heavenly
will
of
which
man
is
capable
.
Solemn
and
solitary
as
was
Michael
's
position
in
the
chamber
of
Sir
Matthew
,
the
interval
of
Martha
's
absence
did
not
seem
long
.
She
returned
accompanied
by
the
old
servant
who
had
been
nursery
attendant
,
though
never
raised
to
the
dignity
of
nurse
,
from
the
birth
of
the
eldest
child
of
the
family
,
and
who
was
the
only
one
remaining
of
all
the
numerous
household
who
retained
the
slightest
feeling
of
attachment
to
any
of
them
.
To
her
,
habit
stood
in
the
place
of
preference
,
and
she
might
perhaps
be
said
to
love
all
the
Dowling
children
,
from
the
eldest
to
the
youngest
;
a
sentiment
which
led
her
to
conceive
,
as
in
duty
bound
,
a
most
hearty
detestation
of
their
stepmother
.
It
was
,
therefore
,
with
something
very
like
pleasure
that
she
obeyed
a
summons
so
solemn
and
so
peremptory
as
to
justify
her
,
even
in
the
judgment
of
Mrs.
Saunderson
,
for
laying
aside
the
ironing-box
,
which
she
had
been
playing
incessantly
for
two
whole
days
upon
the
frills
and
furbelows
of
Lady
Clarissa
,
in
order
to
obey
it
.
On
perceiving
the
condition
in
which
her
master
lay
,
Betty
Parker
strongly
advised
poor
Martha
to
retire
,
urging
the
uselessness
of
her
remaining
to
look
upon
what
was
so
grievous
,
when
a
baby
might
see
at
half
a
glance
that
the
poor
gentleman
could
not
tell
friend
from
foe
.
But
Betty
Parker
knew
little
of
the
intensity
of
Martha
's
pertinacious
love
for
her
unworthy
parent
,
if
she
fancied
that
her
very
reasonable
remonstrance
would
produce
any
effect
.
Martha
attempted
not
even
to
answer
it
,
but
placing
herself
in
a
chair
close
beside
the
bed
,
remained
nearly
as
motionless
as
the
faintly
breathing
figure
that
lay
upon
it
.
Poor
Michael
knew
not
too
well
what
he
ought
to
do
next
.
He
felt
that
he
was
useless
there
;
he
knew
that
he
should
be
stared
at
,
as
a
very
incomprehensible
intruder
,
if
he
descended
to
the
offices
.
Yet
he
remembered
that
his
benefactress
had
bid
him
not
to
go
,
and
he
could
not
have
felt
himself
more
strongly
bound
to
remain
,
had
the
crime
of
high
treason
been
involved
in
his
departure
.
Yet
there
was
something
in
the
stupid
puzzled
look
with
which
Betty
Parker
regarded
him
,
that
vexed
his
spirit
.
He
was
conscious
that
he
had
no
business
in
that
room
,
and
therefore
at
such
a
moment
he
ought
not
to
be
there
.
After
a
few
moments
of
reflection
he
approached
Martha
,
and
making
so
profound
a
reverence
as
to
convince
Betty
,
that
let
him
be
who
he
would
,
he
was
a
very
well-behaved
young
gentleman
,
he
said
,
"
I
will
now
,
Miss
Martha
,
go
to
the
inn
for
an
hour
or
two
,
and
then
return
to
take
your
orders
.
"
A
look
of
gratitude
was
all
her
reply
,
and
Michael
departed
.
It
was
three
o'clock
in
the
afternoon
when
he
entered
the
little
inn
,
where
the
postboy
,
who
had
driven
him
from
Fairly
in
the
morning
,
was
still
waiting
his
orders
.
"
I
cannot
tell
you
yet
,
my
lad
,
when
I
shall
be
ready
to
return
,
"
he
replied
,
in
answer
to
the
boy
's
questionings
.
"
It
's
all
one
to
me
,
master
,
"
said
the
driver
.
"
In
course
I
shall
be
paid
accordingly
.
"
"
Certainly
you
will
,
"
returned
Michael
:
and
he
was
then
left
to
eat
his
solitary
dinner
with
what
appetite
he
might
.
For
three
long
melancholy
hours
he
employed
himself
in
pacing
backwards
and
forwards
on
the
high-road
before
the
little
inn
,
and
was
beginning
to
think
that
time
enough
had
elapsed
to
justify
his
returning
to
inquire
how
matters
were
going
on
at
Dowling
Lodge
,
when
the
sound
of
a
carriage
approaching
as
it
seemed
from
the
park-gates
,
cause
him
to
stop
abruptly
to
listen
,
and
to
look
.
The
equipage
that
drew
near
was
a
handsome
travelling-carriage
,
though
its
appearance
was
considerably
disfigured
by
the
prodigious
quantity
of
luggage
,
which
was
fastened
by
ropes
and
chains
to
every
part
of
it
.
The
imperial
only
formed
the
foundation
for
a
pyramid
of
trunks
and
bandboxes
,
which
were
piled
upon
it
.
The
servant's-seat
behind
was
loaded
to
its
very
utmost
capacity
with
more
trunks
and
bandboxes
,
while
,
chained
below
it
,
was
a
massive
coffer
,
that
looked
very
like
a
plate-chest
,
having
suspended
round
its
sides
,
bundles
,
baskets
,
and
bags
innumerable
.
Nor
was
the
interior
by
any
means
reserved
for
live
lumber
alone
,
for
although
the
rigid
figures
of
Lady
Clarissa
Dowling
,
and
her
waiting-woman
,
Saunderson
,
were
visible
in
the
midst
,
it
appeared
to
be
crammed
with
every
imaginable
species
of
property
which
such
a
conveyance
could
transport
.
Michael
watched
the
overloaded
vehicle
roll
by
with
great
satisfaction
.
"
Whatever
happens
,
"
thought
he
,
"
Miss
Martha
must
be
better
without
her
.
"
Relieved
by
knowing
that
he
should
not
again
run
the
risk
of
encountering
her
delectable
ladyship
,
Michael
immediately
took
his
way
to
the
magnificent
mansion
she
had
forsaken
,
and
perceiving
that
the
hall-doors
stood
wide
open
,
preferred
passing
through
them
to
encountering
again
the
motley
throng
that
had
taken
possession
of
the
offices
.
But
instead
of
finding
this
portion
of
the
house
as
quiet
and
forsaken
as
he
had
left
it
,
he
was
startled
by
hearing
,
as
he
mounted
the
steps
of
the
stately
portico
,
a
multitude
of
voices
in
violent
altercation
.
At
first
he
felt
disposed
to
turn
away
and
seek
another
entrance
,
but
the
vehemence
of
the
sounds
he
heard
excited
his
curiosity
,
and
he
went
on
.
Instead
of
one
,
half-a-dozen
strangers
might
have
entered
without
running
any
risk
of
having
their
right
there
challenged
;
so
great
was
the
confusion
that
reigned
;
and
Michael
might
have
passed
up
the
great
stairs
,
and
into
the
chamber
which
it
was
his
purpose
to
visit
,
without
any
difficulty
.
But
he
was
prevented
from
taking
immediate
advantage
of
this
,
by
hearing
words
which
excited
new
fears
for
the
unfortunate
Martha
;
and
,
ere
he
had
listened
many
minutes
,
he
became
aware
that
a
new
creditor
had
reached
the
lodge
after
he
left
it
,
who
had
come
,
armed
with
proper
authority
,
to
arrest
the
knight
,
dead
or
alive
.
Nor
did
the
discussion
of
this
event
cause
all
the
uproar
;
for
the
agents
of
the
parties
who
had
previously
sent
in
the
execution
were
threatening
with
all
sorts
of
punishment
,
several
of
the
servants
,
whom
they
accused
of
having
been
bribed
to
assist
Lady
Clarissa
in
the
removal
of
many
valuables
which
she
had
no
right
to
take
.
It
was
not
this
part
of
the
tumult
,
however
,
that
interested
him
;
and
,
having
obtained
but
too
clearly
the
information
that
Sir
Matthew
was
arrested
,
he
once
more
sought
for
the
unhappy
Martha
in
the
dismal
chamber
where
he
had
left
her
.
And
there
he
found
her
;
but
with
such
frightful
adjuncts
to
her
natural
grief
,
that
the
state
of
quiet
decent
sorrow
in
which
he
had
left
her
,
seemed
a
condition
positively
enviable
compared
to
that
in
which
he
found
her
now
.
Sir
Matthew
had
breathed
his
last
,
and
the
corpse
was
already
arranged
with
decency
upon
its
stately
bed
;
but
,
on
each
side
of
it
stood
an
officer
,
whose
duty
it
was
to
violate
by
their
presence
the
solemn
sanctity
of
that
dismal
chamber
,
and
to
prevent
the
body
's
being
carried
to
the
grave
,
till
the
claims
of
their
employer
were
satisfied
.
In
front
of
her
father
's
corpse
,
with
her
troubled
eyes
(
no
longer
bathed
in
the
healing
dew
of
natural
sorrow
)
,
turning
from
it
to
its
rude
guardians
,
and
back
again
to
all
that
was
left
of
the
sinful
being
she
had
so
fondly
,
blindly
loved
,
—
stood
the
wretched
daughter
,
so
sad
a
spectacle
of
woe
,
that
it
was
evident
the
men
themselves
turned
their
hard
eyes
studiously
away
,
because
they
felt
a
pang
of
pity
as
they
looked
upon
her
.
"
Come
with
me
,
Miss
Martha
!
"
cried
Michael
,
unceremoniously
seizing
her
arm
.
"
You
must
not
,
you
cannot
remain
here
.
You
can
do
no
good
,
Miss
Martha
;
all
is
over
now
!
You
must
come
away
,
you
must
indeed
.
"
The
only
answer
that
poor
Martha
gave
,
was
forcibly
shaking
off
the
hand
that
held
her
,
and
then
pointing
,
first
to
her
father
's
body
,
and
afterwards
to
the
two
unseemly
attendants
who
stood
beside
it
.
"
It
is
no
use
,
young
man
,
to
strive
with
her
,
"
said
Betty
,
who
was
still
occupied
in
completing
some
of
her
lugubrious
operations
about
the
bed
:
"
I
know
her
better
than
you
do
.
She
will
stay
here
watching
him
till
she
is
as
dead
as
he
is
,
rather
than
go
away
,
and
leave
his
body
to
be
tended
by
such
as
those
.
"
For
a
moment
Michael
really
felt
all
the
enervating
effects
of
despair
,
and
stood
perfectly
incapable
of
even
imagining
any
means
of
help
for
the
agony
which
it
wrung
his
heart
to
witness
.
But
,
as
the
old
woman
pursued
her
ghastly
occupation
,
she
went
muttering
on
,
expatiating
on
the
sinful
and
unchristian
outrage
that
was
thus
committed
.
"
And
what
will
the
rogue
get
by
it
?
"
she
said
.
"
Does
he
mean
to
show
the
corpse
for
a
farthing
a
head
to
his
factory
black-guards
?
Is
n't
he
as
big
a
fool
as
he
is
knave
?
"
"
No
,
mistress
,
no
,
by
no
means
,
"
said
the
friendly
defender
of
Mr.
Joseph
Parsons
:
—
for
it
was
at
his
suit
that
the
body
of
Sir
Matthew
had
been
arrested
.
—
"
You
may
call
the
superintendent
rogue
,
or
knave
,
or
what
you
will
of
that
kind
,
and
I
do
n't
suppose
that
there
's
many
as
would
contradict
you
;
but
,
as
to
his
being
a
fool
,
especially
as
to
the
doing
what
he
has
done
here
,
that
he
is
not
.
'
Twas
his
only
chance
.
"
"
And
how
much
do
you
think
he
'll
make
of
it
?
"
demanded
old
Betty
with
a
sneer
.
"
Why
,
just
the
four
hundred
and
sixty-seven
pounds
as
is
due
to
him
,
"
replied
the
man
.
To
all
this
poor
Martha
appeared
not
to
pay
the
slightest
attention
,
and
,
in
truth
,
neither
understood
nor
heard
a
word
of
it
;
but
Michael
did
,
and
with
sudden
animation
stepped
up
to
the
man
who
had
spoken
,
and
whispered
in
his
ear
,
"
Perhaps
we
may
be
able
to
settle
this
business
without
any
further
difficulty
.
Step
out
of
the
room
with
me
,
will
you
,
for
a
moment
:
your
companion
can
do
all
that
is
necessary
without
you
.
"
—
"
Neither
I
nor
my
employer
are
people
to
make
difficulties
,
"
replied
the
man
;
"
and
I
am
quite
ready
to
hear
you
,
young
master
,
if
you
have
got
any
thing
to
say
upon
the
subject
.
"
They
accordingly
retired
together
;
and
in
a
wondrously
short
space
of
time
the
uninitiated
Michael
was
made
to
understand
all
the
circumstances
of
the
case
,
the
most
important
of
which
was
that
if
,
as
Mr.
Parsons
hoped
and
expected
,
Miss
Martha
could
find
ready
money
enough
quietly
to
pay
his
little
private
account
with
the
late
Sir
Matthew
,
the
arrest
would
be
immediately
withdrawn
,
and
the
body
left
for
her
to
dispose
of
it
at
her
pleasure
.
"
And
the
sum
,
"
said
Michael
,
"
is
—
how
much
?
"
"
Four
hundred
and
sixty-seven
pounds
,
"
replied
the
man
,
"
with
some
little
matter
,
not
exceeding
four
or
five
pounds
more
,
for
costs
,
"
"
Withdraw
the
arrest
,
"
said
Michael
,
"
and
the
money
shall
be
instantly
forthcoming
.
"
"
Let
us
see
the
money
forthcoming
,
"
replied
the
fellow
,
grinning
,
"
and
the
arrest
shall
be
instantly
withdrawn
.
"
"
Here
is
the
money
,
sir
,
"
said
Michael
,
taking
out
the
pocket-book
containing
Martha
's
generous
donation
,
and
drawing
from
it
notes
to
the
amount
demanded
.
"
Then
the
business
will
be
soon
settled
,
young
gentleman
.
May
I
take
the
liberty
to
ask
your
name
?
"
"
My
name
is
of
no
consequence
whatever
,
sir
,
"
replied
Michael
.
"
But
lose
no
time
in
giving
me
the
discharge
.
Only
first
enter
that
chamber
with
me
once
again
,
withdraw
your
companion
from
his
frightful
watch
,
and
tell
the
poor
young
lady
that
it
is
over
.
"
The
man
readily
obeyed
,
and
the
mourning
,
but
thankful
Martha
was
once
more
left
with
her
old
servant
,
to
watch
beside
her
father
's
corpse
.
CHAPTER
XXXII
.
MR.
AUGUSTUS
DOWLING
GIVES
HIS
SISTER
MARTHA
NOTICE
TO
QUIT
THE
PREMISES
;
WHICH
OCCASIONS
MICHAEL
TO
APPEAR
IN
A
NEW
CHARACTER
—
A
LONG
JOURNEY
TAKEN
BY
NOVICES
;
BUT
THEY
DO
NOT
LOSE
THEIR
WAY
,
AND
ARRIVE
AT
THE
RIGHT
PLACE
AT
LAST
.
The
circumstances
which
immediately
followed
are
not
of
sufficient
consequence
to
detain
us
long
.
Our
old
acquaintance
,
Mr.
Augustus
,
now
Major
Dowling
of
the
—
regiment
,
quartered
at
the
distance
of
a
day
's
journey
,
was
sent
for
to
get
through
the
melancholy
business
going
on
in
his
paternal
mansion
,
as
well
as
he
could
;
to
give
orders
respecting
the
funeral
,
and
to
make
himself
as
thoroughly
acquainted
with
the
real
state
of
his
family
affairs
as
circumstances
would
permit
.
Michael
,
meanwhile
,
had
taken
leave
of
the
weeping
Martha
without
having
given
her
the
slightest
hint
as
to
the
means
by
which
Sir
Matthew
's
body
had
been
released
.
Had
he
not
known
that
the
Mr.
Augustus
,
whose
kicks
and
pinches
he
so
well
remembered
,
was
expected
to
arrive
for
the
protection
of
his
sister
,
and
of
whatever
property
they
might
still
call
their
own
,
he
would
hardly
have
made
up
his
mind
to
leave
her
,
however
conscious
he
might
have
been
of
the
doubtful
propriety
of
offering
such
protection
as
he
could
give
.
But
it
was
evident
that
the
poor
girl
thought
he
had
better
go
,
though
it
was
equally
so
that
she
parted
from
him
with
the
greatest
reluctance
.
"
You
shall
hear
from
me
,
"
she
said
,
"
my
good
Michael
,
and
if
it
should
never
be
my
good
fortune
to
see
you
more
,
remember
me
with
the
same
forgiving
kindness
that
you
have
shown
through
all
the
dreadful
scenes
you
have
witnessed
here
.
You
have
a
good
and
generous
heart
,
Michael
,
and
though
I
know
you
suffered
much
by
being
present
at
them
,
you
will
always
like
to
remember
how
greatly
your
presence
helped
to
support
your
early
friend
in
her
great
affliction
.
"
But
it
was
not
destined
that
these
sad
scenes
should
be
the
last
in
which
Michael
and
his
early
friend
were
to
be
thrown
together
.
In
little
more
than
a
week
after
the
death
of
Sir
Matthew
,
and
while
Michael
was
still
anxiously
waiting
at
Fairly
for
such
tidings
from
her
as
might
put
him
at
liberty
to
set
off
without
further
delay
for
Nice
,
a
packet
reached
him
from
Dowling
Lodge
,
containing
two
letters
.
One
was
from
Martha
,
and
contained
these
words
:
"
Dear
Michael
,
"
My
brother
tells
me
that
all
of
us
,
who
are
old
enough
,
must
seek
our
own
living
,
for
that
there
is
nothing
left
to
support
us
.
Myself
especially
,
he
says
,
must
,
to
use
his
own
words
,
look
about
me
directly
,
as
my
behaviour
to
my
family
has
never
been
such
as
to
justify
my
looking
to
any
of
them
for
assistance
.
This
amounts
to
my
being
actually
turned
out
of
doors
,
an
exigency
which
at
this
moment
leaves
me
no
other
resource
than
what
is
afforded
by
the
enclosed
letter
.
Read
it
,
Michael
,
and
let
me
know
if
you
are
willing
to
give
me
your
assistance
and
protection
in
reaching
the
amiable
writer
of
it
.
I
could
never
have
accepted
,
even
for
a
day
,
the
hospitality
she
so
generously
offer
,
could
I
not
prove
to
her
,
by
bringing
you
with
me
,
that
the
sad
subject
which
interrupted
our
friendship
some
seven
or
eight
years
ago
,
could
never
again
be
a
source
of
pain
to
either
of
us
.
"
My
dear
father
's
last
act
towards
me
,
which
was
,
as
I
think
I
told
you
,
the
placing
a
few
hundred
pounds
in
my
hands
for
the
express
purpose
of
my
leaving
the
country
,
will
enable
me
to
undertake
this
long
journey
without
being
a
burden
upon
you
,
The
green
pocket-book
,
Michael
,
so
well
known
to
Mr.
Parsons
and
Lady
Clarissa
,
as
the
repository
of
my
father
's
ready
money
,
and
so
disgracefully
struggled
for
during
his
last
moments
,
will
prove
of
no
value
to
its
possessors
beyond
its
morocco
cover
and
its
silken
lining
;
for
the
notes
which
he
took
from
it
to
give
to
me
,
were
the
last
he
ever
placed
in
it
.
My
messenger
has
orders
to
wait
for
your
reply
.
If
it
will
suit
you
immediately
to
accompany
me
to
Nice
—
my
first
stage
shall
be
to
the
little
inn
at
Fairly
,
which
you
mentioned
to
me
.
I
fear
you
will
find
me
a
weak
and
troublesome
traveller
;
but
I
think
I
have
been
improving
in
health
ever
since
I
learnt
that
I
had
not
your
death
to
answer
for
.
"
Your
grateful
friend
,
"
Martha
Dowling
.
"
The
other
letter
was
from
Miss
Brotherton
,
and
ran
thus
:
"
Need
I
tell
you
,
my
dearest
Martha
,
with
what
feelings
I
received
the
news
of
your
present
painful
position
?
Your
father
's
marriage
with
Lady
Clarissa
was
,
for
your
sake
,
a
source
of
great
sorrow
to
me
,
for
I
was
certain
that
your
domestic
happiness
would
be
destroyed
by
it
;
and
this
most
unexpected
event
of
your
father
's
bankruptcy
makes
me
feel
quite
sure
that
you
have
no
longer
a
comfortable
home
in
England
.
Come
then
to
me
,
my
dear
Martha
!
The
painful
estrangement
which
grew
between
us
,
just
when
I
was
beginning
to
know
and
value
your
excellent
qualities
,
has
long
been
a
source
of
very
painful
regret
to
me
,
because
I
am
aware
that
I
judged
you
unfairly
,
and
pronounced
that
judgment
harshly
.
Be
generous
,
then
,
and
prove
that
you
can
forgive
this
,
by
immediately
giving
me
the
pleasure
of
receiving
you
as
my
guest
.
When
we
are
together
,
we
will
consult
about
what
will
be
best
for
the
future
;
but
at
any
rate
I
have
the
satisfaction
of
knowing
that
the
climate
to
which
I
am
inviting
you
is
likely
to
be
beneficial
to
your
health
during
the
approaching
winter
:
come
to
me
,
then
,
dear
friend
,
without
delay
.
On
the
other
side
you
will
find
the
route
sketched
that
I
recommend
you
for
your
journey
.
My
quarters
are
roomy
enough
to
accommodate
either
man
or
maid-servant
,
or
both
,
if
it
will
suit
you
to
be
so
accompanied
.
"
Ever
,
my
dear
Martha
,
"
Affectionately
yours
,
"
Mary
Brotherton
.
"
The
consequence
of
this
packet
was
another
metamorphosis
on
the
part
of
Michael
,
"
She
shall
not
think
,
"
said
he
,
addressing
Mr.
Bell
,
"
that
my
respect
for
her
is
lessened
because
her
fortune
has
fallen
.
I
will
wait
upon
her
with
faithful
duty
and
most
grateful
affection
:
but
she
was
born
in
a
palace
,
and
I
in
a
cabin
;
and
I
will
not
,
especially
just
now
,
obtrude
myself
upon
her
as
a
companion
.
As
her
servant
I
hope
I
may
be
useful
to
her
,
and
it
is
in
that
capacity
that
I
shall
attend
her
.
"
There
was
so
much
good
feeling
shown
in
this
project
,
that
Mr.
Bell
could
not
oppose
it
,
whatever
he
might
think
of
its
necessity
;
and
Michael
,
therefore
,
gave
the
astonished
Martha
the
meeting
at
the
little
inn
she
had
named
,
in
the
character
of
a
very
neat
and
respectable-looking
man-servant
.
Her
faithful
Betty
Parker
,
who
had
consented
to
be
the
companion
of
her
journey
,
was
in
the
room
with
her
when
Michael
made
his
appearance
at
the
door
,
to
receive
her
orders
.
The
cautious
manner
in
which
he
made
her
comprehend
his
purpose
,
and
the
nature
of
the
office
he
had
assumed
,
suggested
to
her
the
propriety
of
not
discussing
it
in
the
presence
of
the
well-contented
Betty
,
who
was
exceedingly
comforted
by
discovering
that
the
young
man
whom
her
mistress
had
informed
her
would
travel
with
them
,
was
to
do
so
as
her
fellow-servant
,
as
she
by
no
means
felt
herself
capable
of
becoming
"
servant
of
all
work
"
to
a
young
lady
travelling
through
foreign
countries
,
of
which
she
had
never
even
heard
the
names
.
But
having
contrived
to
dismiss
her
female
attendant
on
an
errand
,
Martha
began
to
remonstrate
with
her
faithful
squire
upon
the
great
mistake
he
had
made
in
fancying
that
she
had
ever
thought
of
travelling
with
him
in
any
other
capacity
than
that
of
a
friend
.
All
she
said
,
however
,
was
in
vain
.
Michael
,
though
in
a
manner
the
most
humbly
respectful
,
persisted
in
his
purpose
;
and
the
almost
destitute
girl
was
therefore
constrained
to
set
off
upon
her
travels
in
a
style
which
she
felt
to
be
very
unfitting
to
her
situation
.
Her
conscience
,
however
,
could
not
reproach
her
for
this
,
for
most
assuredly
she
could
not
help
it
.
Many
were
the
letters
,
and
various
the
mementos
of
affection
,
intrusted
by
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Bell
to
the
care
of
Michael
for
their
dearly-beloved
Mary
Brotherton
.
Nor
was
there
an
individual
of
whose
welfare
he
thought
it
would
please
her
to
hear
,
whom
he
did
not
visit
to
receive
their
loving
blessings
for
the
benefactress
who
,
notwithstanding
her
wide
wanderings
,
had
never
failed
to
remember
the
wants
of
all
who
had
faithfully
served
her
,
or
in
any
way
become
dependent
on
her
bounty
.
These
duties
completed
,
and
a
farewell
of
most
grateful
affection
uttered
to
the
amiable
clergyman
and
his
excellent
wife
,
Michael
set
off
upon
his
long
journey
with
feelings
of
hope
,
joy
,
confidence
,
fear
,
diffidence
,
and
trembling
affection
,
—
all
so
strongly
mixed
together
in
his
bosom
that
,
had
his
life
depended
on
it
,
he
could
not
himself
have
told
which
it
was
that
most
frequently
preponderated
.
Yet
,
altogether
,
his
state
of
mind
was
very
delightful
:
the
novelty
and
excitement
of
journeying
,
so
pregnant
of
enjoyment
to
most
of
us
,
was
most
especially
captivating
to
him
,
whose
education
had
been
little
more
than
the
unchecked
development
of
imagination
,
and
of
that
keen
observation
of
all
surrounding
objects
which
his
shepherd
life
had
taught
him
.
The
first
painful
interruption
to
the
state
of
felicity
,
arose
from
his
finding
himself
under
the
necessity
of
confessing
to
Martha
that
he
had
no
more
money
wherewith
to
pay
their
way
.
Aware
that
in
the
performance
of
his
self-appointed
office
Michael
would
have
to
pay
every
thing
,
and
keep
a
regular
account
of
it
;
and
aware
also
that
the
money
he
had
received
from
her
would
enable
him
to
do
this
,
without
giving
him
the
additional
trouble
of
daily
settlements
with
her
,
she
had
merely
said
,
a
minute
or
two
before
they
set
off
,
"
You
will
be
kind
enough
to
be
my
banker
,
Michael
,
during
the
journey
,
and
we
will
settle
accounts
at
the
end
of
it
.
"
For
just
one
week
from
the
day
of
their
leaving
Fairly
,
he
was
able
to
do
this
;
but
then
the
little
remnant
of
his
treasure
failed
him
,
and
great
as
was
his
repugnance
to
the
measure
,
he
was
compelled
by
dire
necessity
to
confess
that
nearly
the
whole
of
her
generous
gift
had
gone
to
—
"
to
satisfy
the
rapacity
of
Mr.
Parsons
.
"
It
would
be
hardly
possible
for
one
human
being
to
be
more
grateful
to
another
than
poor
Martha
felt
to
her
young
attendant
after
this
disclosure
.
She
remembered
the
agony
which
he
had
made
to
cease
;
she
remembered
,
too
,
her
state
of
utter
incapacity
even
to
comprehend
,
and
still
less
to
avert
the
horrors
that
surrounded
her
;
and
,
spite
of
all
Michael
's
respectful
efforts
to
induce
her
to
perform
her
allotted
character
properly
,
she
never
from
the
hour
of
this
disclosure
treated
him
otherwise
than
as
a
dear
and
valued
friend
.
As
their
journey
approached
its
termination
,
however
(
to
which
period
Michael
had
looked
with
peculiar
anxiety
,
as
that
most
important
to
the
dignity
of
Martha
)
,
there
was
one
argument
,
and
one
only
,
by
which
he
was
able
to
coax
her
into
letting
him
make
his
first
appearance
before
Miss
Brotherton
in
the
character
of
her
servant
;
and
this
was
his
very
natural
wish
to
ascertain
whether
Edward
and
Fanny
would
recognise
him
.
It
was
therefore
still
in
the
dress
,
and
with
the
demeanour
of
a
servant
,
that
the
poor
factory-boy
,
now
become
a
tall
and
very
handsome
young
man
,
armed
himself
with
courage
to
enter
the
presence
of
his
brother
,
and
once
more
to
draw
near
to
the
dear
and
gentle
little
being
whom
he
had
so
fondly
loved
during
the
miserable
period
they
had
passed
together
at
the
Deep
Valley
.
It
had
been
previously
agreed
between
himself
and
Martha
,
that
when
she
sent
for
him
,
it
should
be
for
the
purpose
of
giving
him
some
long
and
particular
instructions
respecting
the
luggage
he
was
to
get
from
the
custom-house
,
in
order
to
give
him
time
to
look
,
and
be
looked
at
,
before
the
moment
of
discovery
should
arrive
.
The
young
man
trembled
like
an
aspen-leaf
as
he
laid
his
hand
upon
the
lock
of
the
door
,
the
opening
of
which
would
bring
him
face
to
face
with
his
brother
.
And
perchance
he
might
have
indulged
in
a
longer
interval
of
preparation
,
had
not
the
voice
of
Martha
distinctly
pronounced
the
words
"
Come
in
!
"
Further
delay
was
out
of
the
question
;
he
pushed
forward
the
door
,
and
entered
.
The
first
figure
that
his
eyes
fell
upon
was
that
of
a
young
lady
—
small
,
and
of
very
delicate
proportions
—
whose
head
,
which
was
hanging
over
some
employment
as
the
door
opened
,
was
raised
as
he
entered
,
displaying
to
him
a
very
lovely
face
,
and
a
pair
of
eyes
whose
dark
brilliance
almost
made
the
beholder
wink
.
Could
that
be
Fanny
Fletcher
?
No.
Yet
that
it
should
be
Miss
Brotherton
seemed
more
impossible
still
.
Like
all
young
people
who
have
been
separated
from
some
one
considerably
older
than
themselves
,
ever
since
the
period
when
this
difference
made
one
of
them
appear
fully
grown
,
while
the
other
was
still
a
child
,
Michael
fancied
that
in
Miss
Brotherton
he
should
see
an
elderly
person
,
no
more
like
a
pretty
girl
,
than
he
was
himself
.
But
Mary
Brotherton
had
not
fully
completed
her
twenty-ninth
year
;
and
happening
,
moreover
,
to
be
very
peculiarly
young-looking
both
in
face
and
figure
,
it
was
not
very
wonderful
that
he
should
doubt
of
her
identity
;
for
it
was
in
truth
Mary
Brotherton
,
and
no
other
,
whose
bright
and
laughing
loveliness
made
him
turn
his
admiring
eyes
away
,
in
search
of
something
dearer
,
though
not
more
beautiful
.
At
the
end
of
the
sofa-table
,
at
which
Miss
Brotherton
sat
with
Martha
Dowling
beside
her
,
was
a
young
female
figure
which
presented
only
a
profile
to
his
gaze
—
But
that
was
enough
—
the
delicate
oval
face
,
the
sweet
regular
small
features
,
the
glossy
light
brown
hair
parted
Madonna-like
upon
the
ivory
brow
,
and
the
long
eyelash
that
seemed
to
rest
upon
her
cheek
as
she
read
,
all
proclaimed
that
he
looked
upon
the
same
gentle
lovely
creature
whose
soft
voice
had
whispered
"
patience
!
"
when
his
spirit
,
but
for
her
,
had
died
within
him
.
At
the
sight
of
this
sweet
vision
,
that
in
shadowy
and
uncertain
outline
had
so
often
visited
his
reveries
,
Michael
's
manhood
almost
forsook
him
,
and
large
tears
gathered
in
his
eyes
,
which
he
was
fain
to
hide
by
turning
round
again
and
performing
some
blundering
operation
with
the
lock
of
the
door
.
Martha
played
her
part
admirably
,
appearing
to
be
the
most
exceedingly
particular
young
lady
,
about
boxes
,
bags
,
and
desks
,
that
ever
travelled
.
"
Remember
,
I
beg
,
"
she
said
,
"
that
you
see
yourself
to
the
opening
of
every
package
.
Do
n't
let
them
touch
a
single
article
that
you
do
not
watch
the
whole
time
;
and
be
sure
that
every
thing
is
locked
again
—
and
on
no
account
forget
the
covers
,
or
mismatch
them
—
and
remember
particularly
—
"
et
cætera
,
et
cætera
,
and
so
she
ran
on
at
the
imminent
risk
of
being
classed
by
her
clever
friend
Mary
as
the
veriest
fidget
that
ever
arrived
to
bore
a
peaceable
household
and
all
in
order
to
give
her
poor
companion
time
to
recover
himself
,
and
see
distinctly
what
was
before
him
.
But
Michael
could
not
recover
himself
,
nor
could
he
even
find
courage
to
look
about
him
.
It
was
a
large
saloon
that
Miss
Brotherton
occupied
,
and
the
agitated
young
man
rather
felt
that
there
was
a
gentleman
occupied
with
books
and
papers
at
a
distant
table
,
than
saw
him
.
Yet
to
see
him
he
was
determined
,
if
his
life
were
to
be
the
forfeit
;
and
turning
his
head
with
an
eye
as
troubled
as
that
of
Hamlet
,
when
tremblingly
following
his
father
's
spirit
,
he
stood
at
last
with
clasped
hands
,
protruded
head
,
and
features
almost
convulsed
with
emotion
,
when
he
had
an
uninterrupted
view
of
his
brother
's
clam
and
beautiful
countenance
.
Edward
was
very
busily
employed
,
and
unconsciously
submitted
himself
to
this
examination
without
raising
his
eyes
,
or
moving
in
any
way
;
but
Miss
Brotherton
's
ear
caught
something
like
a
sob
from
the
silent
object
of
all
Martha
's
eloquence
,
and
suddenly
looking
up
perceived
Michael
in
the
attitude
described
,
but
stealthily
,
and
perhaps
unknowingly
approaching
Edward
's
table
,
while
the
tears
he
could
no
longer
check
,
rolled
down
his
manly
cheek
.
There
are
some
individuals
of
the
human
family
gifted
with
such
quickness
of
perception
,
and
rapidity
of
inference
,
that
their
faculties
act
with
the
certainty
of
instinct
,
and
the
brilliancy
of
inspiration
.
Miss
Brotherton
was
one
of
those
;
and
after
looking
for
a
minute
or
two
at
Michael
,
quite
as
earnestly
as
Michael
looked
at
Edward
,
she
sprung
from
the
sofa
,
pushed
the
table
that
stood
before
it
with
such
violence
from
her
as
nearly
to
overset
it
,
and
rushing
forward
laid
her
hand
upon
his
arm
,
exclaiming
,
"
For
mercy
's
sake
tell
me
young
man
,
who
you
are
,
and
where
you
come
from
?
"
On
hearing
these
words
in
a
voice
unusually
loud
and
agitated
,
Edward
rose
hastily
from
his
seat
,
and
approached
Miss
Brotherton
as
if
to
protect
her
from
some
threatened
danger
;
but
turning
towards
him
,
she
held
up
her
hand
as
if
to
prevent
his
hostile
approach
,
and
said
,
"
Stay
Edward
,
stay
!
Look
at
him
!
Good
Heaven
!
Look
at
him
,
dearest
Edward
,
and
tell
me
who
he
is
like
!
"
Thus
addressed
,
Edward
did
look
at
his
brother
,
and
for
a
moment
with
a
countenance
that
seemed
to
say
Miss
Brotherton
had
lost
her
wits
—
but
suddenly
Michael
smiled
at
him
as
he
caught
his
puzzled
eye
,
and
then
he
started
,
and
almost
gasped
for
breath
—
and
his
distracted
eyes
fixed
themselves
on
the
agitated
face
before
him
as
if
they
would
read
in
it
the
history
of
years
.
"
Edward
!
—
Teddy
!
"
cried
Michael
,
opening
his
arms
,
and
making
a
step
in
advance
.
In
the
next
instant
the
brothers
were
locked
in
each
other
's
arms
,
and
Miss
Brotherton
drew
back
,
and
gazed
upon
them
from
a
distance
as
if
the
very
ground
that
sustained
hearts
under
the
influence
of
such
feelings
was
holy
—
while
Fanny
Fletcher
,
rose
and
sat
down
,
and
rose
again
,
checking
the
feeling
that
would
have
sent
her
to
stretch
forth
a
hand
of
welcome
to
her
old
friend
,
by
telling
herself
that
no
hand
,
no
voice
but
Edward
's
could
be
cared
for
then
.
And
perhaps
she
was
right
;
for
it
is
certain
that
for
several
minutes
,
neither
Edward
nor
Michael
were
fully
conscious
where
they
were
,
nor
who
they
might
be
that
were
near
them
.
Once
and
again
each
beating
heart
was
strained
against
the
brother
heart
,
and
then
,
their
right
hands
clasped
,
and
the
left
placed
,
each
on
the
other
's
shoulder
,
"
They
fell
to
such
perusal
of
the
face
,
"
that
now
,
after
eight
cruel
years
of
absence
,
was
once
more
beaming
with
love
and
sympathy
before
their
eyes
,
that
it
must
have
been
a
very
heartless
and
soulless
being
who
should
have
come
between
them
.
Though
such
a
history
as
Michael
's
might
well
have
occupied
more
than
one
long
summer
's
day
in
the
telling
,
to
ears
so
greedy
of
every
circumstance
connected
with
it
as
were
those
of
Edward
,
yet
it
is
wonderful
how
very
short
a
time
sufficed
to
point
out
the
keystone
of
the
arch
,
upon
which
the
whole
wonderful
fabric
hung
,
and
then
it
was
that
Fanny
Fletcher
's
voice
was
heard
exclaiming
in
a
burst
of
uncontrollable
emotion
,
"
Then
it
was
I
that
caused
it
all
!
Oh
!
Miss
Brotherton
,
it
was
I
who
kept
him
in
that
horrid
place
for
years
!
Had
I
not
told
you
he
was
dead
,
it
would
have
been
he
who
would
have
been
the
happy
object
of
your
bounty
,
instead
of
me
!
Oh
!
how
can
he
ever
forgive
me
?
"
This
was
uttered
with
such
agitated
rapidity
,
that
though
there
was
more
than
one
present
,
who
would
have
been
ready
enough
to
contradict
the
self-accusing
statement
,
she
gave
them
no
time
for
it
.
But
it
sufficed
to
draw
Michael
from
the
side
of
his
brother
,
and
to
place
him
at
hers
;
and
though
this
terrible
thought
drew
a
shower
of
tears
from
Fanny
's
eyes
,
notwithstanding
the
exceeding
happiness
which
was
at
the
very
same
moment
throbbing
at
her
heart
;
it
may
be
that
there
could
not
have
been
found
a
more
effectual
mode
of
at
once
bringing
back
the
long-parted
friends
to
the
same
tone
of
familiar
intercourse
in
which
they
had
parted
,
as
this
sincere
self-recrimination
on
one
part
,
and
the
warm
pleading
against
its
injustice
,
on
the
other
.
For
some
minutes
this
lasted
without
being
interrupted
by
a
word
from
any
one
;
for
both
Mary
and
Edward
found
,
sufficient
occupation
in
looking
at
them
both
,
and
then
exchanging
expressive
glances
of
thanksgiving
and
happiness
with
each
other
.
But
at
length
,
upon
Fanny
's
saying
with
a
fresh
burst
of
tears
,
"
Oh
,
Michael
!
Michael
!
your
eloquence
is
all
in
vain
.
You
will
never
,
never
teach
me
to
forget
that
I
have
been
enjoying
the
blessed
destiny
intended
for
you
,
and
that
by
means
of
words
uttered
by
myself
.
"
Upon
her
saying
this
,
the
happy
Mary
Brotherton
pushed
a
low
tabouret
before
the
reunited
friends
,
and
seating
herself
upon
it
,
took
Fanny
's
hand
in
hers
,
and
said
,
"
If
you
would
not
cry
about
it
,
my
Fanny
,
I
should
think
it
was
a
mighty
pretty
exhibition
of
true
feeling
and
false
argument
that
we
were
witnessing
;
but
if
you
really
intend
to
be
unhappy
,
we
shall
all
range
ourselves
immediately
on
Michael
's
side
,
and
laugh
you
to
scorn
for
your
sophistry
,
and
the
deplorable
confusion
you
are
making
between
cause
and
effect
.
I
should
like
to
know
,
little
lady
,
how
much
it
would
have
profited
our
Michael
had
you
refused
to
answer
when
I
inquired
at
the
Deep
Valley
factory
,
if
you
knew
aught
about
him
?
had
you
,
while
firmly
believing
he
was
dead
,
declined
to
state
your
belief
,
lest
you
might
be
mistaken
,
what
would
it
have
availed
him
,
darling
?
Could
he
have
crept
down
before
us
from
his
sick
bed
to
settle
the
question
?
No
,
dear
casuist
you
know
better
.
Your
looks
are
much
more
wise
than
your
words
,
Fanny
;
for
even
now
,
though
you
pretend
to
shake
your
head
,
your
truth-telling
eyes
confess
that
you
have
not
another
syllable
to
say
.
"
"
But
is
it
not
singular
,
"
said
Martha
,
who
had
been
contemplating
the
scene
with
unspeakable
delight
,
"
is
it
not
singular
that
Michael
should
twice
have
been
the
victim
of
words
,
uttered
by
such
very
friendly
lips
?
"
"
Singular
,
dear
Martha
?
"
replied
Mary
;
"
is
not
every
event
connected
with
a
hero
of
romance
,
of
necessity
and
by
immutable
prescription
,
singular
?
And
whom
did
Fate
and
Fortune
ever
fix
upon
more
unmistakably
to
fill
that
distinguished
position
in
society
,
than
Michael
Armstrong
?
Why
are
we
all
here
together
?
Wholly
and
solely
because
Michael
Armstrong
saved
Lady
Clarissa
Shrimpton
from
the
terrors
inspired
by
a
cow
—
is
it
not
so
,
dear
friends
?
Can
any
of
you
deny
that
all
the
exceeding
happiness
that
blesses
us
at
this
moment
,
has
arisen
from
that
most
marvellously
silly
adventure
?
And
shall
we
any
of
us
quarrel
at
the
steps
(
though
some
of
them
it
must
be
confessed
were
rough
enough
)
,
which
have
led
from
that
nousensical
beginning
,
to
an
end
that
has
made
us
all
so
very
happy
?
Yes
!
Michael
Armstrong
is
a
hero
;
he
is
our
hero
;
he
is
the
crowning
blessing
that
is
come
to
make
us
all
thank
Heaven
for
having
brought
us
every
one
from
greater
and
less
degrees
of
misery
,
to
very
perfect
pahpiness
,
and
shall
we
not
welcome
him
with
smiles
,
instead
of
tears
,
Fanny
?
"
Nothing
could
have
been
more
admirably
suited
to
the
effect
which
the
happy
heiress
meant
to
produce
,
than
these
words
.
How
,
after
this
,
could
Michael
shrink
,
as
he
had
expected
to
do
,
from
the
humiliating
comparison
between
Edward
and
Fanny
,
with
himself
?
Or
how
could
Fanny
persist
in
weeping
,
when
her
own
heart
,
as
well
as
those
of
all
around
her
,
was
so
cheeringly
called
upon
to
rejoice
?
Nothing
of
the
sort
was
any
longer
thought
of
by
either
.
Without
very
well
knowing
how
it
came
about
,
Michael
,
of
all
the
multitude
of
contending
feelings
which
had
been
lately
so
cruelly
assailing
him
,
being
as
they
were
,
of
that
most
harassing
race
begotten
between
fear
and
hope
,
was
now
conscious
of
only
one
,
and
that
one
was
happiness
unmixed
.
His
frank
and
generous
nature
could
no
longer
harbour
any
doubts
as
to
the
place
he
held
in
the
affections
of
those
whom
he
had
lately
thought
of
,
as
almost
too
high
and
too
happy
to
remember
him
.
He
was
with
them
,
he
was
of
them
.
If
a
thought
of
the
future
glanced
athwart
the
delicious
present
,
it
came
accompanied
by
a
buoyant
consciousness
that
there
was
that
within
him
which
would
enable
him
to
redeem
lost
time
,
and
that
whatever
those
he
loved
wished
him
to
be
,
THAT
he
should
have
power
to
become
.
Nor
was
an
answering
confidence
wanting
in
those
who
wearied
not
of
gazing
at
his
bright
,
expressive
features
,
and
his
noble
form
.
Fanny
thought
that
he
was
exactly
every
thing
she
would
have
dreamed
he
must
be
,
had
she
ventured
to
dream
that
he
existed
at
all
.
Marry
thought
that
she
read
capacity
which
promised
power
to
become
all
that
Edward
could
wish
him
to
be
—
and
she
was
not
disposed
to
wish
for
more
—
and
Edward
himself
thought
and
felt
that
had
he
power
to
choose
a
brother
from
among
all
the
nations
of
the
earth
,
and
the
noblest
of
them
,
Michael
would
have
been
the
one
he
would
have
selected
.
"
And
where
is
my
dear
,
good
Tremlett
?
"
said
Miss
Brotherton
.
"
In
the
midst
of
all
this
rare
felicity
she
must
not
be
left
out
.
She
has
shared
our
mourning
for
your
loss
,
dear
Michael
,
and
shame
it
were
she
should
not
share
our
joy
at
finding
you
.
"
"
Shall
I
go
and
call
her
hither
?
"
cried
Fanny
,
rising
.
"
"
No
!
that
you
shall
not
,
Fanny
,
"
replied
Miss
Brotherton
.
"
I
will
not
trust
you
.
It
was
I
who
dragged
the
dear
good
soul
from
post
to
pillar
,
in
order
to
find
you
,
Michael
.
—
It
was
I
who
never
let
her
know
rest
,
night
nor
day
,
because
you
were
not
,
and
who
but
I
shall
bring
her
the
glad
tidings
of
your
restoration
?
"
But
truly
delighted
as
was
Mary
Brothrton
at
the
idea
of
the
pleasure
which
she
well
knew
this
unlooked-for
arrival
would
cause
her
old
friend
,
she
would
not
let
