第2章

"Beginagain，Jarber，"saidI。

"Wouldyoubemuchsurprised，ifthisHousetoLetshouldturnouttobethepropertyofarelationofyourown?"

"Ishouldindeedbeverymuchsurprised。"

"Thenitbelongstoyourfirstcousin(Ilearn，bytheway，thatheisillatthistime)GeorgeForley。"

"Thenthatisabadbeginning。IcannotdenythatGeorgeForleystandsintherelationoffirstcousintome；butIholdnocommunicationwithhim。GeorgeForleyhasbeenahard，bitter，stonyfathertoachildnowdead。GeorgeForleywasmostimplacableandunrelentingtooneofhistwodaughterswhomadeapoormarriage。GeorgeForleybroughtalltheweightofhisbandtobearasheavilyagainstthatcrushedthing，ashebroughtittobearlightly，favouringly，andadvantageouslyuponhersister，whomadearichmarriage。Ihopethat，withthemeasureGeorgeForleymeted，itmaynotbemeasuredouttohimagain。IwillgiveGeorgeForleynoworsewish。"

Iwasstronguponthesubject，andIcouldnotkeepthetearsoutofmyeyes；for，thatyounggirl"swasacruelstory，andIhaddroppedmanyatearoveritbefore。

"ThehousebeingGeorgeForley"s，"saidI，"isalmostenoughtoaccountfortherebeingaFateuponit，ifFatethereis。IsthereanythingaboutGeorgeForleyinthosesheetsofpaper?"

"Notaword。"

"Iamgladtohearit。Pleasetoreadon。Trottle，whydon"tyoucomenearer?Whydoyousitmortifyingyourselfinthosearcticregions?Comenearer。"

"Thankyou，ma"am；IamquitenearenoughtoMr。Jarber。"

Jarberroundedhischair，togethisbackfulltomyopinionatedfriendandservant，and，beginningtoread，tossedthewordsathimoverhis(JabezJarber"s)ownearandshoulder。

Hereadwhatfollows:

THEMANCHESTERMARRIAGE

Mr。andMrs。OpenshawcamefromManchestertoLondonandtooktheHouseToLet。Hehadbeen，whatiscalledinLancashire，aSalesmanforalargemanufacturingfirm，whowereextendingtheirbusiness，andopeningawarehouseinLondon；whereMr。Openshawwasnowtosuperintendthebusiness。Heratherenjoyedthechangeofresidence；havingakindofcuriosityaboutLondon，whichhehadneveryetbeenabletogratifyinhisbriefvisitstothemetropolis。Atthesametimehehadanodd，shrewd，contemptfortheinhabitants；whomhehadalwayspicturedtohimselfasfine，lazypeople；caringnothingbutforfashionandaristocracy，andloungingawaytheirdaysinBondStreet，andsuchplaces；ruininggoodEnglish，andreadyintheirturntodespisehimasaprovincial。Thehoursthatthemenofbusinesskeptinthecityscandalisedhimtoo；accustomedashewastotheearlydinnersofManchesterfolk，andtheconsequentlyfarlongerevenings。Still，hewaspleasedtogotoLondon；thoughhewouldnotfortheworldhaveconfessedit，eventohimself，andalwaysspokeofthesteptohisfriendsasonedemandedofhimbytheinterestsofhisemployers，andsweetenedtohimbyaconsiderableincreaseofsalary。HissalaryindeedwassoliberalthathemighthavebeenjustifiedintakingamuchlargerHousethanthisone，hadhenotthoughthimselfboundtosetanexampletoLondonersofhowlittleaManchestermanofbusinesscaredforshow。Inside，however，hefurnishedtheHousewithanunusualdegreeofcomfort，and，inthewintertime，heinsistedonkeepingupaslargefiresasthegrateswouldallow，ineveryroomwherethetemperaturewasintheleastchilly。Moreover，hisnorthernsenseofhospitalitywassuch，that，ifhewereathome，hecouldhardlysufferavisitortoleavethehousewithoutforcingmeatanddrinkuponhim。Everyservantinthehousewaswellwarmed，wellfed，andkindlytreated；fortheirmasterscornedallpettysavinginaughtthatconducedtocomfort；

whileheamusedhimselfbyfollowingoutallhisaccustomedhabitsandindividualwaysindefianceofwhatanyofhisnewneighboursmightthink。

Hiswifewasapretty，gentlewoman，ofsuitableageandcharacter。

Hewasforty-two，shethirty-five。Hewasloudanddecided；shesoftandyielding。Theyhadtwochildrenorrather，Ishouldsay，shehadtwo；fortheelder，agirlofeleven，wasMrs。Openshaw"schildbyFrankWilsonherfirsthusband。Theyoungerwasalittleboy，Edwin，whocouldjustprattle，andtowhomhisfatherdelightedtospeakinthebroadestandmostunintelligibleLancashiredialect，inordertokeepupwhathecalledthetrueSaxonaccent。

Mrs。Openshaw"sChristian-namewasAlice，andherfirsthusbandhadbeenherowncousin。Shewastheorphannieceofasea-captaininLiverpool:aquiet，gravelittlecreature，ofgreatpersonalattractionwhenshewasfifteenorsixteen，withregularfeaturesandabloomingcomplexion。Butshewasveryshy，andbelievedherselftobeverystupidandawkward；andwasfrequentlyscoldedbyheraunt，herownuncle"ssecondwife。Sowhenhercousin，FrankWilson，camehomefromalongabsenceatsea，andfirstwaskindandprotectivetoher；secondly，attentiveandthirdly，desperatelyinlovewithher，shehardlyknewhowtobegratefulenoughtohim。Itistrueshewouldhavepreferredhisremaininginthefirstorsecondstagesofbehaviour；forhisviolentlovepuzzledandfrightenedher。Heruncleneitherhelpednorhinderedtheloveaffairthoughitwasgoingonunderhisowneyes。Frank"sstep-

motherhadsuchavariabletemper，thattherewasnoknowingwhetherwhatshelikedonedayshewouldlikethenext，ornot。Atlengthshewenttosuchextremesofcrossness，thatAlicewasonlytoogladtoshuthereyesandrushblindlyatthechanceofescapefromdomestictyrannyofferedherbyamarriagewithhercousin；and，likinghimbetterthananyoneintheworldexceptheruncle(whowasatthistimeatsea)shewentoffonemorningandwasmarriedtohim；heronlybridesmaidbeingthehousemaidatheraunt"s。Theconsequencewas，thatFrankandhiswifewentintolodgings，andMrs。Wilsonrefusedtoseethem，andturnedawayNorah，thewarm-

heartedhousemaid；whomtheyaccordinglytookintotheirservice。

WhenCaptainWilsonreturnedfromhisvoyage，hewasverycordialwiththeyoungcouple，andspentmanyaneveningattheirlodgings；

smokinghispipe，andsippinghisgrog；buthetoldthemthat，forquietness"sake，hecouldnotaskthemtohisownhouse；forhiswifewasbitteragainstthem。Theywerenotveryunhappyaboutthis。

TheseedoffutureunhappinesslayratherinFrank"svehement，passionatedisposition；whichledhimtoresenthiswife"sshynessandwantofdemonstrationasfailuresinconjugalduty。Hewasalreadytormentinghimself，andhertoo，inaslighterdegree，byapprehensionsandimaginationsofwhatmightbefallherduringhisapproachingabsenceatsea。AtlasthewenttohisfatherandurgedhimtoinsistuponAlice"sbeingoncemorereceivedunderhisroof；

themoreespeciallyastherewasnowaprospectofherconfinementwhileherhusbandwasawayonhisvoyage。CaptainWilsonwas，ashehimselfexpressedit，"breakingup，"andunwillingtoundergotheexcitementofascene；yethefeltthatwhathissonsaidwastrue。

Sohewenttohiswife。AndbeforeFrankwenttosea，hehadthecomfortofseeinghiswifeinstalledinheroldlittlegarretinhisfather"shouse。TohaveplacedherintheonebestspareroomwasastepbeyondMrs。Wilson"spowersofsubmissionorgenerosity。Theworstpartaboutit，however，wasthatthefaithfulNorahhadtobedismissed。Herplaceashousemaidhadbeenfilledup；and，evenhaditnot，shehadforfeitedMrs。Wilson"sgoodopinionforever。Shecomfortedheryoungmasterandmistressbypleasantpropheciesofthetimewhentheywouldhaveahouseholdoftheirown；ofwhich，inwhateverserviceshemightbeinthemeantime，sheshouldbesuretoformpart。AlmostthelastactionFrankWilsondid，beforesettingsail，wasgoingwithAlicetoseeNorahoncemoreathermother"shouse。Andthenhewentaway。

Alice"sfather-in-lawgrewmoreandmorefeebleaswinteradvanced。

Shewasofgreatusetoherstep-motherinnursingandamusinghim；

and，althoughtherewasanxietyenoughinthehousehold，therewasperhapsmoreofpeacethantherehadbeenforyears；forMrs。Wilsonhadnotabadheart，andwassoftenedbythevisibleapproachofdeathtoonewhomsheloved，andtouchedbythelonelyconditionoftheyoungcreature，expectingherfirstconfinementinherhusband"sabsence。TothisrelentingmoodNorahowedthepermissiontocomeandnurseAlicewhenherbabywasborn，andtoremaintoattendonCaptainWilson。

BeforeoneletterhadbeenreceivedfromFrank(whohadsailedfortheEastIndiesandChina)，hisfatherdied。Alicewasalwaysgladtorememberthathehadheldherbabyinhisarms，andkissedandblesseditbeforehisdeath。Afterthat，andtheconsequentexaminationintothestateofhisaffairs，itwasfoundthathehadleftfarlesspropertythanpeoplehadbeenledbyhisstyleoflivingtoimagine；and，whatmoneytherewas，wasallsettleduponhiswife，andatherdisposalafterherdeath。ThisdidnotsignifymuchtoAlice，asFrankwasnowfirstmateofhisship，and，inanothervoyageortwo，wouldbecaptain。Meanwhilehehadlefthersomehundreds(allhissavings)inthebank。

ItbecametimeforAlicetohearfromherhusband。OneletterfromtheCapeshehadalreadyreceived。ThenextwastoannouncehisarrivalinIndia。Asweekafterweekpassedover，andnointelligenceoftheship"sarrivalreachedtheofficeoftheowners，andtheCaptain"swifewasinthesamestateofignorantsuspenseasAliceherself，herfearsgrewmostoppressive。Atlengththedaycamewhen，inreplytoherinquiryattheShippingOffice，theytoldherthattheownershadgivenupHopeofeverhearingmoreoftheBetsy-Jane，andhadsentintheirclaimupontheunderwriters。Nowthathewasgoneforever，shefirstfeltayearning，longingloveforthekindcousin，thedearfriend，thesympathisingprotector，whomsheshouldneverseeagain，——firstfeltapassionatedesiretoshowhimhischild，whomshehadhithertorathercravedtohavealltoherself——herownsolepossession。Hergriefwas，however，noiseless，andquiet——rathertothescandalofMrs。Wilson；whobewailedherstep-sonasifheandshehadalwayslivedtogetherinperfectharmony，andwhoevidentlythoughtitherdutytoburstintofreshtearsateverystrangefaceshesaw；dwellingonhispooryoungwidow"sdesolatestate，andthehelplessnessofthefatherlesschild，withanunction，asifshelikedtheexcitementofthesorrowfulstory。

SopassedawaythefirstdaysofAlice"swidowhood。Bye-and-byethingssubsidedintotheirnaturalandtranquilcourse。But，asifthisyoungcreaturewasalwaystobeinsomeheavytrouble，herewe-

lambbegantobeailing，piningandsickly。Thechild"smysteriousillnessturnedouttobesomeaffectionofthespinelikelytoaffecthealth；butnottoshortenlife——atleastsothedoctorssaid。ButthelongdrearysufferingofonewhomamotherlovesasAlicelovedheronlychild，ishardtolookforwardto。OnlyNorahguessedwhatAlicesuffered；noonebutGodknew。

Andsoitfellout，thatwhenMrs。Wilson，theelder，cametoheronedayinviolentdistress，occasionedbyaverymaterialdiminutioninthevaluethepropertythatherhusbandhadlefther，——

adiminutionwhichmadeherincomebarelyenoughtosupportherself，muchlessAlice——thelattercouldhardlyunderstandhowanythingwhichdidnottouchhealthorlifecouldcausesuchgrief；

andshereceivedtheintelligencewithirritatingcomposure。Butwhen，thatafternoon，thelittlesickchildwasbroughtin，andthegrandmother——whoafterallloveditwell——beganafreshmoanoverherlossestoitsunconsciousears——sayinghowshehadplannedtoconsultthisorthatdoctor，andtogiveitthisorthatcomfortorluxuryinafteryearnbutthatnowallchanceofthishadpassedaway——Alice"sheartwastouched，andshedrewneartoMrs。Wilsonwithunwontedcaresses，and，inaspiritnotunliketothatof，Ruth，entreated，thatcomewhatwould，theymightremaintogether。

Aftermuchdiscussioninsucceedingdays，itwasarrangedthatMrs。

WilsonshouldtakeahouseinManchester，furnishingitpartlywithwhatfurnitureshehad，andprovidingtherestwithAlice"sremainingtwohundredpounds。Mrs。WilsonwasherselfaManchesterwoman，andnaturallylongedtoreturntohernativetown。Someconnectionsofherownatthattimerequiredlodgings，forwhichtheywerewillingtopayprettyhandsomely。Aliceundertooktheactivesuperintendenceandsuperiorworkofthehousehold。Norah，willingfaithfulNorah，offeredtocook，scour，doanythinginshort，sothat，shemightbutremainwiththem。

Theplansucceeded。Forsomeyearstheirfirstlodgersremainedwiththem，andallwentsmoothly，——withtheonesadexceptionofthelittlegirl"sincreasingdeformity。Howthatmotherlovedthatchild，isnotforwordstotell!

Thencameabreakofmisfortune。Theirlodgersleft，andnoonesucceededtothem。Aftersomemonthstheyhadtoremovetoasmallerhouse；andAlice"stenderconsciencewastornbytheideathatsheoughtnottobeaburdentohermother-in-law，butoughttogooutandseekherownmaintenance。Andleaveherchild!Thethoughtcamelikethesweepingboomofafuneralbelloverherheart。

Bye-and-bye，Mr。Openshawcametolodgewiththem。Hehadstartedinlifeastheerrand-boyandsweeper-outofawarehouse；hadstruggledupthroughallthegradesofemploymentintheplace，fightinghiswaythroughthehardstrivingManchesterlifewithstrongpushingenergyofcharacter。Everysparemomentoftimehadbeensternlygivenuptoself-teaching。Hewasacapitalaccountant，agoodFrenchandGermanscholar，akeen，far-seeingtradesman；understandingmarkets，andthebearingofevents，bothnearanddistant，ontrade:andyet，withsuchvividattentiontopresentdetails，thatIdonotthinkheeversawagroupofflowersinthefieldswithoutthinkingwhethertheircolourswould，orwouldnot，formharmoniouscontrastsinthecomingspringmuslinsandprints。Hewenttodebatingsocieties，andthrewhimselfwithallhisheartandsoulintopolitics；esteeming，itmustbeowned，everymanafooloraknavewhodifferedfromhim，andoverthrowinghisopponentsratherbytheloudstrengthofhislanguagethanthecalmstrengthifhislogic。TherewassomethingoftheYankeeinallthis。IndeedhistheoryranparalleltothefamousYankeemotto——

"Englandflogscreation，andManchesterflogsEngland。"Suchaman，asmaybefancied，hadhadnotimeforfallinginlove，oranysuchnonsense。Attheagewhenmostyoungmengothroughtheircourtingandmatrimony，hehadnotthemeansofkeepingawife，andwasfartoopracticaltothinkofhavingone。Andnowthathewasineasycircumstances，arisingman，heconsideredwomenalmostasincumbrancestotheworld，withwhomamanhadbetterhaveaslittletodoaspossible。HisfirstimpressionofAlicewasindistinct，andhedidnotcareenoughabouthertomakeitdistinct。"Aprettyyea-naykindofwoman，"wouldhavebeenhisdescriptionofher，ifhehadbeenpushedintoacorner。Hewasratherafraid，inthebeginning，thatherquietwaysarosefromalistlessnessandlazinessofcharacterwhichwouldhavebeenexceedinglydiscordanttohisactiveenergeticnature。But，whenhefoundoutthepunctualitywithwhichhiswisheswereattendedto，andherworkwasdone；whenhewascalledinthemorningattheverystrokeoftheclock，hisshaving-waterscaldinghot，hisfirebright，hiscoffeemadeexactlyashispeculiarfancydictated，(forhewasamanwhohadhistheoryabouteverything，baseduponwhatheknewofscience，andoftenperfectlyoriginal)——thenhebegantothink:notthatAlicehadanypeculiarmerit；butthathehadgotintoremarkablygoodlodgings:hisrestlessnessworeaway，andhebegantoconsiderhimselfasalmostsettledforlifeinthem。

Mr。Openshawhadbeentoobusy，allhislife，tobeintrospective。

Hedidnotknowthathehadanytendernessinhisnature；andifhehadbecomeconsciousofitsabstractexistence，hewouldhaveconsidereditasamanifestationofdiseaseinsomepartofhisnature。Buthewasdecoyedintopityunawares；andpityledontotenderness。Thatlittlehelplesschild——alwayscarriedaboutbyoneofthethreebusywomenofthehouse，orelsepatientlythreadingcolouredbeadsinthechairfromwhich，bynoeffortofitsown，coulditevermove；thegreatgraveblueeyes，fullofserious，notuncheerful，expression，givingtothesmalldelicatefacealookbeyonditsyears；thesoftplaintivevoicedroppingoutbutfewwords，sounlikethecontinualprattleofachild——caughtMr。

Openshaw"sattentioninspiteofhimself。Oneday——hehalfscornedhimselffordoingso——hecutshorthisdinner-hourtogoinsearchofsometoywhichshouldtaketheplaceofthoseeternalbeads。I

forgetwhathebought；but，whenhegavethepresent(whichhetookcaretodoinashortabruptmanner，andwhennoonewasbytoseehim)hewasalmostthrilledbytheflashofdelightthatcameoverthatchild"sface，andcouldnothelpallthroughthatafternoongoingoverandoveragainthepictureleftonhismemory，bythebrighteffectofunexpectedjoyonthelittlegirl"sface。Whenhereturnedhome，hefoundhisslippersplacedbyhissitting-roomfire；andevenmorecarefulattentionpaidtohisfanciesthanwashabitualinthosemodellodgings。WhenAlicehadtakenthelastofhistea-thingsaway——shehadbeensilentasusualtillthen——shestoodforaninstantwiththedoorinherhand。Mr。Openshawlookedasifheweredeepinhisbook，thoughinfacthedidnotseealine；butwasheartilywishingthewomanwouldbegone，andnotmakeanypalaverofgratitude。Butsheonlysaid:

"Iamverymuchobligedtoyou，sir。Thankyouverymuch，"andwasgone，evenbeforehecouldsendherawaywitha"There，mygoodwoman，that"senough!"

Forsometimelongerhetooknoapparentnoticeofthechild。Heevenhardenedhisheartintodisregardinghersuddenflushofcolour，andlittletimidsmileofrecognition，whenhesawherbychance。But，afterall，thiscouldnotlastforever；and，havingasecondtimegivenwaytotenderness，therewasnorelapse。Theinsidiousenemyhavingthusenteredhisheart，intheguiseofcompassiontothechild，soonassumedthemoredangerousformofinterestinthemother。Hewasawareofthischangeoffeeling，despisedhimselfforit，struggledwithitnay，internallyyieldedtoitandcherishedit，longbeforehesufferedtheslightestexpressionofit，byword，action，orlook，toescapehim。HewatchedAlice"sdocileobedientwaystoherstepmother；thelovewhichshehadinspiredintheroughNorah(roughenedbythewearandtearofsorrowandyears)；butaboveall，hesawthewild，deep，passionateaffectionexistingbetweenherandherchild。Theyspokelittletoanyoneelse，orwhenanyoneelsewasby；but，whenalonetogether，theytalked，andmurmured，andcooed，andchatteredsocontinually，thatMr。Openshawfirstwonderedwhattheycouldfindtosaytoeachother，andnextbecameirritatedbecausetheywerealwayssograveandsilentwithhim。Allthistime，hewasperpetuallydevisingsmallnewpleasuresforthechild。Histhoughtsran，inapertinaciousway，uponthedesolatelifebeforeher；andoftenhecamebackfromhisday"sworkloadedwiththeverythingAlicehadbeenlongingfor，buthadnotbeenabletoprocure。

Onetimeitwasalittlechairfordrawingthelittlesuffereralongthestreets，andmanyaneveningthatensuingsummerMr。Openshawdrewheralonghimself，regardlessoftheremarksofhisacquaintances。Onedayinautumnheputdownhisnewspaper，asAlicecameinwiththebreakfast，andsaid，inasindifferentavoiceashecouldassume:

"Mrs。Frank，isthereanyreasonwhywetwoshouldnotputupourhorsestogether?"

Alicestoodstillinperplexedwonder。Whatdidhemean?Hehadresumedthereadingofhisnewspaper，asifhedidnotexpectanyanswer；soshefoundsilencehersafestcourse，andwentonquietlyarranginghisbreakfastwithoutanotherwordpassingbetweenthem。

Justashewasleavingthehouse，togotothewarehouseasusual，heturnedbackandputhisheadintothebright，neat，tidykitchen，whereallthewomenbreakfastedinthemorning:

"You"llthinkofwhatIsaid，Mrs。Frank"(thiswashernamewiththelodgers)，"andletmehaveyouropinionuponitto-night。"

AlicewasthankfulthathermotherandNorahweretoobusytalkingtogethertoattendmuchtothisspeech。Shedeterminednottothinkaboutitatallthroughtheday；and，ofcourse，theeffortnottothinkmadeherthinkallthemore。AtnightshesentupNorahwithhistea。ButMr。OpenshawalmostknockedNorahdownasshewasgoingoutatthedoor，bypushingpastherandcallingout"Mrs。

Frank!"inanimpatientvoice，atthetopofthestairs。

Alicewentup，ratherthanseemtohaveaffixedtoomuchmeaningtohiswords。

"Well，Mrs。Frank，"hesaid，"whatanswer?Don"tmakeittoolong；

forIhavelotsofoffice-worktogetthroughto-night。"

"Ihardlyknowwhatyoumeant，sir，"saidtruthfulAlice。

"Well!Ishouldhavethoughtyoumighthaveguessed。You"renotnewatthissortofwork，andIam。However，I"llmakeitplainthistime。Willyouhavemetobethyweddedhusband，andserveme，andloveme，andhonourme，andallthatsortofthing?Becauseifyouwill，Iwilldoasmuchbyyou，andbeafathertoyourchild——

andthat"smorethanisputintheprayer-book。Now，I"mamanofmyword；andwhatIsay，Ifeel；andwhatIpromise，I"lldo。Now，foryouranswer!"

Alicewassilent。Hebegantomakethetea，asifherreplywasamatterofperfectindifferencetohim；but，assoonasthatwasdone，hebecameimpatient。

"Well?"saidhe。

"Howlong，sir，mayIhavetothinkoverit?"

"Threeminutes!"(lookingathiswatch)。"You"vehadtwoalready——

thatmakesfive。Beasensiblewoman，sayYes，andsitdowntoteawithme，andwe"lltalkitovertogether；for，aftertea，Ishallbebusy；sayNo"(hehesitatedamomenttotryandkeephisvoiceinthesametone)，"andIshan"tsayanotherwordaboutit，butpayupayear"srentformyroomsto-morrow，andbeoff。Time"sup!Yesorno?"

"Ifyouplease，sir，——youhavebeensogoodtolittleAilsie——"

"There，sitdowncomfortablybymeonthesofa，andletushaveourteatogether。IamgladtofindyouareasgoodandsensibleasI

tookfor。"

AndthiswasAliceWilson"ssecondwooing。

Mr。Openshaw"swillwastoostrong，andhiscircumstancestoogood，forhimnottocarryallbeforehim。HesettledMrs。Wilsoninacomfortablehouseofherown，andmadeherquiteindependentoflodgers。ThelittlethatAlicesaidwithregardtofutureplanswasinNorah"sbehalf。

"No，"saidMr。Openshaw。"Norahshalltakecareoftheoldladyaslongasshelives；and，afterthat，sheshalleithercomeandlivewithus，or，ifshelikesitbetter，sheshallhaveaprovisionforlife——foryoursake，missus。Noonewhohasbeengoodtoyouorthechildshallgounrewarded。Buteventhelittleonewillbebetterforsomefreshstuffabouther。Getherabright，sensiblegirlasanurse:onewhowon"tgorubbingherwithcalf"s-footjellyasNorahdoes；wastinggoodstuffoutsidethatoughttogoin，butwillfollowdoctors"directions；which，asyoumustseeprettyclearlybythistime，Norahwon"t；becausetheygivethepoorlittlewenchpain。Now，I"mnotabovebeingneshforotherfolksmyself。Icanstandagoodblow，andneverchangecolour；but，setmeintheoperating-roomintheinfirmary，andIturnassickasagirl。Yet，ifneedwere，Iwouldholdthelittlewenchonmykneeswhileshescreechedwithpain，ifitweretodoherpoorbackgood。Nay，nay，wench!keepyourwhitelooksforthetimewhenitcomes——Idon"tsayiteverwill。ButthisIknow，Norahwillsparethechildandcheatthedoctorifshecan。Now，Isay，givethebairnayearortwo"schance，andthen，whenthepackofdoctorshavedonetheirbest——

and，maybe，theoldladyhasgone——we"llhaveNorahback，ordobetterforher。"

ThepackofdoctorscoulddonogoodtolittleAilsie。Shewasbeyondtheirpower。Butherfather(forsoheinsistedonbeingcalled，andalsoonAlice"snolongerretainingtheappellationofMama，butbecominghenceforwardMother)，byhishealthycheerfulnessofmanner，hiscleardecisionofpurpose，hisoddturnsandquirksofhumour，addedtohisrealstrongloveforthehelplesslittlegirl，infusedanewelementofbrightnessandconfidenceintoherlife；and，thoughherbackremainedthesame，hergeneralhealthwasstrengthened，andAlice——nevergoingbeyondasmileherself——hadthepleasureofseeingherchildtaughttolaugh。

AsforAlice"sownlife，itwashappierthanithadeverbeen。Mr。

Openshawrequirednodemonstration，noexpressionsofaffectionfromher。Indeed，thesewouldratherhavedisgustedhim。Alicecouldlovedeeply，butcouldnottalkaboutit。Theperpetualrequirementoflovingwords，looks，andcaresses，andmisconstruingtheirabsenceintoabsenceoflove，hadbeenthegreattrialofherformermarriedlife。Now，allwentonclearandstraight，undertheguidanceofherhusband"sstrongsense，warmheart，andpowerfulwill。Yearbyyeartheirworldlyprosperityincreased。AtMrs。

Wilson"sdeath，Norahcamebacktothem，asnursetothenewly-bornlittleEdwin；intowhichpostshewasnotinstalledwithoutaprettystrongorationonthepartoftheproudandhappyfather；whodeclaredthatifhefoundoutthatNorahevertriedtoscreentheboybyafalsehood，ortomakehimnesheitherinbodyormind，sheshouldgothatveryday。NorahandMr。Openshawwerenotonthemostthoroughlycordialterms；neitherofthemfullyrecognisingorappreciatingtheother"sbestqualities。

ThiswastheprevioushistoryoftheLancashirefamilywhohadnowremovedtoLondon，andhadcometooccupytheHouse。

Theyhadbeenthereaboutayear，whenMr。Openshawsuddenlyinformedhiswifethathehaddeterminedtoheallong-standingfeuds，andhadaskedhisuncleandauntChadwicktocomeandpaythemavisitandseeLondon。Mrs。Openshawhadneverseenthisuncleandauntofherhusband"s。Yearsbeforeshehadmarriedhim，therehadbeenaquarrel。Allsheknewwas，thatMr。ChadwickwasasmallmanufacturerinacountrytowninSouthLancashire。Shewasextremelypleasedthatthebreachwastobehealed，andbeganmakingpreparationstorendertheirvisitpleasant。

Theyarrivedatlast。GoingtoseeLondonwassuchaneventtothem，thatMrs。Chadwickhadmadeallnewlinenfreshfortheoccasion-fromnight-capsdownwards；and，asforgowns，ribbons，andcollars，shemighthavebeengoingintothewildsofCanadawhereneverashopis，solargewasherstock。AfortnightbeforethedayofherdepartureforLondon，shehadformallycalledtotakeleaveofallheracquaintance；sayingsheshouldneedalltheintermediatetimeforpackingup。Itwaslikeasecondweddinginherimagination；and，tocompletetheresemblancewhichanentirelynewwardrobemadebetweenthetwoevents，herhusbandbroughtherbackfromManchester，onthelastmarket-daybeforetheysetoff，agorgeouspearlandamethystbrooch，saying，"LunnonshouldseethatLancashirefolksknewahandsomethingwhentheysawit。"