Thenhesatnearthefire-placefromhabit，smoking，orchewingopium。
　　Oh，howMaryloathedthatsmell!Andinthedusk，lustbeforeitmergedintotheshortsummernight，shehadlearnedtolookwithdreadtowardsthewindow，whichnowherfatherwouldhavekeptuncurtained；fortherewerenotseldomseensightswhichhauntedherinherdreams。Strangefacesofpalemen，withdarkglaringeyes，peeredintotheinnerdarkness，andseemeddesiroustoascertainifherfatherwasathome。Orahandandarmthebodyhiddenwasputwithinthedoor，andbeckonedhimaway。Healwayswent。Andonceortwice，whenMarywasinbed，sheheardmen’svoicesbelow，inearnest，whisperedtalk。Theywerealldesperatemembersoftrades’unions，readforanything；
　　madereadybywant。WhileallthischangeforgloomyetstruckfreshandheavyonMary’sheart，herfatherstartledheroutofareverieoneevening，byaskingherwhenshehadbeentoseeJaneWilson。Fromhismannerofspeaking，shewasmadeawarethathehadbeen；butatthetimeofhisvisithehadnevermentionedanythingaboutit。Now，however，hegrufflytoldhertogonextdaywithoutfail，andaddedsomeabuseofherfornothavingbeenbefore。Thelittleoutwardimpulseofherfather’sspeechgaveMarythepushwhichsheinthisinstancerequired；andaccordingly，timinghervisitsoastoavoidJem’shoursathome，shewentthefollowingafternoontoAncoats。Theoutsideofthewell-knownhousestruckherasdifferent；forthedoorwasclosed，insteadofopen，asitoncehadalwaysstood。Thewindow-plants，GeorgeWilson’sprideandespecialcare，lookedwitheringanddrooping。
　　Theyhadbeenwithoutwaterforalongtime，andnow，whenthewidowhadreproachedherselfseverelyforneglect，inherignorantanxietyshegavethemtoomuch。Onopeningthedoor，Alicewasseen，notstirringaboutinherhabitualway，butknittingbythefire-side。Theroomfelthot，althoughthefireburntgreyanddim，underthebrightraysoftheafternoonsun。MrsWilsonwas“siding“thedinnerthings，andtalkingallthetime，inakindofwhining，shoutingvoice，whichMarydidnotatfirstunderstand。
　　Sheunderstoodatonce，however，thatherabsencehadbeennoted，andtalkedover；shesawaconstrainedlookonMrsWilson’ssorrow-strickenface，whichtoldherascoldingwastocome。“DearMary，isthatyou？“shebegan。“Why，whowouldha’dreamtofseeingyou!Wethoughtyou’dcleanforgottenus；andJemhasoftenwonderedifheshouldknowyou，ifhemetyouinthestreet。“Now，poorJaneWilsonhadbeensorelytried；andatpresenthertrialshadhadnooutwardeffect，butthatofincreasedacerbityoftemper。ShewishedtoshowMaryhowmuchshewasoffended，andmeanttostrengthenhercause，byputtingsomeofherownsharpspeechesintoJem’smouth。Maryfeltguilty，andhadnogoodreasontogiveasanapology；soforaminuteshestoodsilent，lookingverymuchashamed，andthenturnedtospeaktoAuntAlice，who，inhersurprised，heartygreetingtoMary，haddroppedherballofworsted，andwasbusytryingtosetthethreadtorights，beforethekittenhaden-tangleditpastredemption，onceroundeverychair，andtwiceroundthetable。“Youmunspeaklouderthanthat，ifyoumeanhertohear；she’sbecomeasdeafasapostthislastfewweeks。I’dha’toldyou，ifI’drememberedhowlongitweresin’you’dseenher。““Yes，mydear，I’mgettingveryhardo’hearingoflate，“saidAlice，catchingthestateofthecase，withherquick-glancingeyes。“Isupposeit’sthebeginningofth’end。““Don’ttalko’thatway，“screamedhersister-in-law。“We’vehadenowofendsanddeathswithoutforecastingmore。“Shecoveredherfacewithherapron，andsatdowntocry。“Hewassuchagoodhusband，“saidshe，inalessexcitedtone，toMary，asshelookedupwithtear-streamingeyesfrombehindherapron。“NoonecantellwhatI’velostinhim，fornooneknewhisworthlikeme。“Mary’slisteningsympathysoftenedher，andshewentontounburdenherheavy-ladenheart。“Eh，dear，dear!NooneknowswhatI’velost。Whenmypoorboyswent，I
　　thoughtth’Almightyhadcrushedmetoth’ground，butIneverthoughto’losingGeorgeIdidnathinkIcouldha’bornetoha’livedwithouthim。AndyetI’mhere，andhe’s——“Afreshburstofcryinginterruptedherspeech。“Mary，“——beginningtospeakagain，——“didyoneverhearwhatapoorcreatureIwerewhenhemarriedme？AndhesuchahandsomefellowIJem’snothingtowhathisfatherwereathisage。Yes!Maryhadheard，andsoshesaid。Butthepoorwoman’sthoughtshadgonebacktothosedays，andherlittlerecollectionscameout，withmanyinterruptionsofsighs，andtears，andshakesofthehead。“Therewerenoughtaboutmeforhimtochooseme。Iwerejustwellenoughaforethataccident，butatafterIweredownrightplain。AndtherewasBessyWitteraswouldha’givenhereyesforhim；sheasisMrsCarsonnow，forshewereahandsomelass，althoughInevercouldseeherbeautythen；andCarsonwarn’tsomuchaboveher，asthey’rebothaboveusallnow。Marywentveryred，andwishedshecouldhelpdoingso，andwishedalsothatMrsWilsonwouldtellhermoreaboutthefatherandmotherofherlover；butshedurstnotask，andMrsWilson’sthoughtsSoonreturnedtoherhusband，andtheirearlymarrieddays。“Ifyou’llbelieveme，Mary，thereneverwassuchaborngooseathouse-keepingasIwere；andyethemarriedme!Ihadbeeninafactorysin’fiveyearsolda’most，andIknewnoughtaboutcleaning，orcooking，letalonewashingandsuch-likework。Thedayafterweweremarried，hegoestohisworkatafterbreakfast，andsayshe，’Jenny，we’llha’th’coldbeef，andpotatoes，andthat’sadinnerforaprince。’Iwereanxioustomakehimcomfortable，Godknowshowanxious。AndyetI’dnonotionhowtocookapotato。Iknow’dtheywereboiled，andIknow’dtheirskinsweretakenoff，andthatwereall。SoItidiedmyhouseinaroughkindo’way，thenIlookedatthatveryclockupyonder，“pointingatonethathungagainstthewall，“andIseeditwerenineo’clock，so，thinksI，th’potatoesshallbewellboiledatanyrate，andIgets’emonth’fireinajiffythat’stosay，assoonasIcouldpeel’em，whichwereatoughjobatfirst，andthenIfelltounpackingmyboxes!andattwentyminutespasttwelve，hecomeshome，andIhadth’beefreadyonth’table，andIwenttotakethepotatoesouto’th’pot；butoh!Mary，th’waterhadboiledaway，andtheywereallanastybrownmess，assmeltthroughallthehouse。Hesaidnought，andwereverygentle；but，oh，Mary，Icriedsothatafter-noon。Ishallne’erforgetit；no，never。Imademanyablunderatafter，butnonethatfrettedmelikethat。““Fatherdoesnotlikegirlstoworkinfactories，“saidMary。“No，Iknowhedoesnot；andreasongood。Theyoughtn’ttogoatafterthey’remarried，thatI’mveryclearabout。Icouldreckonup“countingwithherfinger，“aye，ninemenIknow，ashasbeendriventoth’public-housebyhavingwivesasworkedinfactories；goodfolk，too，asthoughttherewasnoharminputtingtheirlittleonesoutatnurse，andlettingtheirhousegoalldirty，andtheirfiresallout；andthatwasaplaceaswastemptingforahusbandtostayin，wasit？Hesoonfindsoutgin-shops，wherealliscleanandbright，andwhereth’fireblazescheerily，andgivesamanawelcomeasitwere。“Alice，whowasstandingnearfortheconvenienceofhearing，hadcaughtmuchofthisspeech，anditwasevidentthesubjecthadpreviouslybeendiscussedbythewomen，forshechimedin。“IwishourJemcouldspeakawordtoth’Queen，aboutfactoryworkformarriedwomen。Eh!buthecomesitstrongwhenonceyogethimtospeakaboutit。Wifeo’his’nwillneverworkawayfra’home。““Isayit’sPrinceAlbertasoughttobeaskedhowhe’dlikehismissistobefromhomewhenhecomesill，tiredandworn，andwantingsomeonetocheerhim，andmaybe，hertocomeinbyandby，justastiredanddowninth’mouth；andhowhe’dlikeforhernevertobeathometoseetoth’
　　cleaningofhishouse，ortokeepabrightfireinhisgrate。Letalonehismealsbeingallhugger-mugger，andcomfortless。I’dbebound，princeasheis，ifhismississervedhimso，he’dbeofftoagin-palace，orsummuto’thatkind。Sowhycan’themakealawagainpoorfolks’wivesworkinginfactories？“MaryventuredtosaythatshethoughttheQueenandPrinceAlbertcouldnotmakelaws，buttheanswerwas，“Pooh!don’ttellmeit’snottheQueenasmakeslaws；andisn’tsheboundtoobeyPrinceAlbert？Andifhesaidtheymustn’t，whyshe’dsaytheymustn’t，andthenallfolkwouldsay，oh，no，wenevershalldoanysuchthingnomore。“Jem’sgettenonrarely，“saidAlice，whohadnotheardhersister’slastburstsofeloquence，andwhosethoughtswerestillrunningonhernephew，andhisvarioustalents。“He’sfoundoutsummutaboutacrankortank，Iforgotrightlywhichitis，butth’master’smadehimforeman，andheallthewhileturningoffhands；buthesaidhecouldnapartwi’Jem，nohow。He’sgoodwagenow；Itellhimhe’llbethinkingofmarryingsoon，andhedeservesarightdowngoodwife，thathedoes。“Marywentveryred，andlookedannoyed，althoughtherewasasecretspringofjoydeepdowninherheart，athearingJemsospokenof。Buthismotheronlysawtheannoyedlook，andwaspiquedaccordingly。Shewasnotoverandabovedesirousthathersonshouldmarry。Hispresenceinthehouseseemedarelicofhappiertimes，andshehadsomelittlejealousyofhisfuturewife，whoevershemightbe。StillshecouldnotbearanyonenottofeelgratifiedandflatteredbyJem’spreference，andfullwellsheknewhowaboveothershepreferredMary。NowshehadneverthoughtMarygoodenoughforJem，andherlateneglectincomingtoseeherstillrankledalittleinherbreast。Soshedeterminedtoinventalittle，inordertodoawaywithanyideaMarymighthavethatJemwouldchooseherfor“hisrightdowngoodwife，“asauntAlicecalledit。“Aye，he’llbefortakingawifesoon，“andthen，inalowervoice，asifconfidentially，butreallytopreventanycontradictionorexplanationfromhersimplesister-in-law，sheadded，“It’llnotbelongaforeMollyGibsonthat’sheratth’provisionshoproundthecornerwillhearasecretaswillnotdispleaseher，I’mthinking。
　　She’sbeencastingsheep’seyesatourJemthismanyaday，buthethoughtherfatherwouldnotgivehertoacommonworkingman；butnowhe’sgoodasher，everybit。Ithoughtoncehe’dafancyforthee，Mary，butIdonnotthinkyo’deverha’suited，soit’sbestasitis。“ByaneffortMarymanagedtokeepdownhervexation，andtosay，“ShehopedhewouldbehappywithMollyGibson。Shewasveryhandsome，forcertain。““Aye，andanotablebody，too。I’lljuststepup-stairsandshowyouthepatchworkquiltshegavemebutlastSaturday。“Marywasgladshewasgoingoutoftheroom。Herwordsirritatedher；perhapsnotthelessbecauseshedidnotfullybelievethem。Besides，shewantedtospeaktoAlice，andMrsWilsonseemedtothinkthatshe，asthewidow，oughttoabsorballtheattention。“DearAlice，“beganMary，“I’msogrievedtofindyousodeaf；itmusthavecomeonveryrapid。““Yes，dear，it’satrial；I’llnotdenyit。PrayGodgivemestrengthtofindoutitsteaching。IfeltitsoreonefinedaywhenIthoughtI’dgogathersomemeadow-sweettomaketeaforJane’scough；andthefieldsseemedsodreeandstill；andatfirstIcouldna’makeoutwhatwaswanting；
　　andthenitstruckmeitwereth’songo’thebirds，andthatInevershouldheartheirsweetmusicnomore，andIcouldna’helpcryingabit。ButI’vemuchtobethankfulfor。IthinkI’macomforttoJane，ifI’monlysomeonetoscoldnowandthen；poorbody!Ittakesoffherthoughtsfromhersorelosseswhenshecanscoldabit。IfmyeyesareleftIcandowellenough；Icanguessatwhatfolkaresaying。“Thesplendidredandyellowpatchquiltnowmadeitsappearance，andJaneWilsonwouldnotbesatisfiedunlessMarypraiseditallover，border，centre，andground-work，rightsideandwrong；andMarydidherduty，sayingallthemore，becauseshecouldnotworkherselfuptoanyveryheartyadmirationofherrival’spresent。Shemadehaste，however，withhercommendations，inordertoavoidencounteringJem。Assoonasshewasfairlyawayfromthehouseandstreet，sheslackenedherpace，andbegantothink。DidJemreallycareforMollyGibson？Well，ifhedid，lethim。PeopleseemedalltothinkhewasmuchtoogoodforherMary’sownself。Perhapssomeoneelse，farmorehandsome，andfarmoregrand，wouldshowhimonedaythatshewasgoodenoughtobeMrsHenryCarson。Sotemper，orwhatMarycalled“spirit，“ledhertoencourageMrCarsonmorethanevershehaddonebefore。Someweeksafterthistherewasameetingofthetrades’uniontowhichJohnBartonbelonged。Themorningofthedayonwhichitwastotakeplacehehadlainlateinbed，forwhatwastheuseofgettingup？Hehadhesitatedbetweenthepurchaseofmealoropium，andhadchosenthelatter，foritsusehadbecomeanecessitywithhim。Hewantedittorelievehimfromtheterribledepressionitsabsenceoccasioned。Alargelumpseemedonlytobringhimintoanaturalstate，orwhathadbeenhisnaturalstateformerly。