saysshe，ratherquick。“’Aye，butyoungwoman，it’soneofyournightcapsIwant。Th’babbyseemstohavetakenamindtoyo；andmaybeinth’darkitmighttakemeforyoifI’dgettenyournightcapon。’“Thechambermaidsmirkedandwentforacap，butIlaughedoutrightatth’oudbeardedchapthinkinghe’dmakehissellikeawomanjustbyputtingonawoman’scap。Howe’erhe’dnotbelaughedouton’t，soIheldth’babbytillhewereinbed。Suchanightaswehadonit!Babbybegantoscreamo’th’oudfashion，andwetookitturnandturnabouttositupandrockit。Myheartwereverysoreforth’littleone，asitgropedaboutwi’
　　itsmouth；butfora’thatIcouldscarcekeepfra’smilingatth’thoughto’ustwooudchaps，th’onewi’awoman’snightcapon，sittingonourhinderendsforhalfth’night，hushabyingababbyaswouldn’tbehushabied。
　　Towardmorning，poorlittlewench!itfellasleep，fairlytiredoutwi’
　　crying，buteveninitssleepitgavesuchpitifulsobs，quiveringupfra’
　　theverybottomofitslittleheart，thatonceortwiceIalmostwisheditlayonitsmother’sbreast，atpeaceforever。Jenningsfellasleeptoo；butIbeganfortoreckonupourmoney。Itwerelittleenoughwehadleft，ourdinnerthedayaforehadta’ensomuch。Ididn’tknowwhatourreckoningwouldbeforthatnightlodging，andsupper，andbreakfast。Doingasumalwayssentmeasleepeversin’Iwerealad；soIfellsoundinashorttime，andwereonlywakenedbychambermaidtappingatth’door，tosayshe’ddressthebabbyaforehermissiswereupifweliked。Butblessyo，we’dneverthoughto’undressingitth’nightafore，andnowitweresleepingsosound，andweweresoglado’thepeaceandquietness，thatwethoughtitwerenogoodtowakenituptoscreechagain。“Well!there’sMaryasleepforagoodlistener!Isupposeyou’regettingwearyofmytale，soI’llnotbelongoverendingit。Th’reckoningleftusverybare，andwethoughtwe’dbestwalkhome，foritwereon]ysixtymile，theytelledus，andnotstopagainfornought，savevictuals。SoweleftBrummagemwhichisasblackaplaceasManchester，withoutlookingsolikehome，andwalkeda’thatday，carryingbabbyturnandturnabout。
　　Itwerewellfedbychamber-maidaforeweleft，andth’daywerefine，andfolkbegantohavesomeknowledgeo’th’properwayo’speaking，andweweremorecheeryatthoughtso’homethoughmine，Godknows，werelonesomeenough。Westoppednonefordinner，butatbaggin-timewegettenagoodmealatapublic-house，an’fedth’babbyaswellaswecould，butthatwerebutpoorly。Wegotacrusttooforittosuck——chambermaidputusuptothat。Thatnight，whetherweweretiredorwhatten，Idon’tknow，butitweredreework，andth’poorlittlewenchhadsleptouthersleep，andbeganth’cryasworemyheartoutagain。SaysJennings，sayshe，“’Weshouldnaha’setoutsolikegentlefolkatopo’thecoachyesterday。’“’Nay，lad!Weshouldha’hadmoretowalkifwehadnaridden，andI’msurebothyouandI’sewearyo’tramping。’“Sohewerequietabit。Buthewereoneo’themasweresuretofindoutsomewhathadbeendoneamisswhentherewerenogoingbacktoundoit。
　　Sopresentlybecoughs，asifheweregoingtospeak，andIsaystomyself，’Atitagain，mylad。’Sayshe，“’Iaxpardon，neighbour，butitstrikesmeitwouldha’beenbetterformysonifhehadneverbeguntokeepcompanywi’yourdaughter。’“Well!thatputmeup，andmyheartgotveryfull，andbutthatIwerecarryingherbabby，IthinkIshouldha’struckhim。AtlastIcouldholdinnolonger，andsaysI，“’Bettersayatonceitwouldha’beenbetterforGodnevertoha’madeth’world，forthenwe’dneverha’beeninit，tohavehadth’heavyheartswehavenow。’“Well!hesaidthatwererankblasphemy；butJthoughthiswayofcastingupagainth’eventsGodhadpleasedtosend，wereworseblasphemy。Howe’er，Isaidnoughtmoreangry，forth’littlebabby’ssake，aswereth“childo’hisdeadson，aswellaso’mydeaddaughter。“Th’longestlanewillhaveaturning，andthatnightcametoanendatlast；andwewerefootsoreandtiredenough，andtomymindthebabbyweregettingweakerandweaker，anditwrungmyhearttohearitslittlewail!
　　I’dha’givenmyrighthandforoneofyesterday’sheartycries。Wewerewantingourbreakfasts，andsowereittoo，motherlessbabby!Wecouldseenopublic-house，soaboutsixo’clockonlywethoughtitwerelater
　　westoppedatacottage，whereawomanweremovingaboutnearth’opendoor。’SaysI，’Goodwoman，maywerestusabit？’’Comein，’saysshe，wipingachair，aslookedbrightenoughafore，wi’herapron。Itwereacheery，cleanroom；andweweregladtositdownagain，thoughIthoughtmylegswouldneverbendatth’knees。Inaminuteshefellanoticingth’babby，andtookitinherarms，andkisseditagainandagain。’Missis，’
　　saysI，’we’renotwithoutmoney，andifyo’dgiveussomewhatforbreakfast，we’dpayyohonest，andifyowouldwashanddressthatpoorbabby，andgetsomepobbiesdownitsthroat，forit’swell-nighclemmed，I’dprayforyoutillmydyingday。“Soshesaidnought，butgivedmeth’babbyback，andaforeyoucouldsayJackRobinson，she’dapanonth’fire，andbreadandcheeseonth’table。Whensheturnedround，herfacelookedred，andherlipsweretightpressedtogether。Wellwewererightdowngladonourbreakfast，andGodblessandrewardthatwomanforherkindnessthatday!shefedth’poorbabbyasgentlyandsoftly，andspoketoitastenderlyasitsownpoormothercouldha’done。itseemedasifthatstrangerandithadknowneachotherafore，maybeinHeaven，wherefolk’sspiritscomefrom，theysay；th’babbylookedupsolovinglyinhereyes，andmadelittlenoisesmorelikeadovethanaughtelse。Thensheundresseditpoordarling!itweretime，touchingitsosoftly；andwasheditfromheadtofoot；andasmanyonitsclothesweredirtyandwhatbitso’thingsitsmotherhadgottenreadyforithadbeensentbyth’carrierfra’London，sheput’emaside；andwrappinglittlenakedbabbyinherapron，shepulledoutakey，aswerefastenedtoablackribbon，andhungdownherbreast，andunlockedadrawerinth’dresser。Iweresorrytobeprying，butI
　　couldnahelpseeinginthatdrawersomelittlechild’sclothes，allstrewedwi’lavender，andlyingby’emalittlewhipan’abrokenrattle。Ibegantohaveaninsightintothatwoman’sheartthen。Shetookoutathingortwo，andlockedthedrawer，andwentondressingbabby。Justaboutthencomeherhusbanddown，agreatbigfellowasdidn’tlookhalfawake，thoughitweregettinglate；buthe’dheardallashadbeensaiddownstairs，aswereplaintobeseen；buthewereagruffchap。We’dfinishedourbreakfast，andJenningswerelookinghardatth’womanassheweregettingthebabbytosleepwi’asortofrockingway。Atlengthsayshe，’Iha’learntthewaynow；it’stwojiggitsandashake，twojiggitsandashake。Icangetthatbabbyasleepnowmysel。’“Themanhadnoddedcrossenoughtous，andhadgonetoth’door，andstoodtherewhistlingwi’hishandsinhisbreeches-pockets，lookingabroad。
　　Butatlastheturnsandsays，quitesharp：“’Isay，missis，I’mtohavenobreakfastto-day，I’spose。“Sowi’thatshekissedth’child，along，softkiss；andlookinginmyfacetoseeifIcouldtakehermeaning，gavemeth’babbywithoutaword。
　　Iwereloathtostir，butIsawitwerebettertogo。SogivingJenningsasharpnudgeforhe’dfallenasleep，Isays，’Missis，what’stopay？’
　　pullingoutmymoneywi’ajinglethatshemightnaguesswewereatallbareo’cash。Soshelooksatherhusband，whosaidne’eraword，butwerelisteningwithallhisearsnevertheless；andwhenshesawhewouldnasay，shesaid，hesitating，asifpulledtwoways，byherfearo’him，’Shouldyouthinksixpenceovermuch？’Itweresodifferenttopublic-housereckoning，forwe’deatenamaindealaforethechapcamedown。SosaysI，’Andmissis，whatshouldwegieyouforthebabby’sbreadandmilk？’Ihaditonceinmymindtosay’andfora’yourtroublewithit，’butmyheartwouldnaletmesayit，forIcouldreadinherwayshowithadbeenaworko’
　　love。Sosaysshe，quitequick，andstealingalookatherhusband’sback，aslookedallear，ifeverabackdid，’Oh，wecouldtakenoughtforthelittlebabby’sfood，ifithadeatentwiceasmuch，blessit。’Wi’thathelookedather；suchascowlinglook!Sheknewwhathemeant，andsteppedsoftlyacrossthefloortohim，andputherhandonisarm。Heseem’dasthoughhe’dshakeitoffbyajerkonhiselbow，butshesaidquitelow，’ForpoorlittleJohnny’ssake，Richard。’Hedidnotmoveorspeakagain，andafterlookinginhisfaceforaminute，sheturnedaway，swallowingdeepinherthroat。Shekissedth’sleepingbabbyasshepassed，whenI
　　paidher。Toquietenth’gruffhusband，andstophimifheratedher，I
　　couldnahelpslippinganothersixpenceunderth’loaf，andthenwesetoffagain。LastlookIhad’o’thatwomanshewerequietlywipinghereyeswi’thecornerofherapron，asshewentaboutherhusband’sbreakfastButIshallknowherinheaven。“Hestoppedtothinkofthatlong-agoMaymorning，whenhehadcarriedhisgranddaughterunderthedistanthedge-rowsandbeneaththefloweringsycamores。“There’snoughtmoretosay，wench，“saidhetoMargaret，asshebeggedhimtogoon。“ThatnightwereachedManchester，andI’dfoundoutthatJenningswouldbegladenoughtogiveupbabbytome，soItookherhomeatonce，andablessingshe’sbeentome。“Theywereallsilentforafewminutes；eachfollowingoutthecurrentoftheirthoughts。Then，almostsimultaneously，theirattentionfelluponMary。Sittingonherlittlestool，herheadrestingonherfather’sknee，andsleepingassoundlyasanyinfant，herbreathstilllikeaninfant’s
　　cameandwentassoftlyasabirdstealstoherleafynest。Herhalf-openmouthwasasscarletasthewinter-berries，andcontrastedfinelywiththeclearpalenessofhercomplexion，wheretheeloquentbloodflushedcarnationateachemotion。Herblackeye-lasheslayonthedelicatecheek，whichwasstillmoreshadedbythemassesofhergoldenhair，thatseemedtoformanest-likepillowforherasshelay。Herfatherinfondpridestraightenedoneglossycurl，foraninstant，asiftodisplayitslengthandsilkiness。Thelittleactionawokeher，and，likenineoutoftenpeopleinsimilarcircumstances，sheexclaimed，openinghereyestotheirfullestextent，“I’mnotasleep。I’vebeenawakeallthetime。“Evenherfathercouldnotkeepfromsmiling，andJobLeghandMargaretlaughedoutright。“Come，wench，“saidJob，“don’tlooksogloppenedbecausethou’stfallenasleepwhileanoudchaplikemewastalkingonoudtimes。Itwerelikeenoughtosendtheetosleep。TryifthoucanstkeepthineeyesopenwhileIreadthyfatherabitonapoemasiswrittenbyaweaverlikeoursel。
　　ArarechapI’llbeboundishewhocouldweaveverselikethis。“Soadjustinghisspectaclesonnose，cockinghischin，crossinghislegs，andcoughingtoclearhisvoice，hereadaloudalittlepoemofSamuelBamford’shehadpickedupsomewhere。Godhelpthepoor，who，onthiswintrymorn，Comeforthfromalleysdimandcourtsobscure。Godhelpyonpoorpalegirl，whodroopsforlorn，Andmeeklyherafflictiondothendure；Godhelpher，outcastlamb；shetremblingstands，Allwanherlips，andfrozenredherhands；Hersunkeneyesaremodestlydowncast，Hernight-blackhairstreamsonthefitfulblast，Herbosom，passingfair，ishalfrevealed，Andoh!socold，thesnowliestherecongealed；Herfeetbenumbed，hershoesallrentandworn，Godhelpthee，outcastlamb，whostandstforlorn!Godhelpthepoor!Godhelpthepoor!Aninfant’sfeeblewailComesfromyonnarrowgateway，andbehold!Afemalecrouchingthere，sodeathlypale，Huddlingherchild，toscreenitfromthecold，Hervesturescant，herbonnetcrushedandtorn；Athinshawldothherbabydearenfold：Andsoshe’bidestheruthlessgaleofmorn，Whichalmosttoherhearthathsentitscold，Andnowshe，sudden，dartsaraveninglook，Asone，withnewhotbread，goespastthenook，And，asthetemptingloadisonwardhome，Sheweeps。Godhelpthee，helplessone，forlorn!Godhelpthepoor!Godhelpthepoor!Beholdyonfamishedlad，Noshoes，norhose，hiswoundedfeetprotect；Withlimpinggait，andlookssodreamysad，Hewandersonward，stoppingtoinspectEachwindow，storedwitharticlesoffood。Heyearnsbuttoenjoyonecheeringmeal；Oh!tothehungrypalateviandsrude，Wouldyieldazestthefamishedonlyfeel!Henowdevoursacrustofmouldybread，Withteethandhandsthepreciousboonistorn；UnmindfulofthestormthatroundhisheadImpetuoussweeps。Godhelpthee，childforlorn!Godhelpthepoor!Godhelpthepoor!AnotherhaveIfound——Abowedandvenerablemanishe，Hisslouchedhatwithfadedcrapeisbound；Hiscoatisgrey，andthreadbaretoo，Isee。“Therudewinds“seem“tomockhishoaryhair“；