Wherehaveyoubeento，firstplace？““Eh，lass，thatwouldtakealongtimetotell。Halfo’ertheworld，I
　　sometimesthink。BoltonandBury，andOwdham；andHalifax，and——butMary，guesswhoIsawthere？Maybeyouknowthough，soit’snotfairguessing。““No，Idonnot。Tellme，Margaret，forIcannotabidewaiting，andguessing。““Well，onenightasIweregoingfra’mylodgingswi’thehelponaladasbelongedtoth’landlady，tofindtheroomwhereIweretosing，Iheardacoughbeforeme，walkingalong。ThinksI，that’sJemWilson’s。cough，orI’mmuchmistaken。Nexttimecameasneezeandcough，andthenIwerecertain。FirstIhesitatedwhetherIshouldspeak，thinkingifitwereastrangerhe’dmaybethinkmeforrard。ButIknewblindfolksmustnotbeneshaboutusingtheirtongues，sosaysI，’JemWilson，isthatyou？’
　　Andsureenoughitwas，andnobodyelse。DidyouknowhewereinHalifax，Mary？““No，“sheansweredfaintlyandsadly；forHalifaxwasallthesametoherheartastheAntipodes；equallyinaccessiblebyhumblepenitentlooksandmaidenlytokensoflove。“Well，he’sthere，however：he’sputtingupanengineforsomefolksthere，forhismaster。He’sdoingwell，forhe’sgettenfourorfivemenunderhim；we’dtwoorthreemeetings，andhetelledmeallabouthisinventionfordoingawaywi’thecrank，orsomewhat。Hismaster’sboughtitfromhim，andta’enoutapatent，andJem’sagentlemanforlifewi’themoneyhismastergiedhim。Butyou’llha’heardallthis，Mary？“No!shehadnot。“Well，IthoughtitallhappenedaforeheleftManchester，andthenincourseyou’dha’known。ButmaybeitwereallsettledafterhegottoHalifax；
　　however，he’sgottentwoorthreehunderpoundsforhisinvention。Butwhat’supwithyou，Mary？you’resadlyoutofsorts。You’veneverbeenquarrellingwi’Jem，surely。“NowMarycriedoutright；shewasweakinbody，andunhappyinmind，andthetimewascomewhenshemighthavethereliefoftellinghergrief。
　　Shecouldnotbringherselftoconfesshowmuchofhersorrowwascausedbyherhavingbeenvainandfoolish；shehopedthatneedneverbeknown，andshecouldnotbeartothinkofit。“Oh，Margaret；doyouknowJemcamehereonenightwhenIwereputout，andcross。Oh，dear!dear!IcouldbitemytongueoutwhenIthinkonit。
　　Andhetoldmehowhelovedme，andIthoughtIdidnotlovehim，andI
　　toldhimIdidn’t，and，Margaret，——hebelievedme，andwentawaysosad，andsoangry；andnowI’ddoanything，——Iwouldindeed，“hersobschokedtheendofhersentence。Margaretlookedatherwithsorrow，butwithhope；
　　forshehadnodoubtinherownmind，thatitwasonlyatemporaryestrangement。“Tellme，Margaret，“saidMary；takingheraprondownfromhereyes，andlookingatMargaretwitheageranxiety，“WhatcanIdotobringhimbacktome？ShouldIwritetohim？““No，“repliedherfriend，“thatwouldnotdo。Menaresoqueer，theyliketohavea’thecourtingtothemselves。““ButIdidnotmeantowritehimacourtingletter，“saidMary，somewhatindignantly。“Ifyouwroteatall，itwouldbetogivehimahintyou’dtakentherue，andwouldbeverygladtohavehimnow。Ibelievenowhe’dratherfindthatouthimself。““Buthewon’ttry，“saidMary，sighing。“Howcanhefinditoutwhenhe’satHalifax？““Ifhe’sawillhe’saway，dependuponit。Andyouwouldnothavehimifhe’snotawilltoyou，Mary!No，dear!“changinghertonefromthesomewhathardwayinwhichsensiblepeopletoooftenspeak，tothesoftaccentsoftendernesswhichcomewithsuchpeculiargracefromthem，“youmustjustwaitandbepatient。Youmaydependuponit，allwillendwell，andbetterthanifyoumeddledinitnow。““Butit’ssohardtobepatient，“pleadedMary。“Aye，dear；beingpatientisthehardestworkwe，anyonus，havetodothroughlife，Itakeit。Waitingisfarmoredifficultthandoing。I’veknownthataboutmysight，andmanyaonehasknownitinwatchingthesick；butit’soneofGod’slessonsweallmustlearn，onewayoranother。“
　　Afterapause。“Haveyebeentoseehismotheroflate？““No；notforsomeweeks。WhenIlastwentshewassofrabbitwithme，thatIreallythoughtshewish’dI’dkeepaway。““Well!ifIwereyouI’dgo。Jemwillhearon’t，anditwilldoyoufarmoregoodinhismindthanwritingaletter；which，afterall，youwouldfindatoughpieceofworkwhenyoucametosettletoit。’Twouldbehardtosayneithertoomuchnortoolittle。ButImustbegoing，grandfatherisathome，andit’sourfirstnighttogether，andhemustnotbesittingwantingmeanylonger。“Sheroseupfromherseat，butstilldelayedgoing。“Mary!I’vesomewhatelseIwanttosaytoyou，andIdon’trightlyknowhowtobegin。Yousee，grandfatherandIknowwhatbadtimesis，andweknowyourfatherisoutofwork，andI’mgettingmoremoneythanIcanwellmanage；anddear，wouldyoujusttakethisbito’gold，andpaymebackingoodtimes。“ThetearsstoodinMargaret’seyesasshespoke。“DearMargaret，we’renotsobadpressedasthat。“Thethoughtofherfatherandhisilllooks，andhisonemealaday，rusheduponMary。“Andyet，dear，ifitwouldnotputyououto’yourway，——Iwouldworkhardtomakeituptoyou；——butwouldnotyourgrand-fatherbevexed？““Nothe，wench!Itweremorehisthoughtthanmine，andwehavegotteneversomanymoreathome，sodon’thurryyourselfaboutpaying。It’shardtobeblind，tobesure，elsemoneycomesinsoeasilynowtowhatitusedtodo；andit’sdownrightpleasuretoearnit，forIdosolikesinging。““IwishIcouldsing，“saidMary，lookingatthesovereign。“Somehasonekindo’gifts，andsomeanother。Many’sthetimewhenIcouldsee，thatIlongedforyourbeauty，Mary!We’relikechilder，everwantingwhatwehannotgot。ButnowImustsayjustonemoreword。Remember，ifyou’resorepressedformoney，weshalltakeitveryunkindifyoudonnotletusknow。Good-byetoye。“Inspiteofherblindnessshehurriedaway，anxioustorejoinhergrandfather，anddesirousalsotoescapefromMary’sexpressionsofgratitude。HervisithaddoneMarygoodinmanyways。Ithadstrengthenedherpatienceandherhope；ithadgivenherconfidenceinMargaret’ssympathy；andlast，andreallyleastincomfortingpowerofsolittlevaluearesilverandgoldincomparisontolove，thatgiftineveryone’spowertobestow，cametheconsciousnessofthemoney-valueofthesovereignsheheldinherhand。Themanythingsitmightpurchase!Firstofallcamethethoughtofacomfortablesupperforherfatherthatverynight；andactinginstantlyupontheidea，shesetoffinhopesthatalltheprovisionshopsmightnotyetbeclosed，althoughitwassolate。Thatnightthecottageshonewithunusuallightandfire-gleam；andthefatheranddaughtersatdowntoamealtheythoughtalmostextravagant。
　　Itwassolongsincetheyhadhadenoughtoeat。“Foodgivesheart，“saytheLancashirepeople；andthenextdayMarymadetimetogoandcallonMrsWilson，accordingtoMargaret’sadvice。Shefoundherquitealone，andmoregraciousthanshehadbeenthelasttimeMaryhadvisitedher。Alicewasgoneout，shesaid。“Shewouldjuststepuptothepost-office，allfornoearthlyuse。Foritweretoaskiftheyhadn’taletterlyingthereforherfromherfoster-son，WillWilson，thesailor-lad。““Whatmadeherthinktherewerealetter？“askedMary。“Whyyosee，aneighbourashasbeeninLiverpool，telledusWill’sshipwerecomein。Nowhesaidlasttimehewere。inLiverpool，he’dha’cometoha’seenAlice，buthisshiphadbutaweekholiday，andhardworkforthemeninthattime，too。SoAlicemakessurehe’llcomethis，andhashadherhandbehindherearateverynoiseinth’street，thinkingitwerehim。Andto-dayshewereneithertohavenortohold，butoffshewouldgototh’post，andseeifhehadnasentheralinetotheoldhousenearyo。Itriedtogethertogiveupgoing，forletaloneherdeafnessshe’sgettensodark，shecannotseefiveyardsaforeher；butno，shewouldgo，pooroldbody。““Ididnotknowhersightfailedher；sheusedtohavegoodeyesenoughwhenshelivednearus。““Aye，butit’sgonelatelyagooddeal。ButyouneveraskafterJem“——anxioustogetinawordonthesubjectnearestherheart。“No，“repliedMary，blushingscarlet。“Howishe？““Icannotjustlysayhowheis，seeinghe’satHalifax；buthewereverywellwhenhewrotelastTuesday。Hanyeheardo’hisgoodluck？“Rathertoherdisappointment，Maryownedshehadheardofthesumhismasterhadpaidhimforhisinvention。“Well!anddidnotMargarettellyouwhathe’ddonewi’it。It’sjustlikehim，though，ne’ertosayawordaboutit。Why，whenhewerepaid，whatdoeshedobutgethismastertohelphimtobuyanincomeformeandAlice。
　　Hehadhernameputdownforherlifebut，poorthing，she’llnotbelongtothefore，I’mthinking。She’ssadlyfailedoflate。Andso，Mary，yosee，we’retwoladieso’property。It’samattero’twentypoundayear，theytellme。Iwishthetwinshadlived，bless’em，“saidshe，droppingafewtears。“Theyshouldha’hadthebesto’schooling，andtheirbellyfulso’food。Isupposethey’rebetteroffinheaven，onlyIshouldsoliketosee’em。“Mary’sheartfilledwithloveatthisnewproofofJem’sgoodnessbutshecouldnottalkaboutit。ShetookJaneWilson’shand，andpresseditwithaffection；andthenturnedthesubjecttoWill，hersailornephew。Janewasalittlebitsorry，butherprosperityhadmadehergentler，andshedidnotresentwhatshefeltasMary’sindifferencetoJemandhismerits。“He’sbeeninAfrica，andthatneighbourhood，Ibelieve。He’safinechap，buthe’snotgettenJem’shair。Hishastoomucho’theredinit。HesentAlicebut，maybe，shetelledyouamattero’fivepoundwhenhewereoverbefore；butthatwerenoughttoanincome，yoknow。““It’snoteveryonethatcangetahundredortwoatatime，“saidMary。“No!no!that’strueenough。There’snotmanyaonelikeJem。That’sAlice’sstep，“saidshe，hasteningtoopenthedoortohersister-in-law。Alicelookedweary，andsad，anddusty。Thewearinessandthedustwouldnothavebeennoticedeitherbyher，ortheothers，ifithadnotbeenforthesadness。“Noletters!“saidMrsWilson。“No，none!Imustjustwaitanotherdaytohearfra’mylad。It’sverydreework，waiting，“saidAlice。Margaret’swordscameintoMary’smind。Everyonehastheirtimeandkindofwaiting。“IfIbutknewheweresafe，andnotdrowned!“spokeAlice。“IfIbutknewheweredrowned，Iwouldaskgracetosay，Thywillbedone。It’sthewaiting。““It’shardworktobepatienttoallofus，“saidMary；“IknowIfinditso，butIdidnotknowonesogoodasyoudid，Alice；Ishallnotthinksobadlyofmyselfforbeingabitimpatient，nowI’veheardyousayyoufinditdifficult。“TheideaofreproachtoAlicewasthelastinMary’smind；andAliceknewitwas。Nevertheless，shesaid，“Then，mydear，Ibegyourpardon，andGod’spardon，too，ifI’veweakenedyourfaith，byshowingyouhowfeebleminewas。Halfourlife’sspentinwaiting，anditillbecomesonelikeme，wi’somanymercies，togrumble。
　　I’lltryandputabridleo’ermytongue，andmythoughtstoo。“Shespokeinahumbleandgentlevoice，likeoneaskingforgiveness。“Come，Alice，“interposedMrsWilson，“don’tfretyourselfore’eratriflewrongsaidhereorthere。See!I’veputth’kettleon，andyouandMaryshallha’adisho’teainnotime。“Soshebustledabout，andbroughtoutacomfortable-lookingsubstantialloaf，andsetMarytocutbreadandbutter，whilesherattledoutthetea-cups——alwaysacheerfulsound。Justastheyweresittingdown，therewasaknockheardatthedoor，andwithoutwaitingforittobeopenedfromtheinside，someoneliftedthelatch，andinaman’svoiceasked，ifoneGeorgeWilsonlivedthere？MrsWilsonwasenteringonalongandsorrowfulexplanationofhishavingoncelivedthere，butofhishavingdroppeddowndead；whenAlice，withtheinstinctofloveforinallusualandcommoninstancessightandhearingfailedtoconveyimpressionstoheruntillongafterotherpeoplehadreceivedthem，arose，andtotteredtothedoor。“Mybairn!——myowndearbairn!“sheexclaimed，fallingonWillWilson’sneck。Youmayfancythehospitableandwelcomingcommotionthatensued；howMrsWilsonlaughed，andtalked，andcried，alltogether，ifsuchathingcanbedone；andhowMarygazedwithwonderingpleasureatheroldplaymate；
　　now，adashing，bronzed-lookingringletedsailor，frank，andhearty，andaffectionate。ButitwassomethingdifferentfromcommontoseeAlice’sjoyatoncemorehavingherfoster-childwithher。Shedidnotspeak，forshereallycouldnot；butthetearscamecoursingdownheroldwitheredcheeks，anddimmedthehornspectaclesshehadputon，inordertoprylovinglyintohisface。