let’sbeoff。““Itwouldn’tbebetterfortheetobescarceabit，wouldit，andleavemetogoandfindoutwhat’sup？Hehas，perhaps，gettensomecrotchetintohisheadthou’rtanaccomplice，andislayingatrapforthee。““I’mnotafeard!“saidJem；“I’vedonenoughtwrong，andknownoughtwrong，aboutyonpoordeadlad；thoughI’llownIhadevilthoughtsonceonatime。Folkcan’tmistakelongifoncethey’llsearchintothetruth。I’llgoandgivetheoldgentlemanallthesatisfactioninmypower，nowitcaninjurenoone。I’dmyownreasonsforwantingtoseehimbesides，anditallfallsinrightenoughforme。Jobwasalittlere-assuredbyJem’sboldness；butstill，ifthetruthmustbetold，hewishedtheyoungmanwouldfollowhisadvice，andleavehimtosoundMrCarson’s。intentions。MeanwhileJaneWilsonhaddonnedherSundaysuitofblack，andsetoffonhererrandofcondolence。Shefeltnervousanduneasyattheideaofthemoralsayingsandtextswhichshefanciedwereexpectedfromvisitorsonoccasionslikethepresent；andpreparedmanyagoodsetspeechasshewalkedtowardsthehouseofmourning。Asshegentlyopenedthedoor，Marysittingidlybythefire，caughtaglimpseofher，——ofJem’smother，——oftheearlyfriendofherdeadparents，——ofthekindministertomanyalittlewantindaysofchildhood，——androseandcameandfellaboutherneck，withmanyasobandmoan，saying，“Oh，he’sgone——he’sdead——allgone——alldead，andIamleftaloneI““Poorwench!poor，poorwench!“saidJaneWilson，tenderlykissingher。
　　“Thou’rtnotalone，sodonnottakeonso。I’llsaynoughtofHimwho’sabove，forthouknowestHeisevertheorphan’sfriend；butthinkonJem!
　　nay，Mary，dear，thinkonme!I’mbutafrabbitwomanattimes，butI’veaheartwithinmethroughallmytemper，andthoushaltbeasadaughterhenceforward，——asmineownewe-lamb。Jemshallnotlovetheebetterinhisway，thanIwillinmine；andthou’ltbearwithmyturns，Mary，knowingthatinmysoulGodseesthelovethatshalleverbethine，ifthou’lttakemeforthymother，andspeaknomoreofbeingalone。“MrsWilsonwasweepingherselflongbeforeshehadendedthisspeech，whichwassodifferenttoallshehadplannedtosay，andfromalltheformalpietyshehadlaidinstoreforthevisit；forthiswasheart’spiety，andneedednogarnishoftextstomakeittruereligion，pureandundefiled。Theysattogetheronthesamechair，theirarmsencirclingeachother；
　　theyweptforthesamedead；theyhadthesamehope，andtrust，andoverflowingloveintheliving。Fromthattimeforward，hardlyapassingclouddimmedthehappyconfidenceoftheirintercourse；evenbyJemwouldhismother’stempersoonerbeirritatedthanbyMary；beforethelattersherepressedheroccasionalnervousill-humourtillthehabitofindulgingitwasperceptiblydecreased。YearsafterwardsinconversationwithJem，hewasstartledbyachanceexpressionwhichdroppedfromhismother’slips；itimpliedaknowledgeofJohnBarton’scrime。ItwasmanyalongdaysincetheyhadseenanyManchesterpeoplewhocouldhaverevealedthesecretifindeeditwasknowninManchester，againstwhichJemhadguardedineverypossibleway。
　　Andhewasledtoinquirefirstastotheextent，andthenastothesourceofherknowledge。ItwasMaryherselfwhohadtoldall。Foronthemorningtowhichthischapterprincipallyrelates，asMarysatweeping，andasMrsWilsoncomfortedherbyeverytenderestwordandcaress，sherevealed，tothedismayedandastonishedJane，thestingofherdeepsorrow；thecrimewhichstainedherdeadfather’smemory。ShewasquiteunconsciousthatJemhadkeptitsecretfromhismother；
　　shehadimagineditbruitedabroadasthesuspicionagainstherloverhadbeen；sowordafterworddroppedfromherlipsinthesup-positionthatMrsWilsonknewallhadtoldthetale，andrevealedthecauseofherdeepanguish；deeperthanisevercausedbyDeathalone。Onlargeoccasionslikethepresent，MrsWilson’sinnategenerositycameout。Herweakandailingframeimparteditsirritationtoherconductinsmallthings，anddailytrifles；butshehaddeepandnoblesympathywithgreatsorrows，andevenatthetimethatMaryspokesheallowednoexpressionofsurpriseorhorrortoescapeherlips。Shegavewaytonocuriosityastotheuntolddetails；shewasassecretandtrustworthyashersonhimself；andifinyearstocomeherangerwasoccasionallyexcitedagainstMary，andshe，onrareoccasions，yieldedtoill-temperagainstherdaughter-in-law，shewouldupbraidherforextravagance，orstinginess，orover-dressing，orunder-dressing，ortoomuchmirth，ortoomuchgloom，butnever，neverinhermostuncontrolledmoments，didshealludetoanyoneofthecircumstancesrelatingtoMary’sflirtationwithHarryCarson，orhismurderer；andalwayswhenshespokeofJohnBarton，namedhimwiththerespectduetohisconductbeforethelast，miserable，guiltymonthofhislife。ThereforeitcamelikeablowtoJem，when，afterearshadpassedaway，hegatheredhismother’sknowledgeofthewholeaffair。Fromthedaywhenhelearntnotwithoutremorsewhathiddendepthsofself-restraintshehadinhersoul，hismannertoher，alwaystenderandrespectful，becamereverential；anditwasmorethaneveralovingstrifebetweenhimandMary，whichshouldmostcontributetowardsthehappinessofthedecliningyearsoftheirmother。ButIamspeakingoftheeventswhichhaveoccurredonlylately，whileIhaveyetmanythingstotellyouthathappenedsixorsevenyearsago。
　　Therichmandines，whilethepoormanpines，Andeatshisheartaway；“Theyteachuslies，“hesternlycries，“Wouldbrothersdoasthey？“TheDream。MrCarsonstoodatoneofthebreathing-placesoflife。Theobjectofthetoils，thefears，andthewishesofhispastyears，wassuddenlyhiddenfromhissight，——vanishedintothedeepmysterywhichcircumscribesexistence。
　　Nay，eventhevengeancewhichhehadproposedtohimselfasanaimforexertion，hadbeentakenawayfrombeforehiseyes，asbythehandofGod。Eventslikethesewouldhavestartledthemostthoughtlessintoreflection，muchmoresuchamanasMrCarson，whosemind，ifnotenlarged，wasenergeticindeed，whoseveryenergy，havingbeenhithertothecauseoftheemploymentofhispowersinonlyonedirection，hadpreventedhimfrombecominglargelyandphilosophicallycomprehensiveinhisviews。Butnowthefoundationsofhispastlifewererazedtotheground，andtheplacetheyhadonceoccupiedwassownwithsalt，tobeforeverrebuiltnomore。ItwaslikethechangefromthisLifetothatotherhiddenone，whensomanyofthemotiveswhichhaveactuatedallourearthlyexistence，willhavebecomemorefleetingthantheshadowsofadream。Withawrenchofhissoulfromthepast，somuchofwhichwasasnothingandworsethannothingtohimnow，MrCarsontooksomehours，afterhehadwitnessedthedeathofhissonsmurderer，toconsiderhissituation。Butsuddenly，whilehewasdeliberating，andsearchingformotiveswhichshouldbeeffectivetocompelhimtoexertionandactiononcemore；whilehecontemplatedthedesireafterriches，socialdistinction，anameamongthemerchant-princesamidstwhomhemoved，andsawthesefalsesubstancesfadeawayintotheshadowstheytrulyare，andonebyonedisappearintothegraveofhisson，——suddenly，Isay，thethoughtarosewithinhimthatmoreyetremainedtobelearnedaboutthecircumstancesandfeelingswhichhadpromptedJohnBarton’scrime；andwhenoncethismournfulcuriositywasexcited，itseemedtogatherstrengthineverymomentthatitsgratificationwasdelayed。AccordinglyhesentamessagetosummonJobLeghandJemWilson，fromwhomhepromisedhimselfsomeelucidationofwhatwasasyetunexplained；
　　whilehehimselfsetforthtocallonMrBridgenorth，whomheknewtohavebeenJem’sattorney，withaglimmeringsuspicionintrudingonhismind，whichhestrovetorepel，thatJemmighthavehadsomeshareinhisson’sdeath。Hehadreturnedbeforehissummonedvisitorsarrived；andhadtimeenoughtorecurtotheeveningonwhichJohnBartonhadmadehisconfession。Herememberedwithmortificationhowhehadforgottenhisproudreserve，andhishabitualconcealmentofhisfeelings，andhadlaidbarehisagonyofgriefinthepresenceofthesetwomenwhowerecomingtoseehimbyhisdesire；andheentrenchedhimselfbehindstiffbarriersofself-control，throughwhichhehopednoappearanceofemotionwouldforceitswayintheconversationheanticipated。Nevertheless，whentheservantannouncedthattwomenweretherebyappointmenttospeaktohim，andhehaddesiredthattheymightbeshownintothelibrarywherehesat，anywatchermighthaveperceivedbythetremblinghands，andshakinghead，notonlyhowmuchhewasagedbytheoccurrencesofthelastfewweeks，butalsohowmuchhewasagitatedatthethoughtoftheimpendinginterview。Buthesofarsucceededincommandinghimselfatfirst，astoappeartoJemWilsonandJemLeghoneofthehardestandmosthaughtymentheyhadeverspokento，andtoforfeitalltheinterestwhichhehadpreviouslyexcitedintheirmindsbyhisunreserveddisplayofdeepandgenuinefeeling。Whenhehaddesiredthemtobeseated，heshadedhisfacewithhishandforaninstantbeforespeaking。“IhavebeencallingonMrBridgenorththismorning，“saidhe，atlast；
　　“asIexpected，hecangivemebutlittlesatisfactiononsomepointsrespectingtheoccurrenceonthe18thoflastmonth，whichIdesiretohaveclearedup。PerhapsyoutwocantellmewhatIwanttoknow。AsintimatefriendsofBarton’syouprobablyknow，orcanconjectureagooddeal。Havenoscrupleastospeakingthetruth。Whatyousayinthisroomshallneverbenamedagainbyme。Besides，youareawarethatthelawallowsnoonetobetriedtwiceforthesameoffence。“Hestoppedforaminute，forthemereactofspeakingwasfatiguingtohimaftertheexcitementofthelastfewweeks。JobLeghtooktheopportunityofspeaking。“I’mnotgoingtobeaffrontedeitherformyselforJematwhatyou’vejustnowbeensayingaboutthetruth。Youdon’tknowus，andthere’sanendon’t，onlyit’saswellforfolktothinkothersgoodandtrueuntilthey’reprovedcontrary。Askwhatyoulike，sir，I’llanswerforitwe’lleithertelltruth，orholdourtongues。““Ibegyourpardon，“saidMrCarson，slightlybowinghishead。“WhatI
　　wishedtoknowwas“referringtoaslipofpaperheheldinhishand，andshakingsomuchhecouldhardlyadjusthisglassestohiseyes，“whetheryou，Wilson，canexplainhowBartoncamepossessedofyourgun。IbelieveyourefusedthisexplanationtoMrBridgenorth。““Idid，sir!IfIhadsaidwhatIknewthen，IsawitwouldcriminateBarton，andsoIrefusedtellingaught。Toyou，sir，nowIwilltelleverythingandanything；onlyitisbutlittle。Thegunwasmyfather’sbeforeitwasmine，andlongagoheandJohnBartonhadafancyforshootingatthegallery；andtheyusedalwaystotakethisgun，andbragthatthoughitwasold-fashioneditwassure。Jemsawwithself-upbraidingpainhowMrCarsonwincedattheselastwords，butateachirrepressibleandinvoluntaryevidenceoffeeling，theheartsofthetwomenwarmedtowardshim。Jemwentonspeaking。“Onedayintheweek——IthinkitwasontheWednesday，——yes，itwas——itwasonStPatrick’sday，ImetJohnjustcomingoutofourhouse，asI
　　weregoingtomydinner。Motherwasout，andhe’dfoundnoonein。Hesaidhe’dcometoborrowtheoldgun，andthathe’dhavemadebold，andtakenit，butitwasnottobeseen。Motherwasafraidofit，soafterfather’sdeathforwhilehewerealive，sheseemedtothinkhecouldmanageit
　　Ihadcarriedittomyownroom。IwentupandfetcheditforJohn，whostoodoutsidethedoorallthetime。““Whatdidhesayhewanteditfor？“askedMrCarson，hastily。“Idon’tthinkhespokewhenIgaveithim。Atfirsthemutteredsomethingabouttheshootinggallery，andIneverdoubtedbutthatitwasforpracticethere，asIknewhehaddoneyearsbefore。“MrCarsonhadstrunguphisframetoanattitudeofuprightattentionwhileJemwasspeaking；nowthetensionrelaxed，andhesankbackinhischair，weakandpowerless。Heroseupagain，however，asJemwenton，anxioustogiveeveryparticularwhichcouldsatisfythebereavedfather。“IneverknewforwhathewantedtheguntillIwastakenup，——Idonotknowyetwhyhewantedit。Noonewouldhavehadmegetoutofthescrapebyimplicatinganoldfriend，——myfather’soldfriend，andthefatherofthegirlIloved。SoIrefusedtotellMrBridgenorthaughtaboutit，andwouldnothavenameditnowtoanyonebutyou。“Jem’sfacebecameveryredattheallusionhemadetoMary，buthishonest，fearlesseyeshadmetMrCarson’spenetratinggazeunflinchingly，andhadcarriedconvictionofhisinnocenceandtruthfulness；MrCarsonfeltcertainthathehadheardallthatJemcouldtell。AccordinglyheturnedtoJobLegh。“YouwereintheroomthewholetimewhileBartonwasspeakingtome，I
　　think？““Yes，sir，“answeredJob。“You’llexcusemyaskingplainanddirectquestions；theinformationI
　　amgainingisreallyarelieftomymind，Idon’tknowhow，butitis，——willyoutellmeifyouhadanyideaofBarton’sguiltinthismatterbefore？““Nonewhatever，sohelpmeGod!“saidJob，solemnly。“Totelltruthandaxingyourforgiveness，Jem，IhadnevergotquiteshutofthenotionthatJemherehaddoneit。AttimesIwasasclearofhisinnocenceasIwasofmyown；andwheneverItooktoreasoningaboutit，Isawhecouldnothavebeenthemanthatdidit。StillIneverthoughtofBarton。““Andyetbyhisconfessionhemusthavebeenabsentatthetime，“saidMrCarson，referringtohisslipofpaper。“Aye，andformanyadayafter，——Ican’trightlysayhowlong。Butstill，yousee，one’softenblindtomanyathingthatliesrightunderone’snose，tillit’spointedout。AndtillIbeardwhatJohnBartonhadtosayyonnight，Icouldnothaveseenwhatreasonhehadfordoingit；whileinthecaseofJem，anyonewholookedatMaryBartonmighthaveseenacauseforjealousyclearenough。““ThenyoubelievethatBartonhadnoknowledgeofmyson’sunfortunate——，“