Asforherstep—mother，MarynotunnaturallyflewintoapassionthemomentIspokeofher。Shekeepsaneating—houseatHammersmith，andcouldhavegivenMarygoodemploymentinit；butsheseemsalwaystohavehatedher，andtohavemadeherlifesowretchedwithabuseandillusagethatshehadnorefugeleftbuttogoawayfromhome，anddoherbesttomakealivingforherself。Herhusband（Mary’sfather）appearstohavebehavedbadlytoher，and，afterhisdeath，shetookthewickedcourseofrevengingherselfonherstep—daughter。Ifelt，afterthis，thatitwasimpossibleMarycouldgoback，andthatitwasthehardnecessityofherposition，asitisofmine，thatsheshouldstruggleontomakeadecentlivelihoodwithoutassistancefromanyofherrelations。Iconfessedasmuchasthistoher；butI
　　addedthatIwouldtrytogetheremploymentwiththepersonsforwhomIwork，whopayhigherwages，andshowalittlemoreindulgencetothoseunderthemthanthepeopletowhomsheisnowobligedtolookforsupport。
　　IspokemuchmoreconfidentlythanIfeltaboutbeingabletodothis，andlefther，asIthought，inbetterspiritsthanusual。
　　Shepromisedtobebackto—nighttoteaatnineo’clock，andnowitisnearlyoneinthemorning，andsheisnothomeyet。IfitwasanyothergirlIshouldnotfeeluneasy，forIshouldmakeupmymindthattherewasextraworktobedoneinahurry，andthattheywerekeepingherlate，andIshouldgotobed。ButMaryissounfortunateineverythingthathappenstoher，andherownmelancholytalkaboutherselfkeepshangingonmymindso，thatI
　　havefearsonheraccountwhichwouldnotdistressmeaboutanyoneelse。Itseemsinexcusablysillytothinksuchathing，muchmoretowriteitdown；butIhaveakindofnervousdreaduponmethatsomeaccident——
　　Whatdoesthatloudknockingatthestreetdoormean？Andthosevoicesandheavyfootstepsoutside？Somelodgerwhohaslosthiskey，Isuppose。Andyet，myheart——WhatacowardIhavebecomeallofasudden！
　　Moreknockingandloudervoices。Imustruntothedoorandseewhatitis。Oh，Mary！Mary！IhopeIamnotgoingtohaveanotherfrightaboutyou，butIfeelsadlylikeit。
　　March8th。
　　March9th。
　　March10th。
　　March11th。Ohme！allthetroublesIhaveeverhadinmylifeareasnothingtothetroubleIaminnow。ForthreedaysIhavenotbeenabletowriteasinglelineinthisjournal，whichI
　　havekeptsoregularlyeversinceIwasagirl。ForthreedaysI
　　havenotoncethoughtofRobert——I，whoamalwaysthinkingofhimatothertimes。
　　Mypoor，dear，unhappyMary！theworstIfearedforyouonthatnightwhenIsatupalonewasfarbelowthedreadfulcalamitythathasreallyhappened。HowcanIwriteaboutit，withmyeyesfulloftearsandmyhandallofatremble？Idon’tevenknowwhyIamsittingdownatmydesknow，unlessitishabitthatkeepsmetomyoldevery—daytask，inspiteofallthegriefandfearwhichseemtounfitmeentirelyforperformingit。
　　Thepeopleofthehousewereasleepandlazyonthatdreadfulnight，andIwasthefirsttoopenthedoor。Never，nevercouldI
　　describeinwriting，orevensayinplaintalk，thoughitissomucheasier，whatIfeltwhenIsawtwopolicemencomein，carryingbetweenthemwhatseemedtometobeadeadgirl，andthatgirlMary！Icaughtholdofher，andgaveascreamthatmusthavealarmedthewholehouse；forfrightenedpeoplecamecrowdingdownstairsintheirnight—dresses。Therewasadreadfulconfusionandnoiseofloudtalking，butIheardnothingandsawnothingtillIhadgotherintomyroomandlaidonmybed。Istoopeddown，frantic—like，tokissher，andsawanawfulmarkofablowonthelefttemple，andfelt，atthesametime，afeebleflutterofherbreathonmycheek。Thediscoverythatshewasnotdeadseemedtogivemebackmysensesagain。Itoldoneofthepolicemenwherethenearestdoctorwastobefound，andsatdownbythebedsidewhilehewasgone，andbathedherpoorheadwithcoldwater。Sheneveropenedhereyes，ormoved，orspoke；butshebreathed，andthatwasenoughforme，becauseitwasenoughforlife。
　　Thepolicemanleftintheroomwasabig，thick—voiced，pompousman，withahorribleunfeelingpleasureinhearinghimselftalkbeforeanassemblyoffrightened，silentpeople。Hetoldushowhehadfoundher，asifhehadbeentellingastoryinatap—room，andbeganwithsaying："Idon’tthinktheyoungwomanwasdrunk。"
　　Drunk！MyMary，whomighthavebeenabornladyforallthespiritssheevertouched——drunk！Icouldhavestruckthemanforutteringtheword，withherlying——poorsufferingangel——sowhite，andstill，andhelplessbeforehim。Asitwas，Igavehimalook，buthewastoostupidtounderstandit，andwentdroningon，sayingthesamethingoverandoveragaininthesamewords。
　　Andyetthestoryofhowtheyfoundherwas，likeallthesadstoriesIhaveeverheardtoldinreallife，sovery，veryshort。
　　Theyhadjustseenherlyingalongonthecurbstoneafewstreetsoff，andhadtakenhertothestation—house。Thereshehadbeensearched，andoneofmycards，thatIgavetoladieswhopromisemeemployment，hadbeenfoundinherpocket，andsotheyhadbroughthertoourhouse。Thiswasallthemanreallyhadtotell。Therewasnobodynearherwhenshewasfound，andnoevidencetoshowhowtheblowonhertemplehadbeeninflicted。
　　Whatatimeitwasbeforethedoctorcame，andhowdreadfultohearhimsay，afterhehadlookedather，thathewasafraidallthemedicalmenintheworldcouldbeofnousehere！Hecouldnotgethertoswallowanything；andthemorehetriedtobringherbacktohersensesthelesschancethereseemedofhissucceeding。Heexaminedtheblowonhertemple，andsaidhethoughtshemusthavefallendowninafitofsomesort，andstruckherheadagainstthepavement，andsohavegivenherbrainwhathewasafraidwasafatalshake。Iaskedwhatwastobedoneifsheshowedanyreturntosenseinthenight。Hesaid："Sendformedirectly"；andstoppedforalittlewhileafterwardstrokingherheadgentlywithhishand，andwhisperingtohimself："Poorgirl，soyoungandsopretty！"Ihadfelt，someminutesbefore，asifIcouldhavestruckthepoliceman，andI
　　feltnowasifIcouldhavethrownmyarmsroundthedoctor’sneckandkissedhim。Ididputoutmyhandwhenhetookuphishat，andheshookitinthefriendliestway。"Don’thope，mydear，"hesaid，andwentout。
　　Therestofthelodgersfollowedhim，allsilentandshocked，excepttheinhumanwretchwhoownsthehouseandlivesinidlenessonthehighrentshewringsfrompoorpeoplelikeus。
　　"She’sthreeweeksinmydebt，"sayshe，withafrownandanoath。"Wherethedevilismymoneytocomefromnow？"Brute！
　　brute！
　　Ihadalongcryalonewithherthatseemedtoeasemyheartalittle。ShewasnottheleastchangedforthebetterwhenIhadwipedawaythetearsandcouldseeherclearlyagain。Itookupherrighthand，whichlaynearesttome。Itwastightclinched。I
　　triedtounclaspthefingers，andsucceededafteralittletime。
　　SomethingdarkfelloutofthepalmofherhandasIstraightenedit。
　　Ipickedthethingup，andsmootheditout，andsawthatitwasanendofaman’scravat。
　　Averyold，rotten，dingystripofblacksilk，withthinlilaclines，allblurredanddeadenedwithdirt，runningacrossandacrossthestuffinasortoftrellis—workpattern。Thesmallendofthecravatwashemmedintheusualway，buttheotherendwasalljagged，asifthemorseltheninmyhandshadbeentornoffviolentlyfromtherestofthestuff。AchillranallovermeasIlookedatit；forthatpoor，stained，crumpledendofacravatseemedtobesayingtome，asthoughithadbeeninplainwords：
　　"Ifshedies，shehascometoherdeathbyfoulmeans，andIamthewitnessofit。"
　　Ihadbeenfrightenedenoughbefore，lestsheshoulddiesuddenlyandquietlywithoutmyknowingit，whilewewerealonetogether；
　　butIgotintoaperfectagonynow，forfearthislastworstafflictionshouldtakemebysurprise。Idon’tsupposefiveminutespassedallthatwofulnightthroughwithoutmygettingupandputtingmycheekclosetohermouth，tofeelifthefaintbreathsstillflutteredoutofit。Theycameandwentjustthesameasatfirst，thoughthefrightIwasinoftenmademefancytheywerestilledforever。
　　JustasthechurchclockswerestrikingfourIwasstartledbyseeingtheroomdooropen。ItwasonlyDustySal（astheycallherinthehouse），themaid—of—all—work。Shewaswrappedupintheblanketoffherbed；herhairwasalltumbledoverherface，andhereyeswereheavywithsleepasshecameuptothebedsidewhereIwassitting。
　　"I’vetwohoursgoodbeforeIbegintowork，"saysshe，inherhoarse，drowsyvoice，"andI’vecometositupandtakemyturnatwatchingher。Youlaydownandgetsomesleepontherug。
　　Here’smyblanketforyou。Idon’tmindthecold——itwillkeepmeawake。"
　　"Youareverykind——very，verykindandthoughtful，Sally，"saysI，"butIamtoowretchedinmymindtowantsleep，orrest，ortodoanythingbutwaitwhereIam，andtryandhopeforthebest。"
　　"ThenI’llwait，too，"saysSally。"Imustdosomething；ifthere’snothingtodobutwaiting，I’llwait。"
　　Andshesatdownoppositemeatthefootofthebed，anddrewtheblanketcloseroundherwithashiver。
　　"Afterworkingsohardasyoudo，I’msureyoumustwantallthelittlerestyoucanget，"saysI。
　　"Exceptingonlyyou，"saysSally，puttingherheavyarmveryclumsily，butverygentlyatthesametime，roundMary’sfeet，andlookinghardatthepale，stillfaceonthepillow。
　　"Exceptingyou，she’stheonlysoulinthishouseasneversworeatme，orgivemeahardwordthatIcanremember。WhenyoumadepuddingsonSundays，andgiveherhalf，shealwaysgivemeabit。
　　Therestof’emcallsmeDustySal。Exceptingonlyyou，again，shealwayscalledmeSally，asifsheknowedmeinafriendlyway。Iain’tnogoodhere，butIain’tnoharm，neither；andI
　　shalltakemyturnatthesittingup——that’swhatIshalldo！"
　　ShenestledherheaddowncloseatMary’sfeetasshespokethosewords，andsaidnomore。Ionceortwicethoughtshehadfallenasleep，butwheneverIlookedatherherheavyeyeswerealwayswideopen。Sheneverchangedherpositionaninchtillthechurchclocksstrucksix；thenshegaveonelittlesqueezetoMary’sfeetwithherarm，andshuffledoutoftheroomwithoutaword。A
　　minuteortwoafter，Iheardherdownbelow，lightingthekitchenfirejustasusual。
　　Alittlelaterthedoctorsteppedoverbeforehisbreakfast—timetoseeiftherehadbeenanychangeinthenight。Heonlyshookhisheadwhenhelookedatherasiftherewasnohope。HavingnobodyelsetoconsultthatIcouldputtrustin，Ishowedhimtheendofthecravat，andtoldhimofthedreadfulsuspicionthathadariseninmymindwhenIfounditinherhand。
　　"Youmustkeepitcarefully，andproduceitattheinquest，"hesaid。"Idon’tknow，though，thatitislikelytoleadtoanything。Thebitofstuffmayhavebeenlyingonthepavementnearher，andherhandmayhaveunconsciouslyclutcheditwhenshefell。Wasshesubjecttofainting—fits？"
　　"Notmoreso，sir，thanotheryounggirlswhoarehard—workedandanxious，andweaklyfrompoorliving，"Ianswered。
　　"Ican’tsaythatshemaynothavegotthatblowfromafall，"
　　thedoctorwenton，lockingathertempleagain。"Ican’tsaythatitpresentsanypositiveappearanceofhavingbeeninflictedbyanotherperson。Itwillbeimportant，however，toascertainwhatstateofhealthshewasinlastnight。Haveyouanyideawhereshewasyesterdayevening？"
　　Itoldhimwhereshewasemployedatwork，andsaidIimaginedshemusthavebeenkepttherelaterthanusual。
　　"Ishallpasstheplacethismorning"saidthedoctor，"ingoingmyroundsamongmypatients，andI’lljuststepinandmakesomeinquiries。"
　　Ithankedhim，andweparted。Justashewasclosingthedoorhelookedinagain。
　　"Wassheyoursister？"heasked。
　　"No，sir，onlymydearfriend。"
　　Hesaidnothingmore，butIheardhimsighasheshutthedoorsoftly。Perhapsheoncehadasisterofhisown，andlosther？
　　PerhapsshewaslikeMaryintheface？
　　Thedoctorwashoursgoneaway。Ibegantofeelunspeakablyforlornandhelpless，somuchsoaseventowishselfishlythatRobertmightreallyhavesailedfromAmerica，andmightgettoLondonintimetoassistandconsoleme。
　　NolivingcreaturecameintotheroombutSally。Thefirsttimeshebroughtmesometea；thesecondandthirdtimessheonlylookedintoseeiftherewasanychange，andglancedhereyetowardthebed。Ihadneverknownhersosilentbefore；itseemedalmostasifthisdreadfulaccidenthadstruckherdumb。Ioughttohavespokentoher，perhaps，buttherewassomethinginherfacethatdauntedme；and，besides，thefeverofanxietyIwasinbegantodryupmylips，asiftheywouldneverbeabletoshapeanywordsagain。Iwasstilltormentedbythatfrightfulapprehensionofthepastnight，thatshewoulddiewithoutmyknowingit——diewithoutsayingonewordtoclearuptheawfulmysteryofthisblow，andsetthesuspicionsatrestforeverwhichIstillfeltwhenevermyeyesfellontheendoftheoldcravat。
　　Atlastthedoctorcameback。
　　"Ithinkyoumaysafelyclearyourmindofanydoubtstowhichthatbitofstuffmayhavegivenrise，"hesaid。"Shewas，asyousupposed，detainedlatebyheremployers，andshefaintedinthework—room。Theymostunwiselyandunkindlylethergohomealone，withoutgivingheranystimulant，assoonasshecametohersensesagain。Nothingismoreprobable，underthesecircumstances，thanthatsheshouldfaintasecondtimeonherwayhere。Afallonthepavement，withoutanyfriendlyarmtobreakit，mighthaveproducedevenaworseinjurythantheinjurywesee。Ibelievethattheonlyillusagetowhichthepoorgirlwasexposedwastheneglectshemetwithinthework—room。"
　　"Youspeakveryreasonably，Iown，sir，"saidI，notyetquiteconvinced。"Still，perhapsshemay——"
　　"Mypoorgirl，Itoldyounottohope，"saidthedoctor，interruptingme。HewenttoMary，andlifteduphereyelids，andlookedathereyeswhilehespoke；thenadded，"Ifyoustilldoubthowshecamebythatblow，donotencouragetheideathatanywordsofherswilleverenlightenyou。Shewillneverspeakagain。"
　　"Notdead！Oh，sir，don’tsayshe’sdead！"
　　"Sheisdeadtopainandsorrow——deadtospeechandrecognition。
　　Thereismoreanimationinthelifeofthefeeblestinsectthatfliesthaninthelifethatisleftinher。Whenyoulookathernow，trytothinkthatsheisinheaven。ThatisthebestcomfortIcangiveyou，aftertellingthehardtruth。"
　　Ididnotbelievehim。Icouldnotbelievehim。Solongasshebreathedatall，solongIwasresolvedtohope。Soonafterthedoctorwasgone，Sallycameinagain，andfoundmelistening（ifImaycallitso）atMary’slips。Shewenttowheremylittlehand—glasshangsagainstthewall，tookitdown，andgaveittome。
　　"Seeifthebreathmarksit，"shesaid。
　　Yes；herbreathdidmarkit，butveryfaintly。Sallycleanedtheglasswithherapron，andgaveitbacktome。Asshedidso，shehalfstretchedoutherhandtoMary’sface，butdrewitinagainsuddenly，asifshewasafraidofsoilingMary’sdelicateskinwithherhard，hornyfingers。Goingout，shestoppedatthefootofthebed，andscrapedawayalittlepatchofmudthatwasononeofMary’sshoes。
　　"Ialwaysusedtoclean’emforher，"saidSally，"tosaveherhandsfromgettingblacked。MayItake’emoffnow，andclean’emagain？"
　　Inoddedmyhead，formyheartwastooheavytospeak。Sallytooktheshoesoffwithaslow，awkwardtenderness，andwentout。
　　Anhourormoremusthavepassed，when，puttingtheglassoverherlipsagain，Isawnomarkonit。Ihelditcloserandcloser。
　　Idulleditaccidentallywithmyownbreath，andcleanedit。I
　　helditoverheragain。Oh，Mary，Mary，thedoctorwasright！I
　　oughttohaveonlythoughtofyouinheaven！
　　Dead，withoutaword，withoutasign——withoutevenalooktotellthetruestoryoftheblowthatkilledher！Icouldnotcalltoanybody，Icouldnotcry，Icouldnotsomuchasputtheglassdownandgiveherakissforthelasttime。Idon’tknowhowlongIhadsattherewithmyeyesburning，andmyhandsdeadlycold，whenSallycameinwiththeshoescleaned，andcarriedcarefullyinherapronforfearofasoiltouchingthem。Atthesightofthat——
　　Icanwritenomore。MytearsdropsofastonthepaperthatI
　　canseenothing。
　　March12th。Shediedontheafternoonoftheeighth。Onthemorningoftheninth，Iwrote，asindutybound，toherstepmotheratHammersmith。Therewasnoanswer。Iwroteagain；myletterwasreturnedtomethismorningunopened。Forallthatwomancares，Marymightbeburiedwithapauper’sfuneral；butthisshallneverbe，ifIpawneverythingaboutme，downtotheverygownthatisonmyback。ThebarethoughtofMarybeingburiedbytheworkhousegavemethespirittodrymyeyes，andgototheundertaker’s，andtellhimhowIwasplaced。Isaidifhewouldgetmeanestimateofallthatwouldhavetobepaid，fromfirsttolast，forthecheapestdecentfuneralthatcouldbehad，Iwouldundertaketoraisethemoney。Hegavemetheestimate，writteninthisway，likeacommonbill：
　　Awalkingfuneralcomplete……Pounds1138
　　Vestry……044
　　Rector……044
　　Clerk……010
　　Sexton……010
　　Beadle……010
　　Bell……010
　　Sixfeetofground……020
　　——————
　　TotalPounds284
　　IfIhadthehearttogiveanythoughttoit，IshouldbeinclinedtowishthattheChurchcouldaffordtodowithoutsomanysmallchargesforburyingpoorpeople，towhosefriendsevenshillingsareofconsequence。Butitisuselesstocomplain；themoneymustberaisedatonce。Thecharitabledoctor——apoormanhimself，orhewouldnotbelivinginourneighborhood——hassubscribedtenshillingstowardtheexpenses；andthecoroner，whentheinquestwasover，addedfivemore。Perhapsothersmayassistme。Ifnot，Ihavefortunatelyclothesandfurnitureofmyowntopawn。AndImustsetaboutpartingwiththemwithoutdelay，forthefuneralistobeto—morrow，thethirteenth。
　　Thefuneral——Mary’sfuneral！ItiswellthatthestraitsanddifficultiesIaminkeepmymindonthestretch。IfIhadleisuretogrieve，whereshouldIfindthecouragetofaceto—morrow？
　　ThankGodtheydidnotwantmeattheinquest。Theverdictgiven，withthedoctor，thepoliceman，andtwopersonsfromtheplacewheresheworked，forwitnesses，wasAccidentalDeath。Theendofthecravatwasproduced，andthecoronersaidthatitwascertainlyenoughtosuggestsuspicion；butthejury，intheabsenceofanypositiveevidence，heldtothedoctor’snotionthatshehadfaintedandfallendown，andsogottheblowonhertemple。TheyreprovedthepeoplewhereMaryworkedforlettinghergohomealone，withoutsomuchasadropofbrandytosupporther，aftershehadfallenintoaswoonfromexhaustionbeforetheireyes。Thecoroneradded，onhisownaccount，thathethoughtthereproofwasthoroughlydeserved。Afterthat，thecravat—endwasgivenbacktomebymyowndesire，thepolicesayingthattheycouldmakenoinvestigationswithsuchaslightclewtoguidethem。Theymaythinkso，andthecoroner，anddoctor，andjurymaythinkso；but，inspiteofallthathaspassed，IamnowmorefirmlypersuadedthaneverthatthereissomedreadfulmysteryinconnectionwiththatblowonmypoorlostMary’stemplewhichhasyettoberevealed，andwhichmaycometobediscoveredthroughthisveryfragmentofacravatthatIfoundinherhand。IcannotgiveanygoodreasonforwhyIthinkso，butIknowthatifIhadbeenoneofthejuryattheinquest，nothingshouldhaveinducedmetoconsenttosuchaverdictasAccidentalDeath。
　　AfterIhadpawnedmythings，andhadbeggedasmalladvanceofwagesattheplacewhereIworktomakeupwhatwasstillwantingtopayforMary’sfuneral，IthoughtImighthavehadalittlequiettimetopreparemyselfasIbestcouldforto—morrow。Butthiswasnottobe。WhenIgothomethelandlordmetmeinthepassage。Hewasinliquor，andmorebrutalandpitilessinhiswayoflookingandspeakingthaneverIsawhimbefore。
　　"Soyou’regoingtobefoolenoughtopayforherfuneral，areyou？"werehisfirstwordstome。
　　Iwastoowearyandheart—sicktoanswer；Ionlytriedtogetbyhimtomyowndoor。
　　"Ifyoucanpayforburyingher，"hewenton，puttinghimselfinfrontofme，"youcanpayherlawfuldebts。Sheowesmethreeweeks’rent。Supposeyouraisethemoneyforthatnext，andhanditovertome？I’mnotjoking，Icanpromiseyou。Imeantohavemyrent；and，ifsomebodydon’tpayit，I’llhaveherbodyseizedandsenttotheworkhouse！"
　　Betweenterroranddisgust，IthoughtIshouldhavedroppedtothefloorathisfeet。ButIdeterminednottolethimseehowhehadhorrifiedme，ifIcouldpossiblycontrolmyself。SoI
　　musteredresolutionenoughtoanswerthatIdidnotbelievethelawgavehimanysuchwickedpoweroverthedead。
　　"I’llteachyouwhatthelawis！"hebrokein；"you’llraisemoneytoburyherlikeabornlady，whenshe’sdiedinmydebt，willyou？AndyouthinkI’llletmyrightsbetrampleduponlikethat，doyou？SeeifIdo！I’llgiveyoutillto—nighttothinkaboutit。IfIdon’thavethethreeweekssheowesbeforeto—morrow，deadoralive，sheshallgototheworkhouse！"
　　ThistimeImanagedtopushbyhim，andgettomyownroom，andlockthedoorinhisface。AssoonasIwasaloneIfellintoabreathless，suffocatingfitofcryingthatseemedtobeshakingmetopieces。Buttherewasnogoodandnohelpintears；Ididmybesttocalmmyselfafteralittlewhile，andtriedtothinkwhoIshouldruntoforhelpandprotection。
　　ThedoctorwasthefirstfriendIthoughtof；butIknewhewasalwaysoutseeinghispatientsofanafternoon。Thebeadlewasthenextpersonwhocameintomyhead。Hehadthelookofbeingaverydignified，unapproachablekindofmanwhenhecameabouttheinquest；buthetalkedtomealittlethen，andsaidIwasagoodgirl，andseemed，Ireallythought，topityme。SotohimI
　　determinedtoapplyinmygreatdangeranddistress。
　　Mostfortunately，Ifoundhimathome。WhenItoldhimofthelandlord’sinfamousthreats，andofthemiseryIwassufferinginconsequenceofthem，heroseupwithastampofhisfoot，andsentforhisgold—lacedcockedhatthathewearsonSundays，andhislongcanewiththeivorytoptoit。
　　"I’llgiveittohim，"saidthebeadle。"Comealongwithme，mydear。IthinkItoldyouyouwereagoodgirlattheinquest——ifIdidn’t，Itellyousonow。I’llgiveittohim！Comealongwithme。"
　　Andhewentout，stridingonwithhiscockedhatandhisgreatcane，andIfollowedhim。
　　"Landlord！"hecries，themomenthegetsintothepassage，withathumpofhiscaneonthefloor，"landlord！"withalookallroundhimasifhewasKingofEnglandcallingtoabeast，"comeout！"
　　Themomentthelandlordcameoutandsawwhoitwas，hiseyefixedonthecockedhat，andheturnedaspaleasashes。
　　"Howdareyoufrightenthispoorgirl？"saysthebeadle。"Howdareyoubullyheratthissorrowfultimewiththreateningtodowhatyouknowyoucan’tdo？Howdareyoubeacowardly，bullying，braggadocioofanunmanlylandlord？Don’ttalktome：Iwon’thearyou。I’llpullyouup，sir。Ifyousayanotherwordtotheyoungwoman，I’llpullyouupbeforetheauthoritiesofthismetropolitanparish。I’vehadmyeyeonyou，andtheauthoritieshavehadtheireyeonyou，andtherectorhashadhiseyeonyou。
　　Wedon’tlikethelookofyoursmallshoproundthecorner；wedon’tlikethelookofsomeofthecustomerswhodealatit；wedon’tlikedisorderlycharacters；andwedon’tbyanymannerofmeanslikeyou。Goaway。Leavetheyoungwomanalone。Holdyourtongue，orI’llpullyouup。Ifhesaysanotherword，orinterfereswithyouagain，mydear，comeandtellme；and，assureashe’sabullying，unmanly，braggadocioofalandlord，I’llpullhimup。"
　　Withthosewordsthebeadlegavealoudcoughtoclearhisthroat，andanotherthumpofhiscaneonthefloor，andsowentstridingoutagainbeforeIcouldopenmylipstothankhim。Thelandlordslunkbackintohisroomwithoutaword。Iwasleftaloneandunmolestedatlast，tostrengthenmyselfforthehardtrialofmypoorlove’sfuneralto—morrow。
　　March13th。Itisallover。Aweekagoherheadrestedonmybosom。Itislaidinthechurchyardnow；thefreshearthliesheavyoverhergrave。Iandmydearestfriend，thesisterofmylove，arepartedinthisworldforever。
　　Ifollowedherfuneralalonethroughthecruel，hustlingstreets。
　　Sally，Ithought，mighthaveofferedtogowithme，butsheneversomuchascameintomyroom。Ididnotliketothinkbadlyofherforthis，andIamgladIrestrainedmyself；for，whenwegotintothechurchyard，amongthetwoorthreepeoplewhowerestandingbytheopengraveIsawSally，inherraggedgrayshawlandherpatchedblackbonnet。Shedidnotseemtonoticemetillthelastwordsoftheservicehadbeenreadandtheclergymanhadgoneaway；thenshecameupandspoketome。
　　"Icouldn’tfollowalongwithyou，"shesaid，lookingatherraggedshawl，"forIhaven’tadecentsuitofclothestowalkin。
　　IwishIcouldgetventincryingforherlikeyou，butIcan’t；
　　allthecrying’sbeendrudgedandstarvedoutofmelongago。
　　Don’tyouthinkaboutlightingyourfirewhenyougethome。I’lldothat，andgetyouadropofteatocomfortyou。"