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then she asked to speak to Samuel Orme alone。 The sons went into the
back kitchen； and thence strolled out into the fields regardless of
the driving snow。 The brothers were dearly fond of each other；
although they were very different in character。 Will； the elder； was
like his father； stern； reserved； and scrupulously upright。 Tom （who
was ten years younger） was gentle and delicate as a girl； both in
appearance and character。 He had always clung to his mother arid
dreaded his father。 They did not speak as they walked； for they were
only in the habit of talking about facts； and hardly knew the more
sophisticated language applied to the description of feelings。
Meanwhile their mother had taken hold of Samuel Orme's arm with her
trembling hand。
〃Samuel； I must let the farmI must。〃
〃Let the farm！ What's come o'er the woman？〃
〃Oh； Samuel！〃 said she； her eyes swimming in tears； 〃I'm just fain to
go and live in Manchester。 I mun let the farm。〃
Samuel looked； and pondered； but did not speak for some time。 At
last he said …
〃If thou hast made up thy mind； there's no speaking again it； and
thou must e'en go。 Thou'lt be sadly pottered wi' Manchester ways；
but that's not my look out。 Why； thou'lt have to buy potatoes； a
thing thou hast never done afore in all thy born life。 Well！ it's
not my look out。 It's rather for me than again me。 Our Jenny is
going to be married to Tom Higginbotham； and he was speaking of
wanting a bit of land to begin upon。 His father will be dying
sometime； I reckon； and then he'll step into the Croft Farm。 But
meanwhile〃
〃Then； thou'lt let the farm；〃 said she； still as eagerly as ever。
〃Ay； ay； he'll take it fast enough； I've a notion。 But I'll not
drive a bargain with thee just now； it would not be right； we'll wait
a bit。〃
〃No； I cannot wait； settle it out at once。〃
〃Well； well； I'll speak to Will about it。 I see him out yonder。
I'll step to him and talk it over。〃
Accordingly he went and joined the two lads； and； without more ado；
began the subject to them。
〃Will； thy mother is fain to go live in Manchester； and covets to let
the farm。 Now； I'm willing to take it for Tom Higginbotham； but I
like to drive a keen bargain； and there would be no fun chaffering
with thy mother just now。 Let thee and me buckle to； my lad！ and try
and cheat each other； it will warm us this cold day。〃
〃Let the farm！〃 said both the lads at once； with infinite surprise。
〃Go live in Manchester！〃
When Samuel Orme found that the plan had never before been named to
either Will or Tom； he would have nothing to do with it； he said；
until they had spoken to their mother。 Likely she was 〃dazed〃 by her
husband's death； he would wait a day or two； and not name it to any
one； not to Tom Higginbotham himself； or may be he would set his
heart upon it。 The lads had better go in and talk it over with their
mother。 He bade them good…day； and left them。
Will looked very gloomy； but he did not speak till they got near the
house。 Then he said …
〃Tom； go to th' shippon； and supper the cows。 I want to speak to
mother alone。〃
When he entered the house…place； she was sitting before the fire；
looking into its embers。 She did not hear him come in： for some
time she had lost her quick perception of outward things。
〃Mother！ what's this about going to Manchester？〃 asked he。
〃Oh； lad！〃 said she； turning round； and speaking in a beseeching
tone； 〃I must go and seek our Lizzie。 I cannot rest here for
thinking on her。 Many's the time I've left thy father sleeping in
bed； and stole to th' window； and looked and looked my heart out
towards Manchester； till I thought I must just set out and tramp over
moor and moss straight away till I got there； and then lift up every
downcast face till I came to our Lizzie。 And often； when the south
wind was blowing soft among the hollows； I've fancied （it could but
be fancy； thou knowest） I heard her crying upon me； and I've thought
the voice came closer and closer； till at last it was sobbing out；
'Mother！' close to the door； and I've stolen down； and undone the
latch before now； and looked out into the still； black night；
thinking to see herand turned sick and sorrowful when I heard no
living sound but the sough of the wind dying away。 Oh； speak not to
me of stopping here； when she may be perishing for hunger； like the
poor lad in the parable。〃 And now she lifted up her voice； and wept
aloud。
Will was deeply grieved。 He had been old enough to be told the
family shame when； more than two years before； his father had had his
letter to his daughter returned by her mistress in Manchester；
telling him that Lizzie had left her service some timeand why。 He
had sympathized with his father's stern anger； though he had thought
him something hard； it is true； when he had forbidden his weeping；
heart…broken wife to go and try to find her poor sinning child； and
declared that henceforth they would have no daughter； that she should
be as one dead； and her name never more be named at market or at meal
time； in blessing or in prayer。 He had held his peace； with
compressed lips and contracted brow； when the neighbours had noticed
to him how poor Lizzie's death had aged both his father and his
mother； and how they thought the bereaved couple would never hold up
their heads again。 He himself had felt as if that one event had made
him old before his time； and had envied Tom the tears he had shed
over poor； pretty； innocent； dead Lizzie。 He thought about her
sometimes； till he ground his teeth together； and could have struck
her down in her shame。 His mother had never named her to him until
now。
〃Mother！〃 said he； at last。 〃She may be dead。 Most likely she is〃
〃No； Will； she is not dead；〃 said Mrs。 Leigh。 〃God will not let her
die till I've seen her once again。 Thou dost not know how I've
prayed and prayed just once again to see her sweet face； and tell her
I've forgiven her； though she's broken my heartshe has； Will。〃 She
could not go on for a minute or two for the choking sobs。 〃Thou dost
not know that； or thou wouldst not say she could be deadfor God is
very merciful； Will； He is： He is much more pitiful than man。 I
could never ha' spoken to thy father as I did to Himand yet thy
father forgave her at last。 The last words he said were that he
forgave her。 Thou'lt not be harder than thy father； Will？ Do not
try and hinder me going to seek her； for it's no use。〃
Will sat very still for a long time before he spoke。 At last he
said； 〃I'll not hinder you。 I think she's dead； but that's no
matter。〃
〃She's not dead；〃 said her mother； with low earnestness。 Will took
no notice of the interruption。
〃We will all go to Manchester for a twelvemonth； and let the farm to
Tom Higginbotham。 I'll get blacksmith's work； and Tom can have good
schooling for awhile； which he's always craving fo