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Tom Higginbotham。 I'll get blacksmith's work； and Tom can have good
schooling for awhile； which he's always craving for。 At the end of
the year you'll come back； mother； and give over fretting for Lizzie；
and think with me that she is deadand； to my mind； that would be
more comfort than to think of her living；〃 he dropped his voice as he
spoke these last words。 She shook her head but made no answer。 He
asked again〃Will you； mother； agree to this？〃
〃I'll agree to it a…this…ns；〃 said she。 〃If I hear and see nought of
her for a twelvemonth； me being in Manchester looking out； I'll just
ha' broken my heart fairly before the year's ended； and then I shall
know neither love nor sorrow for her any more； when I'm at rest in my
grave。 I'll agree to that； Will。〃
〃Well； I suppose it must be so。 I shall not tell Tom； mother； why
we're flitting to Manchester。 Best spare him。〃
〃As thou wilt；〃 said she； sadly； 〃so that we go； that's all。〃
Before the wild daffodils were in flower in the sheltered copses
round Upclose Farm； the Leighs were settled in their Manchester home；
if they could ever grow to consider that place as a home； where there
was no garden or outbuilding； no fresh breezy outlet； no far…
stretching view； over moor and hollow； no dumb animals to be tended；
and； what more than all they missed； no old haunting memories； even
though those remembrances told of sorrow； and the dead and gone。
Mrs。 Leigh heeded the loss of all these things less than her sons。
She had more spirit in her countenance than she had had for months；
because now she had hope； of a sad enough kind； to be sure； but still
it was hope。 She performed all her household duties； strange and
complicated as they were； and bewildered as she was with all the town
necessities of her new manner of life； but when her house was
〃sided；〃 and the boys come home from their work in the evening； she
would put on her things and steal out； unnoticed； as she thought； but
not without many a heavy sigh from Will； after she had closed the
house…door and departed。 It was often past midnight before she came
back； pale and weary； with almost a guilty look upon her face； but
that face so full of disappointment and hope deferred； that Will had
never the heart to say what he thought of the folly and hopelessness
of the search。 Night after night it was renewed； till days grew to
weeks； and weeks to months。 All this time Will did his duty towards
her as well as he could； without having sympathy with her。 He stayed
at home in the evenings for Tom's sake； and often wished he had Tom's
pleasure in reading； for the time hung heavy on his hands as he sat
up for his mother。
I need not tell you how the mother spent the weary hours。 And yet I
will tell you something。 She used to wander out； at first as if
without a purpose； till she rallied her thoughts； and brought all her
energies to bear on the one point； then she went with earnest
patience along the least…known ways to some new part of the town；
looking wistfully with dumb entreaty into people's faces； sometimes
catching a glimpse of a figure which had a kind of momentary likeness
to her child's； and following that figure with never…wearying
perseverance； till some light from shop or lamp showed the cold
strange face which was not her daughter's。 Once or twice a kind…
hearted passer…by； struck by her look of yearning woe； turned back
and offered help； or asked her what she wanted。 When so spoken to；
she answered only； 〃You don't know a poor girl they call Lizzie
Leigh； do you？〃 and when they denied all knowledge； she shook her
head； and went on again。 I think they believed her to be crazy。 But
she never spoke first to any one。 She sometimes took a few minutes'
rest on the door…steps； and sometimes （very seldom） covered her face
and cried； but she could not afford to lose time and chances in this
way； while her eyes were blinded with tears； the lost one might pass
by unseen。
One evening； in the rich time of shortening autumn…days； Will saw an
old man； who； without being absolutely drunk； could not guide himself
rightly along the foot…path； and was mocked for his unsteadiness of
gait by the idle boys of the neighbourhood。 For his father's sake；
Will regarded old age with tenderness； even when most degraded and
removed from the stern virtues which dignified that father； so he
took the old man home； and seemed to believe his often…repeated
assertions； that he drank nothing but water。 The stranger tried to
stiffen himself up into steadiness as he drew nearer home； as if
there some one there for whose respect he cared even in his half…
intoxicated state； or whose feelings he feared to grieve。 His home
was exquisitely clean and neat； even in outside appearance；
threshold； window； and windowsill were outward signs of some spirit
of purity within。 Will was rewarded for his attention by a bright
glance of thanks； succeeded by a blush of shame； from a young woman
of twenty or thereabouts。 She did not speak or second her father's
hospitable invitations to him to be seated。 She seemed unwilling
that a stranger should witness her father's attempts at stately
sobriety； and Will could not bear to stay and see her distress。 But
when the old man； with many a flabby shake of the hand； kept asking
him to come again some other evening； and see them； Will sought her
downcast eyes； and； though he could not read their veiled meaning； he
answered； timidly； 〃If it's agreeable to everybody； I'll come； and
thank ye。〃 But there was no answer from the girl； to whom this
speech was in reality addressed； and Will left the house； liking her
all the better for never speaking。
He thought about her a great deal for the next day or two； he scolded
himself for being so foolish as to think of her； and then fell to
with fresh vigour； and thought of her more than ever。 He tried to
depreciate her： he told himself she was not pretty； and then made
indignant answer that he liked her looks much better than any beauty
of them all。 He wished he was not so country…looking； so red…faced；
so broad…shouldered； while she was like a lady； with her smooth；
colourless complexion； her bright dark hair； and her spotless dress。
Pretty or not pretty she drew his footsteps towards her； he could not
resist the impulse that made him wish to see her once more； and find
out some fault which should unloose his heart from her unconscious
keeping。 But there she was； pure and maidenly as before。 He sat and
looked； answering her father at cross…purposes； while she drew more
and more into the shadow of the chimney…corner out of sight。 Then
the spirit that possessed him （it was not he himself； sure； that did
so impudent a thing！） made him get up and carry the candle to a
different place； under the pretence of giving her more light at her
sewing； but in reality to be able to see her better。 She could not
stand this much longer； but jumped up and s