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sewing； but in reality to be able to see her better。 She could not
stand this much longer； but jumped up and said she must put her
little niece to bed； and surely there never was； before or since； so
troublesome a child of two years old； for though Will stayed an hour
and a half longer； she never came down again。 He won the father's
heart； though； by his capacity as a listener； for some people are not
at all particular； and； so that they themselves may talk on
undisturbed； are not so unreasonable as to expect attention to what
they say。
Will did gather this much； however； from the old man's talk。 He had
once been quite in a genteel line of business； but had failed for
more money than any greengrocer he had heard of； at least； any who
did not mix up fish and game with green…grocery proper。 This grand
failure seemed to have been the event of his life； and one on which
he dwelt with a strange kind of pride。 It appeared as if at present
he rested from his past exertions （in the bankrupt line）； and
depended on his daughter； who kept a small school for very young
children。 But all these particulars Will only remembered and
understood when he had left the house； at the time he heard them； he
was thinking of Susan。 After he had made good his footing at Mr。
Palmer's； he was not long； you may be sure； without finding some
reason for returning again and again。 He listened to her father； he
talked to the little niece； but he looked at Susan； both while he
listened and while he talked。 Her father kept on insisting upon his
former gentility； the details of which would have appeared very
questionable to Will's mind； if the sweet； delicate； modest Susan had
not thrown an inexplicable air of refinement over all she came near。
She never spoke much； she was generally diligently at work； but when
she moved it was so noiselessly； and when she did speak； it was in so
low and soft a voice； that silence； speech； motion； and stillness
alike seemed to remove her high above Will's reach into some saintly
and inaccessible air of gloryhigh above his reach； even as she knew
him！ And； if she were made acquainted with the dark secret behind of
his sister's shame； which was kept ever present to his mind by his
mother's nightly search among the outcast and forsaken； would not
Susan shrink away from him with loathing； as if he were tainted by
the involuntary relationship？ This was his dread； and thereupon
followed a resolution that he would withdraw from her sweet company
before it was too late。 So he resisted internal temptation； and
stayed at home； and suffered and sighed。 He became angry with his
mother for her untiring patience in seeking for one who he could not
help hoping was dead rather than alive。 He spoke sharply to her； and
received only such sad deprecatory answers as made him reproach
himself； and still more lose sight of peace of mind。 This struggle
could not last long without affecting his health； and Tom； his sole
companion through the long evenings； noticed his increasing languor；
his restless irritability； with perplexed anxiety； and at last
resolved to call his mother's attention to his brother's haggard；
careworn looks。 She listened with a startled recollection of Will's
claims upon her love。 She noticed his decreasing appetite and half…
checked sighs。
〃Will； lad！ what's come o'er thee？〃 said she to him； as he sat
listlessly gazing into the fire。
〃There's nought the matter with me；〃 said he； as if annoyed at her
remark。
〃Nay； lad； but there is。〃 He did not speak again to contradict her；
indeed； she did not know if he had heard her； so unmoved did he look。
〃Wouldst like to go to Upclose Farm？〃 asked she； sorrowfully。
〃It's just blackberrying time；〃 said Tom。
Will shook his head。 She looked at him awhile； as if trying to read
that expression of despondency； and trace it back to its source。
〃Will and Tom could go；〃 said she； 〃I must stay here till I've found
her； thou knowest；〃 continued she； dropping her voice。
He turned quickly round； and with the authority he at all times
exercised over Tom； bade him begone to bed。
When Tom had left the room； he prepared to speak。
CHAPTER II。
〃Mother；〃 then said Will； 〃why will you keep on thinking she's alive？
If she were but dead； we need never name her name again。 We've never
heard nought on her since father wrote her that letter； we never knew
whether she got it or not。 She'd left her place before then。 Many a
one dies in〃
〃Oh； my lad！ dunnot speak so to me； or my heart will break outright；〃
said his mother； with a sort of cry。 Then she calmed herself； for
she yearned to persuade him to her own belief。 〃Thou never asked；
and thou'rt too like thy father for me to tell without askingbut it
were all to be near Lizzie's old place that I settled down on this
side o' Manchester； and the very day at after we came； I went to her
old missus； and asked to speak a word wi' her。 I had a strong mind
to cast it up to her； that she should ha' sent my poor lass away；
without telling on it to us first； but she were in black； and looked
so sad I could na' find in my heart to threep it up。 But I did ask
her a bit about our Lizzie。 The master would have turned her away at
a day's warning （he's gone to t'other place； I hope he'll meet wi'
more mercy there than he showed our LizzieI do）； and when the
missus asked her should she write to us； she says Lizzie shook her
head； and when she speered at her again； the poor lass went down on
her knees； and begged her not； for she said it would break my heart
（as it has done； WillGod knows it has）；〃 said the poor mother；
choking with her struggle to keep down her hard overmastering grief；
〃and her father would curse herOh； God； teach me to be patient。〃
She could not speak for a few minutes〃and the lass threatened； and
said she'd go drown herself in the canal； if the missus wrote home
and so …
〃Well！ I'd got a trace of my childthe missus thought she'd gone to
th' workhouse to be nursed； and there I wentand there； sure enough；
she had beenand they'd turned her out as she were strong； and told
her she were young enough to workbut whatten kind o' work would be
open to her； lad； and her baby to keep？〃
Will listened to his mother's tale with deep sympathy； not unmixed
with the old bitter shame。 But the opening of her heart had unlocked
his； and after awhile he spoke …
〃Mother！ I think I'd e'en better go home。 Tom can stay wi' thee。 I
know I should stay too； but I cannot stay in peace so nearher
without craving to see herSusan Palmer； I mean。〃
〃Has the old Mr。 Palmer thou telled me on a daughter？〃 asked Mrs。
Leigh。
〃Ay； he has。 And I love her above a bit。 And it's because I love
her I want to leave Manchester。 That's all。〃
Mrs。 Leigh tried to understand this speech for some time； but found
it difficult of interpretation。
〃Why shouldst thou