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When Susan； his daughter； was about seventeen； one Michael Hurst was
farm…servant at Yew Nook。 He worked with the master； and lived with
the family； and was in all respects treated as an equal； except in
the field。 His father was a wealthy statesman at Wythburne； up
beyond Grasmere； and through Michael's servitude the families had
become acquainted； and the Dixons went over to the High Beck sheep…
shearing； and the Hursts came down by Red Bank and Loughrig Tarn and
across the Oxenfell when there was the Christmas…tide feasting at Yew
Nook。 The fathers strolled round the fields together； examined
cattle and sheep； and looked knowing over each other's horses。 The
mothers inspected the dairies and household arrangements； each openly
admiring the plans of the other； but secretly preferring their own。
Both fathers and mothers cast a glance from time to time at Michael
and Susan； who were thinking of nothing less than farm or dairy； but
whose unspoken attachment was； in all ways； so suitable and natural a
thing that each parent rejoiced over it； although with characteristic
reserve it was never spoken aboutnot even between husband and wife。
Susan had been a strong； independent； healthy girl； a clever help to
her mother； and a spirited companion to her father； more of a man in
her （as he often said） than her delicate little brother ever would
have。 He was his mother's darling； although she loved Susan well。
There was no positive engagement between Michael and SusanI doubt
whether even plain words of love had been spoken； when one winter…
time Margaret Dixon was seized with inflammation consequent upon a
neglected cold。 She had always been strong and notable； and had been
too busy to attend to the early symptoms of illness。 It would go
off； she said to the woman who helped in the kitchen； or if she did
not feel better when they had got the hams and bacon out of hand； she
would take some herb…tea and nurse up a bit。 But Death could not
wait till the hams and bacon were cured： he came on with rapid
strides； and shooting arrows of portentous agony。 Susan had never
seen illnessnever knew how much she loved her mother till now； when
she felt a dreadful； instinctive certainty that she was losing her。
Her mind was thronged with recollections of the many times she had
slighted her mother's wishes； her heart was full of the echoes of
careless and angry replies that she had spoken。 What would she not
now give to have opportunities of service and obedience； and trials
of her patience and love； for that dear mother who lay gasping in
torture！ And yet Susan had been a good girl and an affectionate
daughter。
The sharp pain went off； and delicious ease came on； yet still her
mother sunk。 In the midst of this languid peace she was dying。 She
motioned Susan to her bedside； for she could only whisper； and then；
while the father was out of the room； she spoke as much to the eager；
hungering eyes of her daughter by the motion of her lips； as by the
slow； feeble sounds of her voice。
〃Susan； lass； thou must not fret。 It is God's will； and thou wilt
have a deal to do。 Keep father straight if thou canst； and if he
goes out Ulverstone ways； see that thou meet him before he gets to
the Old Quarry。 It's a dree bit for a man who has had a drop。 As
for lile Will〃Here the poor woman's face began to work and her
fingers to move nervously as they lay on the bed…quilt〃lile Will
will miss me most of all。 Father's often vexed with him because he's
not a quick strong lad； he is not； my poor lile chap。 And father
thinks he's saucy； because he cannot always stomach oat…cake and
porridge。 There's better than three pound in th' old black tea…pot
on the top shelf of the cupboard。 Just keep a piece of loaf…bread by
you； Susan dear； for Will to come to when he's not taken his
breakfast。 I have； may be； spoilt him； but there'll be no one to
spoil him now。〃
She began to cry a low； feeble cry； and covered up her face that
Susan might not see her。 That dear face！ those precious moments
while yet the eyes could look out with love and intelligence。 Susan
laid her head down close by her mother's ear。
〃Mother I'll take tent of Will。 Mother； do you hear？ He shall not
want ought I can give or get for him； least of all the kind words
which you had ever ready for us both。 Bless you！ bless you！ my own
mother。〃
〃Thou'lt promise me that； Susan； wilt thou？ I can die easy if
thou'lt take charge of him。 But he's hardly like other folk； he
tries father at times； though I think father'll be tender of him when
I'm gone； for my sake。 And； Susan； there's one thing more。 I never
spoke on it for fear of the bairn being called a tell…tale； but I
just comforted him up。 He vexes Michael at times； and Michael has
struck him before now。 I did not want to make a stir； but he's not
strong； and a word from thee； Susan； will go a long way with
Michael。〃
Susan was as red now as she had been pale before； it was the first
time that her influence over Michael had been openly acknowledged by
a third person； and a flash of joy came athwart the solemn sadness of
the moment。 Her mother had spoken too much； and now came on the
miserable faintness。 She never spoke again coherently； but when her
children and her husband stood by her bedside； she took lile Will's
hand and put it into Susan's； and looked at her with imploring eyes。
Susan clasped her arms round Will； and leaned her head upon his
little curly one； and vowed within herself to be as a mother to him。
Henceforward she was all in all to her brother。 She was a more
spirited and amusing companion to him than his mother had been； from
her greater activity； and perhaps； also； from her originality of
character； which often prompted her to perform her habitual actions
in some new and racy manner。 She was tender to lile Will when she
was prompt and sharp with everybody elsewith Michael most of all；
for somehow the girl felt that； unprotected by her mother； she must
keep up her own dignity； and not allow her lover to see how strong a
hold he had upon her heart。 He called her hard and cruel； and left
her so； and she smiled softly to herself； when his back was turned；
to think how little he guessed how deeply he was loved。 For Susan
was merely comely and fine looking； Michael was strikingly handsome；
admired by all the girls for miles round； and quite enough of a
country coxcomb to know it and plume himself accordingly。 He was the
second son of his father； the eldest would have High Beck farm； of
course； but there was a good penny in the Kendal bank in store for
Michael。 When harvest was over； he went to Chapel Langdale to learn
to dance； and at night； in his merry moods； he would do his steps on
the flag floor of the Yew Nook kitchen； to the secret admiration of
Susan； who had never learned dancing； but who flouted him
perpetually； even while she admired； in accordance with the rule she