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〃I can't forget；〃 said she。 She meant she could not forget what the
doctor had said about the hopelessness of her brother's case； Michael
had referred to the plan of sending Willie to an asylum； or madhouse；
as they were called in that day and place。 The idea had been
gathering force in Michael's mind for some time； he had talked it
over with his father； and secretly rejoiced over the possession of
the farm and land which would then be his in fact； if not in law； by
right of his wife。 He had always considered the good penny her
father could give her in his catalogue of Susan's charms and
attractions。 But of late he had grown to esteem her as the heiress
of Yew Nook。 He； too； should have land like his brotherland to
possess； to cultivate； to make profit from； to bequeath。 For some
time he had wondered that Susan had been so much absorbed in Willie's
present； that she had never seemed to look forward to his future；
state。 Michael had long felt the boy to be a trouble； but of late he
had absolutely loathed him。 His gibbering； his uncouth gestures； his
loose； shambling gait； all irritated Michael inexpressibly。 He did
not come near the Yew Nook for a couple of days。 He thought that he
would leave her time to become anxious to see him and reconciled to
his plan。 They were strange lonely days to Susan。 They were the
first she had spent face to face with the sorrows that had turned her
from a girl into a woman； for hitherto Michael had never let twenty…
four hours pass by without coming to see her since she had had the
fever。 Now that he was absent； it seemed as though some cause of
irritation was removed from Will； who was much more gentle and
tractable than he had been for many weeks。 Susan thought that she
observed him making efforts at her bidding； and there was something
piteous in the way in which he crept up to her； and looked wistfully
in her face； as if asking her to restore him the faculties that he
felt to be wanting。
〃I never will let thee go； lad。 Never！ There's no knowing where
they would take thee to； or what they would do with thee。 As it says
in the Bible； 'Nought but death shall part thee and me！'〃
The country…side was full； in those days； of stories of the brutal
treatment offered to the insane； stories that were； in fact； but too
well founded； and the truth of one of which only would have been a
sufficient reason for the strong prejudice existing against all such
places。 Each succeeding hour that Susan passed； alone； or with the
poor affectionate lad for her sole companion； served to deepen her
solemn resolution never to part with him。 So； when Michael came； he
was annoyed and surprised by the calm way in which she spoke； as if
following Dr。 Preston's advice was utterly and entirely out of the
question。 He had expected nothing less than a consent； reluctant it
might be； but still a consent； and he was extremely irritated。 He
could have repressed his anger； but he chose rather to give way to
it； thinking that he could thus best work upon Susan's affection； so
as to gain his point。 But； somehow； he over…reached himself； and now
he was astonished in his turn at the passion of indignation that she
burst into。
〃Thou wilt not bide in the same house with him； say'st thou？ There's
no need for thy biding； as far as I can tell。 There's solemn reason
why I should bide with my own flesh and blood and keep to the word I
pledged my mother on her death…bed； but； as for thee； there's no tie
that I know on to keep thee fro' going to America or Botany Bay this
very night； if that were thy inclination。 I will have no more of
your threats to make me send my bairn away。 If thou marry me；
thou'lt help me to take charge of Willie。 If thou doesn't choose to
marry me on those termswhy； I can snap my fingers at thee； never
fear。 I'm not so far gone in love as that。 But I will not have
thee； if thou say'st in such a hectoring way that Willie must go out
of the houseand the house his own toobefore thoul't set foot in
it。 Willie bides here； and I bide with him。〃
〃Thou hast may…be spoken a word too much；〃 said Michael； pale with
rage。 〃If I am free； as thou say'st； to go to Canada； or Botany Bay；
I reckon I'm free to live where I like； and that will not be with a
natural who may turn into a madman some day； for aught I know。
Choose between him and me； Susy； for I swear to thee； thou shan't
have both。〃
〃I have chosen；〃 said Susan； now perfectly composed and still。
〃Whatever comes of it； I bide with Willie。〃
〃Very well；〃 replied Michael； trying to assume an equal composure of
manner。 〃Then I'll wish you a very good night。〃 He went out of the
house door； half…expecting to be called back again； but； instead； he
heard a hasty step inside； and a bolt drawn。
〃Whew！〃 said he to himself； 〃I think I must leave my lady alone for a
week or two； and give her time to come to her senses。 She'll not
find it so easy as she thinks to let me go。〃
So he went past the kitchen…window in nonchalant style； and was not
seen again at Yew Nook for some weeks。 How did he pass the time？
For the first day or two； he was unusually cross with all things and
people that came athwart him。 Then wheat…harvest began； and he was
busy； and exultant about his heavy crop。 Then a man came from a
distance to bid for the lease of his farm； which； by his father's
advice； had been offered for sale； as he himself was so soon likely
to remove to the Yew Nook。 He had so little idea that Susan really
would remain firm to her determination； that he at once began to
haggle with the man who came after his farm； showed him the crop just
got in； and managed skilfully enough to make a good bargain for
himself。 Of course； the bargain had to be sealed at the public…
house； and the companions he met with there soon became friends
enough to tempt him into Langdale； where again he met with Eleanor
Hebthwaite。
How did Susan pass the time？ For the first day or so； she was too
angry and offended to cry。 She went about her household duties in a
quick； sharp； jerking； yet absent way； shrinking one moment from
Will； overwhelming him with remorseful caresses the next。 The third
day of Michael's absence； she had the relief of a good fit of crying；
and after that； she grew softer and more tender； she felt how harshly
she had spoken to him； and remembered how angry she had been。 She
made excuses for him。 〃It was no wonder；〃 she said to herself； 〃that
he had been vexed with her； and no wonder he would not give in； when
she had never tried to speak gently or to reason with him。 She was
to blame； and she would tell him so； and tell him once again all that
her mother had bade her to be to Willie； and all the horrible stories
she had heard about madhouses； and he would be on her side at once。〃
And so she watched for his coming； intending to apologise as soon as
ever she saw him。 She hurried over her household work； in o