按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
it difficult of interpretation。
〃Why shouldst thou not tell her thou lov'st her？ Thou'rt a likely
lad； and sure o' work。 Thou'lt have Upclose at my death； and as for
that； I could let thee have it now； and keep mysel' by doing a bit of
charring。 It seems to me a very backwards sort o' way of winning her
to think of leaving Manchester。〃
〃Oh； mother； she's so gentle and so goodshe's downright holy。
She's never known a touch of sin； and can I ask her to marry me；
knowing what we do about Lizzie； and fearing worse？ I doubt if one
like her could ever care for me； but if she knew about my sister； it
would put a gulf between us； and she'd shudder up at the thought of
crossing it。 You don't know how good she is； mother！〃
〃Will； Will！ if she's so good as thou say'st； she'll have pity on
such as my Lizzie。 If she has no pity for such； she's a cruel
Pharisee； and thou'rt best without her。〃
But he only shook his head； and sighed； and for the time the
conversation dropped。
But a new idea sprang up in Mrs。 Leigh's head。 She thought that she
would go and see Susan Palmer； and speak up for Will； and tell her
the truth about Lizzie； and according to her pity for the poor
sinner； would she be worthy or unworthy of him。 She resolved to go
the very next afternoon； but without telling any one of her plan。
Accordingly she looked out the Sunday clothes she had never before
had the heart to unpack since she came to Manchester； but which she
now desired to appear in； in order to do credit to Will。 She put on
her old…fashioned black mode bonnet； trimmed with real lace； her
scarlet cloth cloak； which she had had ever since she was married；
and； always spotlessly clean； she set forth on her unauthorised
embassy。 She knew the Palmers lived in Crown Street； though where
she had heard it she could not tell； and modestly asking her way； she
arrived in the street about a quarter to four o'clock。 She stopped
to enquire the exact number； and the woman whom she addressed told
her that Susan Palmer's school would not be loosed till four； and
asked her to step in and wait until then at her house。
〃For；〃 said she； smiling； 〃them that wants Susan Palmer wants a kind
friend of ours； so we； in a manner； call cousins。 Sit down； missus；
sit down。 I'll wipe the chair； so that it shanna dirty your cloak。
My mother used to wear them bright cloaks； and they're right gradely
things again a green field。〃
〃Han ye known Susan Palmer long？〃 asked Mrs。 Leigh； pleased with the
admiration of her cloak。
〃Ever since they comed to live in our street。 Our Sally goes to her
school。〃
〃Whatten sort of a lass is she； for I ha' never seen her？〃
〃Well； as for looks； I cannot say。 It's so long since I first knowed
her； that I've clean forgotten what I thought of her then。 My master
says he never saw such a smile for gladdening the heart。 But maybe
it's not looks you're asking about。 The best thing I can say of her
looks is； that she's just one a stranger would stop in the street to
ask help from if he needed it。 All the little childer creeps as
close as they can to her； she'll have as many as three or four
hanging to her apron all at once。〃
〃Is she cocket at all？〃
〃Cocket； bless you！ you never saw a creature less set up in all your
life。 Her father's cocket enough。 No！ she's not cocket any way。
You've not heard much of Susan Palmer； I reckon； if you think she's
cocket。 She's just one to come quietly in； and do the very thing
most wanted； little things； maybe； that any one could do； but that
few would think on； for another。 She'll bring her thimble wi' her；
and mend up after the childer o' nights； and she writes all Betty
Harker's letters to her grandchild out at service； and she's in
nobody's way； and that's a great matter； I take it。 Here's the
childer running past！ School is loosed。 You'll find her now；
missus； ready to hear and to help。 But we none on us frab her by
going near her in school…time。〃
Poor Mrs。 Leigh's heart began to beat； and she could almost have
turned round and gone home again。 Her country breeding had made her
shy of strangers； and this Susan Palmer appeared to her like a real
born lady by all accounts。 So she knocked with a timid feeling at
the indicated door； and when it was opened； dropped a simple curtsey
without speaking。 Susan had her little niece in her arms； curled up
with fond endearment against her breast； but she put her gently down
to the ground； and instantly placed a chair in the best corner of the
room for Mrs。 Leigh； when she told her who she was。 〃It's not Will
as has asked me to come；〃 said the mother； apologetically； 〃I'd a
wish just to speak to you myself！〃
Susan coloured up to her temples； and stooped to pick up the little
toddling girl。 In a minute or two Mrs。 Leigh began again。
〃Will thinks you would na respect us if you knew all； but I think you
could na help feeling for us in the sorrow God has put upon us； so I
just put on my bonnet； and came off unknownst to the lads。 Every one
says you're very good； and that the Lord has keeped you from falling
from His ways； but maybe you've never yet been tried and tempted as
some is。 I'm perhaps speaking too plain； but my heart's welly
broken； and I can't be choice in my words as them who are happy can。
Well now！ I'll tell you the truth。 Will dreads you to hear it； but
I'll just tell it you。 You mun know〃 but here the poor woman's
words failed her； and she could do nothing but sit rocking herself
backwards and forwards； with sad eyes； straight…gazing into Susan's
face； as if they tried to tell the tale of agony which the quivering
lips refused to utter。 Those wretched； stony eyes forced the tears
down Susan's cheeks； and； as if this sympathy gave the mother
strength； she went on in a low voice〃I had a daughter once； my
heart's darling。 Her father thought I made too much on her； and that
she'd grow marred staying at home； so he said she mun go among
strangers and learn to rough it。 She were young； and liked the
thought of seeing a bit of the world； and her father heard on a place
in Manchester。 Well！ I'll not weary you。 That poor girl were led
astray； and first thing we heard on it； was when a letter of her
father's was sent back by her missus； saying she'd left her place；
or； to speak right； the master had turned her into the street soon as
he had heard of her conditionand she not seventeen！〃
She now cried aloud； and Susan wept too。 The little child looked up
into their faces； and； catching their sorrow； began to whimper and
wail。 Susan took it softly up； and hiding her face in its little
neck； tried to restrain her tears； and think of comfort for the
mother。 At last she said …
〃Where is she now？〃
〃Lass！ I dunnot know；〃 said Mrs。 Leigh； checking her sobs to
communicate this addition to her distress。 〃Mrs。 Lomax telled me she
went〃
〃Mrs。 Lomaxwhat Mrs。 Lomax？〃