Thenhesatnearthefire-placefromhabit，smoking，orchewingopium。
Oh，howMaryloathedthatsmell!Andinthedusk，lustbeforeitmergedintotheshortsummernight，shehadlearnedtolookwithdreadtowardsthewindow，whichnowherfatherwouldhavekeptuncurtained；fortherewerenotseldomseensightswhichhauntedherinherdreams。Strangefacesofpalemen，withdarkglaringeyes，peeredintotheinnerdarkness，andseemeddesiroustoascertainifherfatherwasathome。Orahandandarmthebodyhiddenwasputwithinthedoor，andbeckonedhimaway。Healwayswent。Andonceortwice，whenMarywasinbed，sheheardmen’svoicesbelow，inearnest，whisperedtalk。Theywerealldesperatemembersoftrades’unions，readforanything；
madereadybywant。WhileallthischangeforgloomyetstruckfreshandheavyonMary’sheart，herfatherstartledheroutofareverieoneevening，byaskingherwhenshehadbeentoseeJaneWilson。Fromhismannerofspeaking，shewasmadeawarethathehadbeen；butatthetimeofhisvisithehadnevermentionedanythingaboutit。Now，however，hegrufflytoldhertogonextdaywithoutfail，andaddedsomeabuseofherfornothavingbeenbefore。Thelittleoutwardimpulseofherfather’sspeechgaveMarythepushwhichsheinthisinstancerequired；andaccordingly，timinghervisitsoastoavoidJem’shoursathome，shewentthefollowingafternoontoAncoats。Theoutsideofthewell-knownhousestruckherasdifferent；forthedoorwasclosed，insteadofopen，asitoncehadalwaysstood。Thewindow-plants，GeorgeWilson’sprideandespecialcare，lookedwitheringanddrooping。
Theyhadbeenwithoutwaterforalongtime，andnow，whenthewidowhadreproachedherselfseverelyforneglect，inherignorantanxietyshegavethemtoomuch。Onopeningthedoor，Alicewasseen，notstirringaboutinherhabitualway，butknittingbythefire-side。Theroomfelthot，althoughthefireburntgreyanddim，underthebrightraysoftheafternoonsun。MrsWilsonwas“siding“thedinnerthings，andtalkingallthetime，inakindofwhining，shoutingvoice，whichMarydidnotatfirstunderstand。
Sheunderstoodatonce，however，thatherabsencehadbeennoted，andtalkedover；shesawaconstrainedlookonMrsWilson’ssorrow-strickenface，whichtoldherascoldingwastocome。“DearMary，isthatyou？“shebegan。“Why，whowouldha’dreamtofseeingyou!Wethoughtyou’dcleanforgottenus；andJemhasoftenwonderedifheshouldknowyou，ifhemetyouinthestreet。“Now，poorJaneWilsonhadbeensorelytried；andatpresenthertrialshadhadnooutwardeffect，butthatofincreasedacerbityoftemper。ShewishedtoshowMaryhowmuchshewasoffended，andmeanttostrengthenhercause，byputtingsomeofherownsharpspeechesintoJem’smouth。Maryfeltguilty，andhadnogoodreasontogiveasanapology；soforaminuteshestoodsilent，lookingverymuchashamed，andthenturnedtospeaktoAuntAlice，who，inhersurprised，heartygreetingtoMary，haddroppedherballofworsted，andwasbusytryingtosetthethreadtorights，beforethekittenhaden-tangleditpastredemption，onceroundeverychair，andtwiceroundthetable。“Youmunspeaklouderthanthat，ifyoumeanhertohear；she’sbecomeasdeafasapostthislastfewweeks。I’dha’toldyou，ifI’drememberedhowlongitweresin’you’dseenher。““Yes，mydear，I’mgettingveryhardo’hearingoflate，“saidAlice，catchingthestateofthecase，withherquick-glancingeyes。“Isupposeit’sthebeginningofth’end。““Don’ttalko’thatway，“screamedhersister-in-law。“We’vehadenowofendsanddeathswithoutforecastingmore。“Shecoveredherfacewithherapron，andsatdowntocry。“Hewassuchagoodhusband，“saidshe，inalessexcitedtone，toMary，asshelookedupwithtear-streamingeyesfrombehindherapron。“NoonecantellwhatI’velostinhim，fornooneknewhisworthlikeme。“Mary’slisteningsympathysoftenedher，andshewentontounburdenherheavy-ladenheart。“Eh，dear，dear!NooneknowswhatI’velost。Whenmypoorboyswent，I