acknowledgingherself，andtheadditionalweighttoherrevelationwhichsuchacknowledgmentwouldgive。Thenshespoke，“DoyourememberEsther，thesisterofJohnBarton’swife？theaunttoMary？AndtheValentineIsentyoulastFebruarytenyears？““Yes，Imindherwell!ButyoarenotEsther，areyou？“Helookedagainintoherface，andseeingthatindeeditwashisboyhood’sfriend，hetookherhand，andshookitwithacordialitythatforgotthepresentinthepast。“Why，Esther!Wherehanyebeenthismanyayear？Wherehanyebeenwanderingthatwenoneofuscouldfindyouout？“Thequestionwasaskedthoughtlessly，butansweredwithfierceearnestness。“WherehaveIbeen？WhathaveIbeendoing？Whydoyoutormentmewithquestionslikethese？Canyounotguess？Butthestoryofmylifeiswantedtogiveforcetomyspeech，afterwardsIwilltellityou。Nay!don’tchangeyourficklemindnow，andsayyoudon’twanttohearit。Youmusthearit，andImusttellit；andthenseeafterMary，andtakecareshedoesnotbecomelikeme。Assheislovingnow，sodidIloveonce，oneabovemefar。“Sheremarkednot，inherownabsorption，thechangeinJem’sbreathing，thesuddenclutchatthewallwhichtoldthefearfullyvividinteresthetookinwhatshesaid。“Hewassohandsome，sokindIWell，theregimentwasorderedtoChesterdidItellyouhewasanofficer？，andhecouldnotbeartopartfromme，norIfromhim，sohetookmewithhim。IneverthoughtpoorMarywouldhavetakenitsotoheart!IalwaysmeanttosendforhertopaymeavisitwhenIwasmarried；for，markyou!hepromisedmemarriage。Theyalldo。Thencamethreeyearsofhappiness。IsupposeIoughtnottohavebeenhappy，butIwas。Ihadalittlegirl，too。Oh!
thesweetestdarlingthateverwasseen!ButImustnotthinkofher，“
puttingherhandwildlyuptoherforehead，“orIshallgomad；Ishall。““Don’ttellmeanymoreaboutyoursel，“saidJem，soothingly。“What!you’retiredalready，areyou？butIwilltellyou；asyou’veaskedforit，youshallhearit。Iwon’trecalltheagonyofthepastfornothing。
Iwillhavethereliefoftellingit。Oh，howhappyIwas!“sinkinghervoiceintoaplaintive，child-likemanner。“ItcamelikeashotonmewhenonedayhecametomeandtoldmehewasorderedtoIreland，andmustleavemebehind；atBristolwethenwere。“Jemmutteredsomewords；shecaughttheirmeaning，andinapleadingvoicecontinued，“Oh，don’tabusehim；don’tspeakawordagainsthim!Youdon’tknowhowIlovehimyet；yet，whenIamsunksolow。Youdon’tguesshowkindhewas。Hegavemefiftypoundsbeforeweparted，andIknewhecouldillspareit。Don’t，Jem，please，“ashismutteredindignationroseagain。
Forhersakeheceased。“Imighthavedonebetterwiththemoney；Iseenow。ButIdidnotknowthevalueofmoney。FormerlyIhadearnediteasilyenoughatthefactory，andasIhadnomoresensiblewants，Ispentitondressandoneating。WhileIlivedwithhim，Ihaditforasking；andfiftypoundswould，Ithought，goalongway。SoIwentbacktoChester，whereI’dbeensohappy，andsetupasmall-wareshop，andhiredaroomnear。Weshouldhavedonewell，butalas!alas!mylittlegirlfellill，andIcouldnotmindmyshopandhertoo；andthingsgrewworseandworse。