Deedstobehidwhichwerenothid，Which，allconfused，Icouldnotknow，WhetherIsufferedorIdid，Forallseemedguilt，remorse，orwoe。COLERIDGE。IleftMary，onthatsameThursdaynightwhichleftitsburdenofwoeatMrCarson’sthreshold，hauntedwithdepressingthoughts。Allthroughthenightshetossedrestlesslyabout，tryingtogetquitoftheideasthatharassedher，andlongingforthelightwhenshecouldrise，andfindsomeemployment。Butjustasdawnbegantoappear，shebecamemorequiet，andfellintoasoundheavysleep，whichlastedtillshewassureitwaslateinthemorning，bythefulllightthatshonein。Shedressedhastily，andheardtheneighbouringchurchclockstrikeeight。
ItwasfartoolatetodoasshehadplannedafterinquiringhowAliceWas，toreturnandtellMargaret，andsheaccordinglywentintoinformthelatterofherchangeofpurpose，andthecauseofit；butonenteringthehouseshefoundJobsittingalone，lookingsadenough。Shetoldhimwhatshecamefor。“Margaret，wench!whyshe’sbeengonetoWilson’sthesetwohours。Aye!
sure，youdidsaylastnightyouwouldgo；butshecouldnarestinherbed，sowasoffbetimesthismorning。“Marycoulddonothingbutfeelguiltyofherlongmorningnap，andhastentofollowMargaret’ssteps；forlateasitwas，shefeltshecouldnotsettlewelltoherwork，unlessshelearnthowkind，goodAliceWilsonwasgoingon。So，eatinghercrust-of-breadbreakfast，shepassedrapidlyalongthestreets。
Sherememberedafterwardsthelittlegroupsofpeopleshehadseen，eagerlyhearing，andimpartingnews；butatthetimeheronlycarewastohastenonherway，indreadofareprimandfromMissSimmonds。ShewentintothehouseatJaneWilson’s，herheartattheinstantgivingastrangeknock，andsendingtherosyflushintoherface，atthethoughtthatJemmightpossiblybeinsidethedoor。ButIdoassureyou，shehadnotthoughtofitbefore。Impatientandlovingasshewas，hersolicitudeaboutAliceonthathurriedmorninghadnotbeenmingledwithanythoughtofhim。Herheartneednothaveleaped，hercolourneednothaverushedsopainfullytohercheeks，forhewasnotthere。Therewastheroundtable，withacupandsaucer，whichhadevidentlybeenused，andtherewasJaneWilsonsittingontheotherside，cryingquietly，whilesheateherbreakfastwithasortofunconsciousappetite。AndtherewasMrsDavenportwashingawayatanight-caporso，which，bytheirsimple，old-worldmake，MaryknewataglancewereAlice’s。Butnothing——nooneelse。Alicewasmuchthesame，orratherbetterofthetwo，theytoldher；atanyrateshecouldspeak，thoughitwassadramblingtalk。WouldMaryliketoseeher？Ofcourseshewould。Manyareinterestedbyseeingtheirfriendsunderthenewaspectofillnessandamongthepoorthereisnowholesomefearofinjuryorexcitementtorestrainthiswish。SoMarywentup-stairs，accompaniedbyMrsDavenport，wringingthesudsoffherhands，andspeakinginaloudwhisperfarmoreaudiblethanherusualvoice。“Imunbehasteninghome，butI’llcomeagainto-night，timeenoughtoironhercap；’twouldbeasinandashameifwelethergodirtynowshe’sill，whenshe’sbeensorareandcleanallherlifelong。Butshe’ssadlyforsaken，poorthing!She’llnotknowyou，Mary；sheknowsnoneonus。Theroomup-stairsheldtwobeds，onesuperiorinthegrandeuroffourpostsandcheckedcurtainstotheother，whichhadbeenoccupiedbythetwinsintheirbrieflifetime。ThesmallerhadbeenAlice’sbedsinceshehadlivedthere；butwiththenaturalreverencetoone“strickenofGodandafflicted，“shehadbeeninstalled，sinceherparalyticstroketheeveningbefore，inthelargerandgranderbed；whileJaneWilsonhadtakenhershortbrokenrestonthelittlepallet。Margaretcameforwardstomeetherfriend，whomshehalfexpected，andwhosestepsheknew。MrsDavenportreturnedtoherwashing。Thetwogirlsdidnotspeak；thepresenceofAliceawedthemintosilence。
Thereshelaywiththerosycolour，absentfromherfacesincethedaysofchild-hood，flushedoncemoreintoitbyhersicknessnighuntodeath。