shouldneverreveal!So，withalittleunreallaugh，shereplied，“Oh!Mary，mydear!don’ttalkabouteating。We’vethebestofeverything，andplentyofit，formyhusbandisingoodwork。I’dsuchasupperbeforeIcameout。Icouldn’ttouchamorselifyouhadit。“HerwordsshotastrangepangthroughMary’sheart。Shehadalwaysrememberedheraunt’slovingandunselfishdisposition；howwasitchanged，if，livinginplenty，shehadneverthoughtitworthwhiletoaskafterrelationswhowereallbutstarving!Sheshutupherheartinstinctivelyagainstheraunt。AndallthetimepoorEstherwasswallowinghersobs，andover-actingherpart，andcontrollingherselfmorethanshehaddoneformanyalongday，inorderthatherniecemightnotbeshockedandrevolted，bytheknowledgeofwhatheraunthadbecome：——aprostitute；anoutcast。Shehadlongedtoopenherwretched，wretchedheart，sohopeless，soabandonedbyalllivingthings，toonewhohadlovedheronce；andyetsherefrained，fromdreadoftheavertedeye，thealteredvoice，theinternalloathing，whichshefearedsuchdisclosuremightcreate。Shewouldgostraighttothesubjectoftheday。Shecouldnottarrylong，forshefeltunabletosupportthecharactershehadassumedforanylengthoftime。Theysatbythelittleroundtable，facingeachother。Thecandlewasplacedrightbetweenthem，andEsthermoveditinordertohaveaclearerviewofMary’sface，sothatshemightreadheremotions，andascertainherinterests。Thenshebegan：“It’sabadbusiness，I’mafraid，thisofMrCarson’smurder。“Marywincedalittle。“IhearJemWilsonistakenupforit。“Marycoveredhereyeswithherhands，asiftoshadethemfromthelight，andEstherherself；lessaccustomedtoself-command，wasgettingtoomuchagitatedforcalmobservationofanother。“IwastakingawalknearTurnerStreet，andIwenttoseethespot，“continuedEsther，“and，asluckwouldhaveit，Ispiedthisbitofpaperinthehedge，“
producingthepreciouspiecestillfoldedinherhand。“Itbasbeenusedaswaddingforthegun，Ireckon，indeed，that’sclearenough，fromtheshapeit’scrammedinto。Iwassorryforthemurderer，whoeverhemightbeIdidn’tthenknowofJem’sbeingsuspected，andIthoughtIwouldneverleaveathingabout，asmighthelp，eversolittle，toconvicthim；
thepoliceareso’cuteaboutstraws。SoIcarrieditalittleway，andthenIopenedit，andsawyourname，Mary。Marytookherhandsawayfromhereyes，andlookedwithsurpriseatheraunt’sface，assheutteredthesewords。Shewaskindafterall，forwasshenotsavingherfrombeingsummoned，andfrombeingquestionedandexamined；athingtobedreadedaboveallothers，asshefeltsurethatherunwillinganswers，framethemhowshemight，wouldaddtothesuspicionsagainstJem；herauntwasindeedkind，tothinkofwhatwouldspareherthis。Estherwenton，withoutnoticingMary’slook。Theveryactionofspeakingwassopainfultoher，andsomuchinterruptedbythehard，rakingcough，whichhadbeenherconstantannoyanceformonths，thatshewastoomuchengrossedbythephysicaldifficultyofutterance，tobeaverycloseobserver。“Therecouldbenomistakeiftheyhadfoundit。Lookatyourname，togetherwiththeverynameofthiscourt!AndinJem’shandwritingtoo，orI’mmuchmistaken。Look，Mary!“Andnowshedidwatchher。Marytookthepaperandflattenedit：thensuddenlystoodstiffup，withirrepressiblemovement，asifpetrifiedbysomehorrorabruptlydisclosed；
herface，strungandrigid；herlipscompressedtight，tokeepdownsomerisingexclamation。Shedroppedonherseat，assuddenlyasifthebracedmuscleshadinaninstantgivenway。Butshespokenoword。“Itishishandwriting——isn’tit？“askedEsther，thoughMary’smannerwasalmostconfirmationenough。“Youwillnottell。Youneverwilltell，“demandedMary，inatonesosternlyearnest，asalmosttobethreatening。“Nay，Mary，“saidEsther，ratherreproachfully，“Iamnotsobadasthat。
Oh!Mary，youcannotthinkIwoulddothat，whateverImaybe。“Thetearssprangtohereyesattheideathatshewassuspectedofbeingonewhowouldhelptoinformagainstanoldfriend。Marycaughthersadandupbraidinglook。“No!Iknowyouwouldnottell，aunt。Idon’tknowwhatIsay，Iamsoshocked。Butsayyouwillnottell。Do。““No，indeedIwillnottell，comewhatmay。“Marysatstilllookingatthewriting，andturningthepaperroundwithcarefulexamination，tryingtohope，butherveryfearsbelyingherhopes。“Ithoughtyoucaredfortheyoungmanthat’smurdered，“observedEsther，half-aloud；butfeelingthatshecouldnotmistakethisstrangeinterestinthesuspectedmurderer，impliedbyMary’seagernesstoscreenhimfromanythingwhichmightstrengthensuspicionagainsthim。Shehadcome，desiroustoknowtheextentofMary’sgriefforMrCarson，andgladoftheexcuseaffordedherbytheimportantscrapofpaper。HerremarkaboutitsbeingJem’shand-writing，shehad，withthisviewofascertainingMary’sstateoffeeling，felttobemostimprudenttheinstantaftershehadutteredit；butMary’sanxietythatsheshouldnottell，wastoogreat，andtoodecided，toleaveadoubtastoherinterestforJem。Shegrewmoreandmorebewildered，andherdizzyheadrefusedtoreason。Maryneverspoke。