I’mverytired，andwouldfaingotosleep。“Sheneverspokeagainonthissideheaven。ShediedthedayaftertheirreturnfromLiverpool。Fromthattime，JembecameawarethathismotherwasjealouslywatchingforsomewordorsignwhichshouldbetokenhiswishtoreturntoMary。AndyetgotoLiverpoolhemustandwould，assoonasthefuneralwasover，ifbutforasimpleglimpseofhisdarling。ForJobhadneverwritten；indeed，anynecessityforhissodoinghadneverenteredhishead。IfMarydied，hewouldannounceitpersonally；ifsherecovered，hemeanttobringherhomewithhim。Writingwastohimlittlemorethananauxiliarytonaturalhistory；awayofticketingspecimens，notofexpressingthoughts。TheconsequenceofthiswantofintelligenceastoMary’sstatewas，thatJemwasconstantlyanticipatingthateverypersonandeveryscrapofpaperwastoconveytohimthenewsofherdeath。Hecouldnotendurethisstatelong；butheresolvednottodisturbthehousebyannouncingtohismotherhispurposedintentionofreturningtoLiverpool，untilthedeadhadbeenburiedforth。OnSundayafternoontheylaidherlowwithmanytears。Willweptasonewhowouldnotbecomforted。Theoldchildishfeelingcameoverhim，thefeelingoflonelinessatbeingleftamongstrangers。Byandby，Margarettimidlystolenearhim，asifwaitingtoconsole；andsoonhispassionsankdowntogrief，andgriefgavewaytomelancholy，andthoughhefeltasifhenevercouldbejoyfulagain，hewasallthewhileunconsciouslyapproachingnearertothefullhappinessofcallingMargarethisown，andagoldenthreadwasinterwovenevennowwiththedarknessofhissorrow。YetitwasonhisarmthatJaneWilsonleantonherreturnhomewards。JemtookchargeofMargaret。“Margaret，I’mboundforLiverpoolbythefirsttrainto-morrow；Imustsetyourgrandfatheratliberty。““I’msurehelikesnothingbetterthanwatchingoverpoorMary；heloveshernearlyaswellasme。Butletmego!IhavebeensofullofpoorAlice，I’veneverthoughtofitbefore；Ican’tdosomuchasmanyaone，butMarywillliketohaveawomanaboutherthatsheknows。I’msorryIwaitedtobereminded，Jem，“repliedMargaret，withsomelittleself-reproach。ButMargaret’spropositiondidnotatallagreewithhercompanion’swishes。
Hefoundhehadbetterspeakout，andputhisintentionatoncetotherightmotive；thesubterfugeaboutsettingJobLeghatlibertyhaddonehimharminsteadofgood。“Totelltruth，Margaret，it’sIthatmustgo，andthatformyownsake，notyourgrandfather’s。IcanrestneitherbynightnordayforthinkingonMary。Whethershelivesordies，IlookonherasmywifebeforeGod，assurelyandsolemnlyasifweweremarried。Sobeing，Ihavethegreatestrighttolookafterher，andIcannotyielditevento——““Herfather，“saidMargaret，finishinghisinterruptedsentence。“Itseemsstrangethatagirllikehershouldbethrownonthebareworldtostrugglethroughsobadanillness。NooneseemstoknowwhereJohnBartonis，elseIthoughtofgettingMorristowritehimalettertellinghimaboutMary。
Iwishhewashome，thatIdo!“Johncouldnotechothiswish。“Mary’snotbadoffforfriendswheresheis，“saidhe。“Icallthemfriends，thoughaweekagowenoneofusknewthereweresuchfolksintheworld。
Butbeinganxiousandsorrowfulaboutthesamethingmakespeoplequickerthananything，Ithink。She’slikeamothertoMaryinherways；andhebearsagoodcharacter，asfarasIcouldlearnjustinthathurry。We’redrawingnearhome，andI’venotsaidmysay，Margaret。Iwantyoutolookaftermotherabit。She’llnotlikemygoing，andI’vegottobreakittoheryet。Ifshetakesitverybadly，I’llcomebackto-morrownight；
butifshe’snotagainstitverymuch，Imeantostaytillit’ssettledaboutMary，onewayortheother。Will，youknow，willbethere，Margaret，tohelpabitindoingformother。“Will’sbeingtheremadetheonlyobjectionMargaretsawtothisplan。Shedislikedtheideaofseemingtothrowherselfinhisway，andyetshedidnotliketosayanythingofthisfeelingtoJem，whohadallalongseemedperfectlyunconsciousofanylove-affair，besideshisown，inprogress。SoMargaretgaveareluctantconsent。“Ifyoucanjuststepuptoourhouseto-night，Jem，I’llputupafewthingsasmaybeusefultoMary，andthenyoucansaywhenyou’lllikelybeback。Ifyoucomehometo-morrownight，andWill’sthere，perhapsI