\"Beginagain，Jarber，\"saidI。
\"Wouldyoubemuchsurprised，ifthisHousetoLetshouldturnouttobethepropertyofarelationofyourown?\"
\"Ishouldindeedbeverymuchsurprised。\"
\"Thenitbelongstoyourfirstcousin(Ilearn，bytheway，thatheisillatthistime)GeorgeForley。\"
\"Thenthatisabadbeginning。IcannotdenythatGeorgeForleystandsintherelationoffirstcousintome；butIholdnocommunicationwithhim。GeorgeForleyhasbeenahard，bitter，stonyfathertoachildnowdead。GeorgeForleywasmostimplacableandunrelentingtooneofhistwodaughterswhomadeapoormarriage。GeorgeForleybroughtalltheweightofhisbandtobearasheavilyagainstthatcrushedthing，ashebroughtittobearlightly，favouringly，andadvantageouslyuponhersister，whomadearichmarriage。Ihopethat，withthemeasureGeorgeForleymeted，itmaynotbemeasuredouttohimagain。IwillgiveGeorgeForleynoworsewish。\"
Iwasstronguponthesubject，andIcouldnotkeepthetearsoutofmyeyes；for，thatyounggirl\'swasacruelstory，andIhaddroppedmanyatearoveritbefore。
\"ThehousebeingGeorgeForley\'s，\"saidI，\"isalmostenoughtoaccountfortherebeingaFateuponit，ifFatethereis。IsthereanythingaboutGeorgeForleyinthosesheetsofpaper?\"
\"Notaword。\"
\"Iamgladtohearit。Pleasetoreadon。Trottle，whydon\'tyoucomenearer?Whydoyousitmortifyingyourselfinthosearcticregions?Comenearer。\"
\"Thankyou，ma\'am；IamquitenearenoughtoMr。Jarber。\"
Jarberroundedhischair，togethisbackfulltomyopinionatedfriendandservant，and，beginningtoread，tossedthewordsathimoverhis(JabezJarber\'s)ownearandshoulder。
Hereadwhatfollows:
THEMANCHESTERMARRIAGE
Mr。andMrs。OpenshawcamefromManchestertoLondonandtooktheHouseToLet。Hehadbeen，whatiscalledinLancashire，aSalesmanforalargemanufacturingfirm，whowereextendingtheirbusiness，andopeningawarehouseinLondon；whereMr。Openshawwasnowtosuperintendthebusiness。Heratherenjoyedthechangeofresidence；havingakindofcuriosityaboutLondon，whichhehadneveryetbeenabletogratifyinhisbriefvisitstothemetropolis。Atthesametimehehadanodd，shrewd，contemptfortheinhabitants；whomhehadalwayspicturedtohimselfasfine，lazypeople；caringnothingbutforfashionandaristocracy，andloungingawaytheirdaysinBondStreet，andsuchplaces；ruininggoodEnglish，andreadyintheirturntodespisehimasaprovincial。Thehoursthatthemenofbusinesskeptinthecityscandalisedhimtoo；accustomedashewastotheearlydinnersofManchesterfolk，andtheconsequentlyfarlongerevenings。Still，hewaspleasedtogotoLondon；thoughhewouldnotfortheworldhaveconfessedit，eventohimself，andalwaysspokeofthesteptohisfriendsasonedemandedofhimbytheinterestsofhisemployers，andsweetenedtohimbyaconsiderableincreaseofsalary。HissalaryindeedwassoliberalthathemighthavebeenjustifiedintakingamuchlargerHousethanthisone，hadhenotthoughthimselfboundtosetanexampletoLondonersofhowlittleaManchestermanofbusinesscaredforshow。Inside，however，hefurnishedtheHousewithanunusualdegreeofcomfort，and，inthewintertime，heinsistedonkeepingupaslargefiresasthegrateswouldallow，ineveryroomwherethetemperaturewasintheleastchilly。Moreover，hisnorthernsenseofhospitalitywassuch，that，ifhewereathome，hecouldhardlysufferavisitortoleavethehousewithoutforcingmeatanddrinkuponhim。Everyservantinthehousewaswellwarmed，wellfed，andkindlytreated；fortheirmasterscornedallpettysavinginaughtthatconducedtocomfort；
whileheamusedhimselfbyfollowingoutallhisaccustomedhabitsandindividualwaysindefianceofwhatanyofhisnewneighboursmightthink。
Hiswifewasapretty，gentlewoman，ofsuitableageandcharacter。
Hewasforty-two，shethirty-five。Hewasloudanddecided；shesoftandyielding。Theyhadtwochildrenorrather，Ishouldsay，shehadtwo；fortheelder，agirlofeleven，wasMrs。Openshaw\'schildbyFrankWilsonherfirsthusband。Theyoungerwasalittleboy，Edwin，whocouldjustprattle，andtowhomhisfatherdelightedtospeakinthebroadestandmostunintelligibleLancashiredialect，inordertokeepupwhathecalledthetrueSaxonaccent。
Mrs。Openshaw\'sChristian-namewasAlice，andherfirsthusbandhadbeenherowncousin。Shewastheorphannieceofasea-captaininLiverpool:aquiet，gravelittlecreature，ofgreatpersonalattractionwhenshewasfifteenorsixteen，withregularfeaturesandabloomingcomplexion。Butshewasveryshy，andbelievedherselftobeverystupidandawkward；andwasfrequentlyscoldedbyheraunt，herownuncle\'ssecondwife。Sowhenhercousin，FrankWilson，camehomefromalongabsenceatsea，andfirstwaskindandprotectivetoher；secondly，attentiveandthirdly，desperatelyinlovewithher，shehardlyknewhowtobegratefulenoughtohim。Itistrueshewouldhavepreferredhisremaininginthefirstorsecondstagesofbehaviour；forhisviolentlovepuzzledandfrightenedher。Heruncleneitherhelpednorhinderedtheloveaffairthoughitwasgoingonunderhisowneyes。Frank\'sstep-
motherhadsuchavariabletemper，thattherewasnoknowingwhetherwhatshelikedonedayshewouldlikethenext，ornot。Atlengthshewenttosuchextremesofcrossness，thatAlicewasonlytoogladtoshuthereyesandrushblindlyatthechanceofescapefromdomestictyrannyofferedherbyamarriagewithhercousin；and，likinghimbetterthananyoneintheworldexceptheruncle(whowasatthistimeatsea)shewentoffonemorningandwasmarriedtohim；heronlybridesmaidbeingthehousemaidatheraunt\'s。Theconsequencewas，thatFrankandhiswifewentintolodgings，andMrs。Wilsonrefusedtoseethem，andturnedawayNorah，thewarm-
heartedhousemaid；whomtheyaccordinglytookintotheirservice。
WhenCaptainWilsonreturnedfromhisvoyage，hewasverycordialwiththeyoungcouple，andspentmanyaneveningattheirlodgings；
smokinghispipe，andsippinghisgrog；buthetoldthemthat，forquietness\'sake，hecouldnotaskthemtohisownhouse；forhiswifewasbitteragainstthem。Theywerenotveryunhappyaboutthis。
TheseedoffutureunhappinesslayratherinFrank\'svehement，passionatedisposition；whichledhimtoresenthiswife\'sshynessandwantofdemonstrationasfailuresinconjugalduty。Hewasalreadytormentinghimself，andhertoo，inaslighterdegree，byapprehensionsandimaginationsofwhatmightbefallherduringhisapproachingabsenceatsea。AtlasthewenttohisfatherandurgedhimtoinsistuponAlice\'sbeingoncemorereceivedunderhisroof；
themoreespeciallyastherewasnowaprospectofherconfinementwhileherhusbandwasawayonhisvoyage。CaptainWilsonwas，ashehimselfexpressedit，\"breakingup，\"andunwillingtoundergotheexcitementofascene；yethefeltthatwhathissonsaidwastrue。
Sohewenttohiswife。AndbeforeFrankwenttosea，hehadthecomfortofseeinghiswifeinstalledinheroldlittlegarretinhisfather\'shouse。TohaveplacedherintheonebestspareroomwasastepbeyondMrs。Wilson\'spowersofsubmissionorgenerosity。Theworstpartaboutit，however，wasthatthefaithfulNorahhadtobedismissed。Herplaceashousemaidhadbeenfilledup；and，evenhaditnot，shehadforfeitedMrs。Wilson\'sgoodopinionforever。Shecomfortedheryoungmasterandmistressbypleasantpropheciesofthetimewhentheywouldhaveahouseholdoftheirown；ofwhich，inwhateverserviceshemightbeinthemeantime，sheshouldbesuretoformpart。AlmostthelastactionFrankWilsondid，beforesettingsail，wasgoingwithAlicetoseeNorahoncemoreathermother\'shouse。Andthenhewentaway。
Alice\'sfather-in-lawgrewmoreandmorefeebleaswinteradvanced。
Shewasofgreatusetoherstep-motherinnursingandamusinghim；
and，althoughtherewasanxietyenoughinthehousehold，therewasperhapsmoreofpeacethantherehadbeenforyears；forMrs。Wilsonhadnotabadheart，andwassoftenedbythevisibleapproachofdeathtoonewhomsheloved，andtouchedbythelonelyconditionoftheyoungcreature，expectingherfirstconfinementinherhusband\'sabsence。TothisrelentingmoodNorahowedthepermissiontocomeandnurseAlicewhenherbabywasborn，andtoremaintoattendonCaptainWilson。
BeforeoneletterhadbeenreceivedfromFrank(whohadsailedfortheEastIndiesandChina)，hisfatherdied。Alicewasalwaysgladtorememberthathehadheldherbabyinhisarms，andkissedandblesseditbeforehisdeath。Afterthat，andtheconsequentexaminationintothestateofhisaffairs，itwasfoundthathehadleftfarlesspropertythanpeoplehadbeenledbyhisstyleoflivingtoimagine；and，whatmoneytherewas，wasallsettleduponhiswife，andatherdisposalafterherdeath。ThisdidnotsignifymuchtoAlice，asFrankwasnowfirstmateofhisship，and，inanothervoyageortwo，wouldbecaptain。Meanwhilehehadlefthersomehundreds(allhissavings)inthebank。
ItbecametimeforAlicetohearfromherhusband。OneletterfromtheCapeshehadalreadyreceived。ThenextwastoannouncehisarrivalinIndia。Asweekafterweekpassedover，andnointelligenceoftheship\'sarrivalreachedtheofficeoftheowners，andtheCaptain\'swifewasinthesamestateofignorantsuspenseasAliceherself，herfearsgrewmostoppressive。Atlengththedaycamewhen，inreplytoherinquiryattheShippingOffice，theytoldherthattheownershadgivenupHopeofeverhearingmoreoftheBetsy-Jane，andhadsentintheirclaimupontheunderwriters。Nowthathewasgoneforever，shefirstfeltayearning，longingloveforthekindcousin，thedearfriend，thesympathisingprotector，whomsheshouldneverseeagain，——firstfeltapassionatedesiretoshowhimhischild，whomshehadhithertorathercravedtohavealltoherself——herownsolepossession。Hergriefwas，however，noiseless，andquiet——rathertothescandalofMrs。Wilson；whobewailedherstep-sonasifheandshehadalwayslivedtogetherinperfectharmony，andwhoevidentlythoughtitherdutytoburstintofreshtearsateverystrangefaceshesaw；dwellingonhispooryoungwidow\'sdesolatestate，andthehelplessnessofthefatherlesschild，withanunction，asifshelikedtheexcitementofthesorrowfulstory。
SopassedawaythefirstdaysofAlice\'swidowhood。Bye-and-byethingssubsidedintotheirnaturalandtranquilcourse。But，asifthisyoungcreaturewasalwaystobeinsomeheavytrouble，herewe-
lambbegantobeailing，piningandsickly。Thechild\'smysteriousillnessturnedouttobesomeaffectionofthespinelikelytoaffecthealth；butnottoshortenlife——atleastsothedoctorssaid。ButthelongdrearysufferingofonewhomamotherlovesasAlicelovedheronlychild，ishardtolookforwardto。OnlyNorahguessedwhatAlicesuffered；noonebutGodknew。
Andsoitfellout，thatwhenMrs。Wilson，theelder，cametoheronedayinviolentdistress，occasionedbyaverymaterialdiminutioninthevaluethepropertythatherhusbandhadlefther，——
adiminutionwhichmadeherincomebarelyenoughtosupportherself，muchlessAlice——thelattercouldhardlyunderstandhowanythingwhichdidnottouchhealthorlifecouldcausesuchgrief；
andshereceivedtheintelligencewithirritatingcomposure。Butwhen，thatafternoon，thelittlesickchildwasbroughtin，andthegrandmother——whoafterallloveditwell——beganafreshmoanoverherlossestoitsunconsciousears——sayinghowshehadplannedtoconsultthisorthatdoctor，andtogiveitthisorthatcomfortorluxuryinafteryearnbutthatnowallchanceofthishadpassedaway——Alice\'sheartwastouched，andshedrewneartoMrs。Wilsonwithunwontedcaresses，and，inaspiritnotunliketothatof，Ruth，entreated，thatcomewhatwould，theymightremaintogether。
Aftermuchdiscussioninsucceedingdays，itwasarrangedthatMrs。
WilsonshouldtakeahouseinManchester，furnishingitpartlywithwhatfurnitureshehad，andprovidingtherestwithAlice\'sremainingtwohundredpounds。Mrs。WilsonwasherselfaManchesterwoman，andnaturallylongedtoreturntohernativetown。Someconnectionsofherownatthattimerequiredlodgings，forwhichtheywerewillingtopayprettyhandsomely。Aliceundertooktheactivesuperintendenceandsuperiorworkofthehousehold。Norah，willingfaithfulNorah，offeredtocook，scour，doanythinginshort，sothat，shemightbutremainwiththem。
Theplansucceeded。Forsomeyearstheirfirstlodgersremainedwiththem，andallwentsmoothly，——withtheonesadexceptionofthelittlegirl\'sincreasingdeformity。Howthatmotherlovedthatchild，isnotforwordstotell!
Thencameabreakofmisfortune。Theirlodgersleft，andnoonesucceededtothem。Aftersomemonthstheyhadtoremovetoasmallerhouse；andAlice\'stenderconsciencewastornbytheideathatsheoughtnottobeaburdentohermother-in-law，butoughttogooutandseekherownmaintenance。Andleaveherchild!Thethoughtcamelikethesweepingboomofafuneralbelloverherheart。
Bye-and-bye，Mr。Openshawcametolodgewiththem。Hehadstartedinlifeastheerrand-boyandsweeper-outofawarehouse；hadstruggledupthroughallthegradesofemploymentintheplace，fightinghiswaythroughthehardstrivingManchesterlifewithstrongpushingenergyofcharacter。Everysparemomentoftimehadbeensternlygivenuptoself-teaching。Hewasacapitalaccountant，agoodFrenchandGermanscholar，akeen，far-seeingtradesman；understandingmarkets，andthebearingofevents，bothnearanddistant，ontrade:andyet，withsuchvividattentiontopresentdetails，thatIdonotthinkheeversawagroupofflowersinthefieldswithoutthinkingwhethertheircolourswould，orwouldnot，formharmoniouscontrastsinthecomingspringmuslinsandprints。Hewenttodebatingsocieties，andthrewhimselfwithallhisheartandsoulintopolitics；esteeming，itmustbeowned，everymanafooloraknavewhodifferedfromhim，andoverthrowinghisopponentsratherbytheloudstrengthofhislanguagethanthecalmstrengthifhislogic。TherewassomethingoftheYankeeinallthis。IndeedhistheoryranparalleltothefamousYankeemotto——
\"Englandflogscreation，andManchesterflogsEngland。\"Suchaman，asmaybefancied，hadhadnotimeforfallinginlove，oranysuchnonsense。Attheagewhenmostyoungmengothroughtheircourtingandmatrimony，hehadnotthemeansofkeepingawife，andwasfartoopracticaltothinkofhavingone。Andnowthathewasineasycircumstances，arisingman，heconsideredwomenalmostasincumbrancestotheworld，withwhomamanhadbetterhaveaslittletodoaspossible。HisfirstimpressionofAlicewasindistinct，andhedidnotcareenoughabouthertomakeitdistinct。\"Aprettyyea-naykindofwoman，\"wouldhavebeenhisdescriptionofher，ifhehadbeenpushedintoacorner。Hewasratherafraid，inthebeginning，thatherquietwaysarosefromalistlessnessandlazinessofcharacterwhichwouldhavebeenexceedinglydiscordanttohisactiveenergeticnature。But，whenhefoundoutthepunctualitywithwhichhiswisheswereattendedto，andherworkwasdone；whenhewascalledinthemorningattheverystrokeoftheclock，hisshaving-waterscaldinghot，hisfirebright，hiscoffeemadeexactlyashispeculiarfancydictated，(forhewasamanwhohadhistheoryabouteverything，baseduponwhatheknewofscience，andoftenperfectlyoriginal)——thenhebegantothink:notthatAlicehadanypeculiarmerit；butthathehadgotintoremarkablygoodlodgings:hisrestlessnessworeaway，andhebegantoconsiderhimselfasalmostsettledforlifeinthem。
Mr。Openshawhadbeentoobusy，allhislife，tobeintrospective。
Hedidnotknowthathehadanytendernessinhisnature；andifhehadbecomeconsciousofitsabstractexistence，hewouldhaveconsidereditasamanifestationofdiseaseinsomepartofhisnature。Buthewasdecoyedintopityunawares；andpityledontotenderness。Thatlittlehelplesschild——alwayscarriedaboutbyoneofthethreebusywomenofthehouse，orelsepatientlythreadingcolouredbeadsinthechairfromwhich，bynoeffortofitsown，coulditevermove；thegreatgraveblueeyes，fullofserious，notuncheerful，expression，givingtothesmalldelicatefacealookbeyonditsyears；thesoftplaintivevoicedroppingoutbutfewwords，sounlikethecontinualprattleofachild——caughtMr。
Openshaw\'sattentioninspiteofhimself。Oneday——hehalfscornedhimselffordoingso——hecutshorthisdinner-hourtogoinsearchofsometoywhichshouldtaketheplaceofthoseeternalbeads。I
forgetwhathebought；but，whenhegavethepresent(whichhetookcaretodoinashortabruptmanner，andwhennoonewasbytoseehim)hewasalmostthrilledbytheflashofdelightthatcameoverthatchild\'sface，andcouldnothelpallthroughthatafternoongoingoverandoveragainthepictureleftonhismemory，bythebrighteffectofunexpectedjoyonthelittlegirl\'sface。Whenhereturnedhome，hefoundhisslippersplacedbyhissitting-roomfire；andevenmorecarefulattentionpaidtohisfanciesthanwashabitualinthosemodellodgings。WhenAlicehadtakenthelastofhistea-thingsaway——shehadbeensilentasusualtillthen——shestoodforaninstantwiththedoorinherhand。Mr。Openshawlookedasifheweredeepinhisbook，thoughinfacthedidnotseealine；butwasheartilywishingthewomanwouldbegone，andnotmakeanypalaverofgratitude。Butsheonlysaid:
\"Iamverymuchobligedtoyou，sir。Thankyouverymuch，\"andwasgone，evenbeforehecouldsendherawaywitha\"There，mygoodwoman，that\'senough!\"
Forsometimelongerhetooknoapparentnoticeofthechild。Heevenhardenedhisheartintodisregardinghersuddenflushofcolour，andlittletimidsmileofrecognition，whenhesawherbychance。But，afterall，thiscouldnotlastforever；and，havingasecondtimegivenwaytotenderness，therewasnorelapse。Theinsidiousenemyhavingthusenteredhisheart，intheguiseofcompassiontothechild，soonassumedthemoredangerousformofinterestinthemother。Hewasawareofthischangeoffeeling，despisedhimselfforit，struggledwithitnay，internallyyieldedtoitandcherishedit，longbeforehesufferedtheslightestexpressionofit，byword，action，orlook，toescapehim。HewatchedAlice\'sdocileobedientwaystoherstepmother；thelovewhichshehadinspiredintheroughNorah(roughenedbythewearandtearofsorrowandyears)；butaboveall，hesawthewild，deep，passionateaffectionexistingbetweenherandherchild。Theyspokelittletoanyoneelse，orwhenanyoneelsewasby；but，whenalonetogether，theytalked，andmurmured，andcooed，andchatteredsocontinually，thatMr。Openshawfirstwonderedwhattheycouldfindtosaytoeachother，andnextbecameirritatedbecausetheywerealwayssograveandsilentwithhim。Allthistime，hewasperpetuallydevisingsmallnewpleasuresforthechild。Histhoughtsran，inapertinaciousway，uponthedesolatelifebeforeher；andoftenhecamebackfromhisday\'sworkloadedwiththeverythingAlicehadbeenlongingfor，buthadnotbeenabletoprocure。
Onetimeitwasalittlechairfordrawingthelittlesuffereralongthestreets，andmanyaneveningthatensuingsummerMr。Openshawdrewheralonghimself，regardlessoftheremarksofhisacquaintances。Onedayinautumnheputdownhisnewspaper，asAlicecameinwiththebreakfast，andsaid，inasindifferentavoiceashecouldassume:
\"Mrs。Frank，isthereanyreasonwhywetwoshouldnotputupourhorsestogether?\"
Alicestoodstillinperplexedwonder。Whatdidhemean?Hehadresumedthereadingofhisnewspaper，asifhedidnotexpectanyanswer；soshefoundsilencehersafestcourse，andwentonquietlyarranginghisbreakfastwithoutanotherwordpassingbetweenthem。
Justashewasleavingthehouse，togotothewarehouseasusual，heturnedbackandputhisheadintothebright，neat，tidykitchen，whereallthewomenbreakfastedinthemorning:
\"You\'llthinkofwhatIsaid，Mrs。Frank\"(thiswashernamewiththelodgers)，\"andletmehaveyouropinionuponitto-night。\"
AlicewasthankfulthathermotherandNorahweretoobusytalkingtogethertoattendmuchtothisspeech。Shedeterminednottothinkaboutitatallthroughtheday；and，ofcourse，theeffortnottothinkmadeherthinkallthemore。AtnightshesentupNorahwithhistea。ButMr。OpenshawalmostknockedNorahdownasshewasgoingoutatthedoor，bypushingpastherandcallingout\"Mrs。
Frank!\"inanimpatientvoice，atthetopofthestairs。
Alicewentup，ratherthanseemtohaveaffixedtoomuchmeaningtohiswords。
\"Well，Mrs。Frank，\"hesaid，\"whatanswer?Don\'tmakeittoolong；
forIhavelotsofoffice-worktogetthroughto-night。\"
\"Ihardlyknowwhatyoumeant，sir，\"saidtruthfulAlice。
\"Well!Ishouldhavethoughtyoumighthaveguessed。You\'renotnewatthissortofwork，andIam。However，I\'llmakeitplainthistime。Willyouhavemetobethyweddedhusband，andserveme，andloveme，andhonourme，andallthatsortofthing?Becauseifyouwill，Iwilldoasmuchbyyou，andbeafathertoyourchild——
andthat\'smorethanisputintheprayer-book。Now，I\'mamanofmyword；andwhatIsay，Ifeel；andwhatIpromise，I\'lldo。Now，foryouranswer!\"
Alicewassilent。Hebegantomakethetea，asifherreplywasamatterofperfectindifferencetohim；but，assoonasthatwasdone，hebecameimpatient。
\"Well?\"saidhe。
\"Howlong，sir，mayIhavetothinkoverit?\"
\"Threeminutes!\"(lookingathiswatch)。\"You\'vehadtwoalready——
thatmakesfive。Beasensiblewoman，sayYes，andsitdowntoteawithme，andwe\'lltalkitovertogether；for，aftertea，Ishallbebusy；sayNo\"(hehesitatedamomenttotryandkeephisvoiceinthesametone)，\"andIshan\'tsayanotherwordaboutit，butpayupayear\'srentformyroomsto-morrow，andbeoff。Time\'sup!Yesorno?\"
\"Ifyouplease，sir，——youhavebeensogoodtolittleAilsie——\"
\"There，sitdowncomfortablybymeonthesofa，andletushaveourteatogether。IamgladtofindyouareasgoodandsensibleasI
tookfor。\"
AndthiswasAliceWilson\'ssecondwooing。
Mr。Openshaw\'swillwastoostrong，andhiscircumstancestoogood，forhimnottocarryallbeforehim。HesettledMrs。Wilsoninacomfortablehouseofherown，andmadeherquiteindependentoflodgers。ThelittlethatAlicesaidwithregardtofutureplanswasinNorah\'sbehalf。
\"No，\"saidMr。Openshaw。\"Norahshalltakecareoftheoldladyaslongasshelives；and，afterthat，sheshalleithercomeandlivewithus，or，ifshelikesitbetter，sheshallhaveaprovisionforlife——foryoursake，missus。Noonewhohasbeengoodtoyouorthechildshallgounrewarded。Buteventhelittleonewillbebetterforsomefreshstuffabouther。Getherabright，sensiblegirlasanurse:onewhowon\'tgorubbingherwithcalf\'s-footjellyasNorahdoes；wastinggoodstuffoutsidethatoughttogoin，butwillfollowdoctors\'directions；which，asyoumustseeprettyclearlybythistime，Norahwon\'t；becausetheygivethepoorlittlewenchpain。Now，I\'mnotabovebeingneshforotherfolksmyself。Icanstandagoodblow，andneverchangecolour；but，setmeintheoperating-roomintheinfirmary，andIturnassickasagirl。Yet，ifneedwere，Iwouldholdthelittlewenchonmykneeswhileshescreechedwithpain，ifitweretodoherpoorbackgood。Nay，nay，wench!keepyourwhitelooksforthetimewhenitcomes——Idon\'tsayiteverwill。ButthisIknow，Norahwillsparethechildandcheatthedoctorifshecan。Now，Isay，givethebairnayearortwo\'schance，andthen，whenthepackofdoctorshavedonetheirbest——
and，maybe，theoldladyhasgone——we\'llhaveNorahback，ordobetterforher。\"
ThepackofdoctorscoulddonogoodtolittleAilsie。Shewasbeyondtheirpower。Butherfather(forsoheinsistedonbeingcalled，andalsoonAlice\'snolongerretainingtheappellationofMama，butbecominghenceforwardMother)，byhishealthycheerfulnessofmanner，hiscleardecisionofpurpose，hisoddturnsandquirksofhumour，addedtohisrealstrongloveforthehelplesslittlegirl，infusedanewelementofbrightnessandconfidenceintoherlife；and，thoughherbackremainedthesame，hergeneralhealthwasstrengthened，andAlice——nevergoingbeyondasmileherself——hadthepleasureofseeingherchildtaughttolaugh。
AsforAlice\'sownlife，itwashappierthanithadeverbeen。Mr。
Openshawrequirednodemonstration，noexpressionsofaffectionfromher。Indeed，thesewouldratherhavedisgustedhim。Alicecouldlovedeeply，butcouldnottalkaboutit。Theperpetualrequirementoflovingwords，looks，andcaresses，andmisconstruingtheirabsenceintoabsenceoflove，hadbeenthegreattrialofherformermarriedlife。Now，allwentonclearandstraight，undertheguidanceofherhusband\'sstrongsense，warmheart，andpowerfulwill。Yearbyyeartheirworldlyprosperityincreased。AtMrs。
Wilson\'sdeath，Norahcamebacktothem，asnursetothenewly-bornlittleEdwin；intowhichpostshewasnotinstalledwithoutaprettystrongorationonthepartoftheproudandhappyfather；whodeclaredthatifhefoundoutthatNorahevertriedtoscreentheboybyafalsehood，ortomakehimnesheitherinbodyormind，sheshouldgothatveryday。NorahandMr。Openshawwerenotonthemostthoroughlycordialterms；neitherofthemfullyrecognisingorappreciatingtheother\'sbestqualities。
ThiswastheprevioushistoryoftheLancashirefamilywhohadnowremovedtoLondon，andhadcometooccupytheHouse。
Theyhadbeenthereaboutayear，whenMr。Openshawsuddenlyinformedhiswifethathehaddeterminedtoheallong-standingfeuds，andhadaskedhisuncleandauntChadwicktocomeandpaythemavisitandseeLondon。Mrs。Openshawhadneverseenthisuncleandauntofherhusband\'s。Yearsbeforeshehadmarriedhim，therehadbeenaquarrel。Allsheknewwas，thatMr。ChadwickwasasmallmanufacturerinacountrytowninSouthLancashire。Shewasextremelypleasedthatthebreachwastobehealed，andbeganmakingpreparationstorendertheirvisitpleasant。
Theyarrivedatlast。GoingtoseeLondonwassuchaneventtothem，thatMrs。Chadwickhadmadeallnewlinenfreshfortheoccasion-fromnight-capsdownwards；and，asforgowns，ribbons，andcollars，shemighthavebeengoingintothewildsofCanadawhereneverashopis，solargewasherstock。AfortnightbeforethedayofherdepartureforLondon，shehadformallycalledtotakeleaveofallheracquaintance；sayingsheshouldneedalltheintermediatetimeforpackingup。Itwaslikeasecondweddinginherimagination；and，tocompletetheresemblancewhichanentirelynewwardrobemadebetweenthetwoevents，herhusbandbroughtherbackfromManchester，onthelastmarket-daybeforetheysetoff，agorgeouspearlandamethystbrooch，saying，\"LunnonshouldseethatLancashirefolksknewahandsomethingwhentheysawit。\"