nty of reason for trouble.' I asked if I could help in any way."

John sat upright at this question and said, "What reply did mother
make?"

"She said, 'Not you! The trouble is past all help now. I might have
prevented it a few days ago, but I did not know the miserable lass was
again on the road of sin and danger. Nobody knew. Nobody stopped her.
And, O merciful God, in three days danger turned out to be death! I have
just come back from her funeral.' 'Whose funeral?' I asked. 'Susanna
Dobson's funeral,' mother said. 'Did you never hear John speak of her?'
I told her you never spoke to me of your hands; I knew nothing about
them. 'Well then,' mother continued, 'I'll tell you something about
Susanna. Happen it may do you good. She came here with her husband and
baby all of three years ago, and they have worked in Hatton factory ever
since. She was very clever and got big wages. The day before John went
to London she was ill and had to leave her loom. The next day Gammer
Denby came to tell me she was very ill and must have a good doctor. I
sent one and in the afternoon went to see her. By this time her husband
had been called from the mill, and while I was sitting at the dying
woman's side, he came in.'"

"Stop, Jane. My dear love, what is the use of bringing that dying bed to
our fireside? Mother should not have repeated such a scene."

"She did, however. I was leaving the room when she said, 'Listen a
moment, Jane. The man entered angrily, and leaning on the footboard of
the bed cried out, "So you've been at your old tricks once more,
Susanna! This is the third time. You are a bad woman. I will never live
with you again. I am going away forever, and I'll take little Willy with
me. If you aren't fit to be a mother, you aren't fit to be a wife!" She
cried out pitifully, but he lifted the child in his arms and went out
with him.'

"At these words, John, I rang the bell and ordered my horse. Mother paid
no attention to that, but continued, 'The woman raved all night, and
died early the next morning.' I said with a good deal of anger, that
her husband's brutality had killed her and that the grave was the only
place for a poor woman who was married to such a monster. And then I
heard the trampling of horses' feet and I came away without another
word. But my heart was hot and I was sick and trembling and I rode so
recklessly that it was a wonder I ever reached home."

"My dear Jane, I think--"

"Nay, John, I do not wa