upon the river, and turned its grey waters into dazzling, rippling, and
splashing silver.

I don't know how it was, but that sunlight began to drive away the mists
and dark vapours in my mind. I did not feel so miserable, though I was
painfully stiff and sore. The future was bright, my case not so
hopeless, and I was just making up my mind that Esau would never forsake
me, and that Mr Gunson would not die, when Mrs Dean looked round.

"Ah, my dear," she said; "awake?"

"Yes," I said, springing up, all dressed as I was. "You have not been
watching here all night?"

"Oh, no; I only came on at daybreak. He's sleeping very calmly."

"Has he spoken?"

"Oh dear no, and is not likely to for long enough. Such a pity as it
is, poor man!"

"It is a terrible injury," I said. "Yes, my dear; and how thankful I am
it wasn't my poor Esau. What should I have done if it had been he?"

"It would have been terrible," I said. "Or you, my dear," she whispered
hurriedly, as if in apology for not naming me before.

"Oh, that would have been no consequence," I replied, bitterly.

"Oh, my dear," she cried, with the tears in her eyes; "don't--don't talk
like that. I know you've been in trouble, but we all have that, and
they say it makes the happiness all the sweeter."

"Yes, they say so," I replied gloomily.

"Ah, it does, my dear. There, as Mr John said to me about you, `it
will all come right in the end.'"

"Here, what's the matter?" said Esau gruffly, still half asleep. "Time
to get up? Hullo, mother! Oh, oh! I recollect now. I was dreaming
about old Quong. I say! Oh, my feet--my feet!"

"There, there, there, my dear; they'll soon be better," said Mrs Dean,
bending over him; and the sight of those two, with Esau's pettish
ill-humour, quite drove away the rest of my gloom for the time. For as
Mrs Dean bent over her son, he pushed her away.

"Don't, mother; I do wish you wouldn't."

"Wouldn't what, my dear?"

"Talk to me, and pull me about like that."

"Hush! not so loud, my dear. You'll wake Mr Gunson."

"Bother Mr Gunson! There you go again. Can't you see I'm growed up
now?"

"Yes, of course, Esau."

"No you can't, or you wouldn't talk to me like that. You always seem to
treat me as if I was two years old; you'll be wanting to rock me to
sleep some night."

"Esau, my dear, how can you?"

"Well, so you will. Pet, pet, pet, every time you get near me."

"Esau, my darling," cried Mrs Dean,