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wait till the hams and bacon were cured： he came on with rapid
strides； and shooting arrows of portentous agony。 Susan had never
seen illnessnever knew how much she loved her mother till now； when
she felt a dreadful； instinctive certainty that she was losing her。
Her mind was thronged with recollections of the many times she had
slighted her mother's wishes； her heart was full of the echoes of
careless and angry replies that she had spoken。 What would she not
now give to have opportunities of service and obedience； and trials
of her patience and love； for that dear mother who lay gasping in
torture！ And yet Susan had been a good girl and an affectionate
daughter。
The sharp pain went off； and delicious ease came on； yet still her
mother sunk。 In the midst of this languid peace she was dying。 She
motioned Susan to her bedside； for she could only whisper； and then；
while the father was out of the room； she spoke as much to the eager；
hungering eyes of her daughter by the motion of her lips； as by the
slow； feeble sounds of her voice。
〃Susan； lass； thou must not fret。 It is God's will； and thou wilt
have a deal to do。 Keep father straight if thou canst； and if he
goes out Ulverstone ways； see that thou meet him before he gets to
the Old Quarry。 It's a dree bit for a man who has had a drop。 As
for lile Will〃Here the poor woman's face began to work and her
fingers to move nervously as they lay on the bed…quilt〃lile Will
will miss me most of all。 Father's often vexed with him because he's
not a quick strong lad； he is not； my poor lile chap。 And father
thinks he's saucy； because he cannot always stomach oat…cake and
porridge。 There's better than three pound in th' old black tea…pot
on the top shelf of the cupboard。 Just keep a piece of loaf…bread by
you； Susan dear； for Will to come to when he's not taken his
breakfast。 I have； may be； spoilt him； but there'll be no one to
spoil him now。〃
She began to cry a low； feeble cry； and covered up her face that
Susan might not see her。 That dear face！ those precious moments
while yet the eyes could look out with love and intelligence。 Susan
laid her head down close by her mother's ear。
〃Mother I'll take tent of Will。 Mother； do you hear？ He shall not
want ought I can give or get for him； least of all the kind words
which you had ever ready for us both。 Bless you！ bless you！ my own
mother。〃
〃Thou'lt promise me that； Susan； wilt thou？ I can die easy if
thou'lt take charge of him。 But he's hardly like other folk； he
tries father at times； though I think father'll be tender of him when
I'm gone； for my sake。 And； Susan； there's one thing more。 I never
spoke on it for fear of the bairn being called a tell…tale； but I
just comforted him up。 He vexes Michael at times； and Michael has
struck him before now。 I did not want to make a stir； but he's not
strong； and a word from thee； Susan； will go a long way with
Michael。〃
Susan was as red now as she had been pale before； it was the first
time that her influence over Michael had been openly acknowledged by
a third person； and a flash of joy came athwart the solemn sadness of
the moment。 Her mother had spoken too much； and now came on the
miserable faintness。 She never spoke again coherently； but when her
children and her husband stood by her bedside； she took lile Will's
hand and put it into Susan's； and looked at her with imploring eyes。
Susan clasped her arms round Will； and leaned her head upon his
little curly one； and vowed within herself to be as a mother to him。
Henceforward she was all in all to her brother。 She was a more
spirited and amusing companion to him than his mother had been； from
her greater activity； and perhaps； also； from her originality of
character； which often prompted her to perform her habitual actions
in some new and racy manner。 She was tender to lile Will when she
was prompt and sharp with everybody elsewith Michael most of all；
for somehow the girl felt that； unprotected by her mother； she must
keep up her own dignity； and not allow her lover to see how strong a
hold he had upon her heart。 He called her hard and cruel； and left
her so； and she smiled softly to herself； when his back was turned；
to think how little he guessed how deeply he was loved。 For Susan
was merely comely and fine looking； Michael was strikingly handsome；
admired by all the girls for miles round； and quite enough of a
country coxcomb to know it and plume himself accordingly。 He was the
second son of his father； the eldest would have High Beck farm； of
course； but there was a good penny in the Kendal bank in store for
Michael。 When harvest was over； he went to Chapel Langdale to learn
to dance； and at night； in his merry moods； he would do his steps on
the flag floor of the Yew Nook kitchen； to the secret admiration of
Susan； who had never learned dancing； but who flouted him
perpetually； even while she admired； in accordance with the rule she
seemed to have made for herself about keeping him at a distance so
long as he lived under the same roof with her。 One evening he sulked
at some saucy remark of hers； he sitting in the chimney corner with
his arms on his knees； and his head bent forwards； lazily gazing into
the wood…fire on the hearth； and luxuriating in rest after a hard
day's labour； she sitting among the geraniums on the long； low
window…seat； trying to catch the last slanting rays of the autumnal
light to enable her to finish stitching a shirt…collar for Will； who
lounged full length on the flags at the other side of the hearth to
Michael； poking the burning wood from time to time with a long hazel…
stick to bring out the leap of glittering sparks。
〃And if you can dance a threesome reel； what good does it do ye？〃
asked Susan； looking askance at Michael； who had just been vaunting
his proficiency。 〃Does it help you plough； reap； or even climb the
rocks to take a raven's nest？ If I were a man； I'd be ashamed to
give in to such softness。〃
〃If you were a man； you'd be glad to do anything which made the
pretty girls stand round and admire。〃
〃As they do to you； eh！ Ho； Michael； that would not be my way o'
being a man！〃
〃What would then？〃 asked he； after a pause； during which he had
expected in vain that she would go on with her sentence。 No answer。
〃I should not like you as a man； Susy； you'd be too hard and
headstrong。〃
〃Am I hard and headstrong？〃 asked she； with as indifferent a tone as
she could assume； but which yet had a touch of pique in it。 His
quick ear detected the inflexion。
〃No； Susy！ You're wilful at times； and that's right enough。 I don't
like a girl without spirit。 There's a mighty pretty girl comes to
the dancing class； but she is all milk and water。 Her eyes never
flash like yours when you're put out； why； I can see them flame
across the kitchen like a cat's in the dark。 Now； if you were a man；
I should feel queer before those looks of yours； as it is； I rather
like them； because〃
〃Because what？〃 asked she； looking up and perceiving that he had
stolen close up to her。
〃Because I can make all right in this way；〃 said he； kissing her
suddenly。
〃Can you？〃 said she； wrenching herself out of his grasp and panting；
half with rage。 〃Take that； by way of proof that making right is
none so easy。〃 And she boxed his ears pretty sharply。 He went back
to his seat discomfited and out of temper。 She could no longer see
to look； even if her face had not burnt and her eyes dazzled； but she
did not choose to move her seat； so she still preserved her stooping
attitude and pretended to go on sewing。
〃Eleanor Hebthwaite may be milk…and…water；〃 muttered he； 〃but
Confound thee； lad！ what art thou doing？〃 exclaimed Michael； as a
great piece of burning wood was cast into his face by an unlucky poke
of Will's。 〃Thou great lounging； clumsy chap； I'll teach thee
better！〃 and with one or two good round kicks he sent the lad
whimpering away into the back…kitchen。 When he had a little
recovered himself from his passion； he saw Susan standing before him；
her face looking strange and almost ghastly by the reversed position
of the shadows； arising from the firelight shining upwards right
under it。
〃I tell thee what； Michael；〃 said she； 〃that lad's motherless； but
not friendless。〃
〃His own father leathers him； and why should not I； when he's given
me such a burn on my face？〃 said Michael； putting up his hand to his
cheek as if in pain。
〃His father's his father； and there is nought more to be said。 But
if he did burn thee； it was by accident； and not o' purpose； as thou
kicked him； it's a mercy if his ribs are not broken。〃
〃He howls loud enough； I'm sure。 I might ha' kicked many a lad twice
as hard； and they'd ne'er ha' said ought but 'damn ye；' but yon lad
must needs cry out like a stuck pig if one touches him；〃 repli