turn to the Mill
BEtEEN four and five oclock on ternoon of t on Oggs, tom tulliver anding on tside t Dorlcote Mill. er teady self-government and energetic tainment of more tability ullivers. But toms face, as ood in t still suns summer afternoon, riump. s bitterest expression, s and deepest fold, as farto ser ting o s, began to er eamer from Mudport and put an end to all improbable suppositions of an accident on ter by stating t ep. ould t ne s? Probably t s married: toms mind to tation of t t could deat disgrace.
As orance gate, and oream, a tall dark-eyed figure, t o look at -beating . afraid, from fear t endure to alienate from us. t deep-rooted fear urning to ural refuge t ion under trospect of ted - s desired to endure ty of toms reproof, to submit in patient silence to t against seemed no more t to outer purpose ion of her own conscience.
Maggie on York for a day prostrating o folloerrible strain of t. till about ressed. Sed tce and om did not e - t ly turned, and lifting up o ion of conjectures. rembling and and indignation.
Maggie paused too - t tred in it rus s speak.
`tom-- sly, `I am come back to you - I am come back o tell you everything -
`You friends. You ful - no motives are strong enougo restrain you. I o me.
to tood paralysed by toms words.
`tom, said Maggie, so guilty as you believe me to be. I never meant to give o my feelings. I struggled against too far in t to come back on tuesday. I came back as soon as I could.
`I cant believe in you any more, said tom, gradually passing from tremulous excitement of t moment to cold inflexibility. `You ine relation ep - as you did before to see you at my aunt Mosss; you girl you friend you ever urn you o speak - my mot go near she should remind her of you.
Maggie oo o discern any difference bet and ions - still less to vindicate herself.
`tom, soget to speak again - `ever I it bitterly - I to make amends - I to be kept from doing wrong again.
` om, terness. `Not religion - not your natural feelings of gratitude and o be s, if it - But you are ten times er and your conduct. You struggled o struggle I conquered t I in doing my duty. But I ion no sucer as yours: t I feel t my mot you s come under my roof. It is enoug I o bear t of your disgrace - t of you is eful to me.
Slourning a. But tened mot noronger than all dread.
`My c a mother.
O t rest of t embrace to t-stricken Maggie! More of simple y t forsake us.
tom turned and o the house.
`Come in, my culliver ay and sleep in my bed. deny t, if I ask him.
`No, motone, like a moan. `I will never go in.
`t for me outside. Ill get ready and come h you.
on, tom came out to money into her hands.
`My me kno - you o me.
Poor Mrs tulliver took too frigo say anyto inct, t sh her unhappy child.
Maggie ing outside te; sook tle way in silence.
`Mot last, `o Lukes cottage - Luke ake me in. o me wtle girl.
` no room for us, my dear, no isnt to one o your aunts - and I , said poor Mrs tulliver, quite destitute of mental resources in tremity.
Maggie a little when said,
`Let us go to Bob Jakins, mother lodger.
So t on to St Oggs - to the river side.
Bob
e t of its age t o prince or packman. so tood all tep on t Mudport, if nessed t it produced on tom, o report it; and since tances o , e circles of St Oggs and ter of common talk, accessible to t o ask: except one, department of an asylum understood to exist in tlemen ances t, and boto make all table for `t sill `Miss. to could - ep could , and allo present it srusion and a of books.
But after a day or tulliver o to see to toms ters. Maggie er t violent outburst of feeling o fulfil, so be alone sary only a little looked on tap at turning round er his heels.
`ell go back, if it disturbs you, Miss, said Bob.
`No, said Maggie, in a low voice, wishing she could smile.
Bob, closing tood before her.
`You see, a little un, Miss, an I ed you to look at it, an take it in your arms, if youd be so good. For o name it after you, an it ud be better for your takin a bit o notice on it.
Maggie could not speak, but s out o receive tiny baby, anxiously to ascertain t transference ion and speec it was a way o s.
`Sit doe a ne to say.
`Bob, ser a fes, looking do t anxiously, as if s migo ask of you.
`Dont you speak so, Miss, said Bob, grasping t as a days earnings.
`I you to go to Dr Kenns, and ask to speak to ell I am eful if o me ill evening.
`E in a minute - it is but a step; but Dr Kenns omorro. Its all ty s no o go a-nig--
`O, no, Bob, said Maggie, ` let it be - till after a fe per of too a distance, s this idea.
`Not one o tlefolks as go to cry at erin places else to do. er tened ttle un; an me to kno come to c I told ravel ts o to bein on my legs, I cant sit so long on end - quot;an lors, sir,quot; says I, quot;a packman can do astes strong,quot; says I; quot;to lay it on t; Etle un is s like as if it kno partly does, Ill be bound - like the mornin.
Bobs tongue ly loosed from its uned bondage, and mig. But ts on eep and difficult of approac ongue o run on along to carry unbeaten road. t again for a little a question. At last imid voice than usual,
`ill you give me leave to ask you only one thing, Miss?
Maggie artled, but s is about myself - not about any one else.
`ell, Miss, its this: Do you owe anybody a grudge?
`No, not any one, said Maggie, looking up at him inquiringly. `hy?
`O lors, Miss, said Bob, pincell me - Id leatill I couldnt see - I ice mig o me arter.
`O Bob, said Maggie, smiling faintly. `Youre a very good friend to me. But I s like to punisoo often.
to Bob and ty t could possibly ep furtions rusive, even if ably, and o carry baby ao an expectant mother.
`aken t it. If I tell cill - just as cter let me leave - fond on you. Lors, its a fine to e fond on you; itll stick to you, an make no jaw.
`Yes, do leave o have Mumps for a friend.
`Mumps, lie doing to a place in front of Maggie, `an niver do you stir till youre spoke to.
Mumps lay do once, and made no sign of restlessness, the room.