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with the agitations and exertions of the day after his night of hard
work； had fallen asleep on a bench in the workshop； and Seth was
in the back kitchen making a fire of sticks that he might get the
kettle to boil； and persuade his mother to have a cup of tea； an
indulgence which she rarely allowed herself。
There was no one in the kitchen when Lisbeth entered and
threw herself into the chair。 She looked round with blank eyes at
the dirt and confusion on which the bright afternoon’s sun shone
dismally； it was all of a piece with the sad confusion of her mind—
that confusion which belongs to the first hours of a sudden sorrow；
when the poor human soul is like one who has been deposited
sleeping among the ruins of a vast city； and wakes up in dreary
amazement； not knowing whether it is the growing or the dying
day—not knowing why and whence came this illimitable scene of
desolation； or why he too finds himself desolate in the midst of it。
At another time Lisbeth’s first thought would have been；
“Where is Adam？” but the sudden death of her husband had
restored him in these hours to that first place in her affections
which he had held six…and…twenty years ago。 She had forgotten his
faults as we forget the sorrows of our departed childhood； and
thought of nothing but the young husband’s kindness and the old
man’s patience。 Her eyes continued to wander blankly until Seth
came in and began to remove some of the scattered things； and
clear the small round deal table that he might set out his mother’s
tea upon it。
“What art goin’ to do？” she said； rather peevishly。
“I want thee to have a cup of tea； Mother；” answered Seth；
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tenderly。 “It’ll do thee good； and I’ll put two or three of these
things away； and make the house look more comfortable。”
“Comfortable！ How canst talk o’ ma’in’ things comfortable？ Let
a…be； let a…be。 There’s no comfort for me no more；” she went on；
the tears coming when she began to speak； “now thy poor
feyther’s gone； as I’n washed for and mended； an’ got’s victual for
him for thirty ’ear； an’ him allays so pleased wi’ iverything I done
for him； an’ used to be so handy an’ do the jobs for me when I war
ill an’ cumbered wi’ th’ babby； an’ made me the posset an’ brought
it upstairs as proud as could be； an’ carried the lad as war as heavy
as two children for five mile an’ ne’er grumbled； all the way to
Warson Wake； ’cause I wanted to go an’ see my sister； as war dead
an’ gone the very next Christmas as e’er come。 An’ him to be
drownded in the brook as we passed o’er the day we war married
an’ come home together； an’ he’d made them lots o’ shelves for me
to put my plates an’ things on； an’ showed ’em me as proud as
could be； ’cause he know’d I should be pleased。 An’ he war to die
an’ me not to know； but to be a…sleepin’ i’ my bed； as if I caredna
nought about it。 Eh！ An’ me to live to see that！ An’ us as war young
folks once； an’ thought we should do rarely when we war married。
Let a…be； lad； let a…be！ I wonna ha’ no tay。 I carena if I ne’er ate nor
drink no more。 When one end o’ th’ bridge tumbles down； where’s
th’ use o’ th’ other stannin’？ I may ’s well die； an’ foller my old
man。 There’s no knowin’ but he’ll want me。”
Here Lisbeth broke from words into moans； swaying herself
backwards and forwards on her chair。 Seth； always timid in his
behaviour towards his mother； from the sense that he had no
influence over her； felt it was useless to attempt to persuade or
soothe her till this passion was past； so he contented himself with
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tending the back kitchen fire and folding up his father’s clothes；
which had been hanging out to dry since morning—afraid to move
about in the room where his mother was； lest he should irritate
her further。
But after Lisbeth had been rocking herself and moaning for
some minutes； she suddenly paused and said aloud to herself； “I’ll
go an’ see arter Adam； for I canna think where he’s gotten； an’ I
want him to go upstairs wi’ me afore it’s dark； for the minutes to
look at the corpse is like the meltin’ snow。”
Seth overheard this； and coming into the kitchen again； as his
mother rose from her chair； he said； “Adam’s asleep in the
workshop； mother。 Thee’dst better not wake him。 He was
o’erwrought with work and trouble。”
“Wake him？ Who’s a…goin’ to wake him？ I shanna wake him wi’
lookin’ at him。 I hanna seen the lad this two hour—I’d welly forgot
as he’d e’er growed up from a babby when’s feyther carried him。”
Adam was seated on a rough bench； his head supported by his
arm； which rested from the shoulder to the elbow on the long
planing…table in the middle of the workshop。 It seemed as if he had
sat down for a few minutes’ rest and had fallen asleep without
slipping from his first attitude of sad； fatigued thought。 His face；
unwashed since yesterday； looked pallid and clammy； his hair was
tossed shaggily about his forehead； and his closed eyes had the
sunken look which follows upon watching and sorrow。 His brow
was knit； and his whole face had an expression of weariness and
pain。 Gyp was evidently uneasy； for he sat on his haunches； resting
his nose on his master’s stretched…out leg； and dividing the time
between licking the hand that hung listlessly down and glancing
with a listening air towards the door。 The poor dog was hungry
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and restless； but would not leave his master； and was waiting
imp