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'And early？'
'And early。'
'So she said。 She said you never tired； or never owned that you tired。
Not all the time you lived together。 Not even when you fainted； between
work and fasting。 But I told you that； the last time I came。'
'You did；' she answered。 'And I implored you to tell me nothing more；
and you made me a solemn promise； Richard； that you never would。'
'A solemn promise；' he repeated； with a drivelling laugh and vacant
stare。 'A solemn promise。 To he sure。 A solemn promise！' Awakening；
as it were； after a time； in the same manner as before； he said with sudden
animation：
'How can I help it； Margaret？ What am I to do？ She has been to me
again！'
'Again！' cried Meg； clasping her hands。 'O； does she think of me so
often！ Has she been again！'
'Twenty times again；' said Richard。 'Margaret； she haunts me。 She
comes behind me in the street； and thrusts it in my hand。 I hear her foot
upon the ashes when I'm at my work （ha； ha！ that an't often）； and before I
can turn my head； her voice is in my ear； saying； 〃Richard； don't look
round。 For Heaven's love； give her this！〃 She brings it where I live：
she sends it in letters； she taps at the window and lays it on the sill。 What
CAN I do？ Look at it！〃
He held out in his hand a little purse； and chinked the money it
enclosed。
'Hide it；' sad Meg。 'Hide it！ When she comes again； tell her；
Richard； that I love her in my soul。 That I never lie down to sleep； but I
bless her； and pray for her。 That； in my solitary work； I never cease to
have her in my thoughts。 That she is with me； night and day。 That if I
died to…morrow； I would remember her with my last breath。 But； that I
cannot look upon it！'
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The Chimes
He slowly recalled his hand； and crushing the purse together； said with
a kind of drowsy thoughtfulness：
'I told her so。 I told her so； as plain as words could speak。 I've taken
this gift back and left it at her door； a dozen times since then。 But when
she came at last； and stood before me； face to face； what could I do？'
'You saw her！' exclaimed Meg。 'You saw her！ O； Lilian； my sweet
girl！ O； Lilian； Lilian！'
'I saw her；' he went on to say； not answering； but engaged in the same
slow pursuit of his own thoughts。 'There she stood： trembling！ 〃How
does she look； Richard？ Does she ever speak of me？ Is she thinner？
My old place at the table： what's in my old place？ And the frame she
taught me our old work on … has she burnt it； Richard！〃 There she was。
I heard her say it。'
Meg checked her sobs； and with the tears streaming from her eyes；
bent over him to listen。 Not to lose a breath。
With his arms resting on his knees； and stooping forward in his chair；
as if what he said were written on the ground in some half legible
character； which it was his occupation to decipher and connect； he went
on。
'〃Richard； I have fallen very low； and you may guess how much I have
suffered in having this sent back； when I can bear to bring it in my hand to
you。 But you loved her once； even in my memory； dearly。 Others
stepped in between you； fears； and jealousies； and doubts； and vanities；
estranged you from her； but you did love her； even in my memory！〃 I
suppose I did；' he said； interrupting himself for a moment。 'I did！ That's
neither here nor there … 〃O Richard； if you ever did； if you have any
memory for what is gone and lost； take it to her once more。 Once more！
Tell her how I laid my head upon your shoulder； where her own head
might have lain； and was so humble to you； Richard。 Tell her that you
looked into my face； and saw the beauty which she used to praise； all gone：
all gone： and in its place； a poor； wan； hollow cheek； that she would
weep to see。 Tell her everything； and take it back； and she will not refuse
again。 She will not have the heart！〃'
So he sat musing； and repeating the last words； until he woke again；
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The Chimes
and rose。
'You won't take it； Margaret？'
She shook her head； and motioned an entreaty to him to leave her。
'Good night； Margaret。'
'Good night！'
He turned to look upon her； struck by her sorrow； and perhaps by the
pity for himself which trembled in her voice。 It was a quick and rapid
action； and for the moment some flash of his old bearing kindled in his
form。 In the next he went as he had come。 Nor did this glimmer of a
quenched fire seem to light him to a quicker sense of his debasement。
In any mood； in any grief； in any torture of the mind or body； Meg's
work must be done。 She sat down to her task； and plied it。 Night；
midnight。 Still she worked。
She had a meagre fire； the night being very cold； and rose at intervals
to mend it。 The Chimes rang half…past twelve while she was thus
engaged； and when they ceased she heard a gentle knocking at the door。
Before she could so much as wonder who was there； at that unusual hour；
it opened。
O Youth and Beauty； happy as ye should be； look at this。 O Youth
and Beauty； blest and blessing all within your reach； and working out the
ends of your Beneficent Creator； look at this！
She saw the entering figure； screamed its name； cried 'Lilian！'
It was swift； and fell upon its knees before her： clinging to her dress。
'Up； dear！ Up！ Lilian！ My own dearest！'
'Never more； Meg； never more！ Here！ Here！ Close to you；
holding to you； feeling your dear breath upon my face！'
'Sweet Lilian！ Darling Lilian！ Child of my heart … no mother's love
can be more tender … lay your head upon my breast！'
'Never more； Meg。 Never more！ When I first looked into your face；
you knelt before me。 On my knees before you； let me die。 Let it be
here！'
'You have come bac