She looked round for Nicholas Higgins. He was not there. So she

spoke to the woman who had taken the lead in placing Mrs. Boucher

on the floor.

'Can you give all these people a hint that they had better leave

in quietness? So that when she comes round, she should only find

one or two that she knows about her. Papa, will you speak to the

men, and get them to go away? She cannot breathe, poor thing,

with this crowd about her.' Margaret was kneeling down by Mrs. Boucher and bathing he face

with vinegar; but in a few minutes she was surprised at the gush

of fresh air. She looked round, and saw a smile pass between her

father and the woman.

'What is it?' asked she.

'Only our good friend here,' replied her father, 'hit on a

capital expedient for clearing the place.' 'I bid 'em begone, and each take a child with 'em, and to mind

that they were orphans, and their mother a widow. It was who

could do most, and the childer are sure of a bellyful to-day, and

of kindness too. Does hoo know how he died?' 'No,' said Margaret; 'I could not tell her all at once.' 'Hoo mun be told because of th' Inquest. See! Hoo's coming round;

shall you or I do it? or mappen your father would be best?' 'No; you, you,' said Margaret.

They awaited her perfect recovery in silence. Then the neighbour

woman sat down on the floor, and took Mrs. Boucher's head and

shoulders on her lap.

'Neighbour,' said she, 'your man is dead. Guess yo' how he died?' 'He were drowned,' said Mrs. Boucher, feebly, beginning to cry

for the first time, at this rough probing of her sorrows.

'He were found drowned. He were coming home very hopeless o'

aught on earth. He thought God could na be harder than men;

mappen not so hard; mappen as tender as a mother; mappen

tenderer. I'm not saying he did right, and I'm not saying he did

wrong. All I say is, may neither me nor mine ever have his sore

heart, or we may do like things.' 'He has left me alone wi' a' these children!' moaned the widow,

less distressed at the manner of the death than Margaret

expected; but it was of a piece with her helpless character to

feel his loss as principally affecting herself and her children.

'Not alone,' said Mr. Hale, solemnly. 'Who is with you? Who will

take up your cause?' The widow opened her eyes wide, and looked

at the new speaker, of whose presence she had not been aware till

then.




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