Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXV, June, 1852Various
General
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXV, June, 1852
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
She also had upon her face and arms the marks of ill-usage. She had
no kind of grace about her, but the grace of sympathy; but when she
condoled with the woman, and her own tears fell, she wanted no beauty.
I say condoled, but her only words were "Jenny! Jenny!" All the rest
was in the tone in which she said them.
I thought it very touching to see these two women, coarse and shabby
and beaten, so united; to see what they could be to one another; to
see how they felt for one another; how the heart of each to each was
softened by the hard trials of their lives. I think the best side of
such people is almost hidden from us. What the poor are to the poor is
little known excepting to themselves and God.
We felt it better to withdraw and leave them uninterrupted. We stole
out quietly, and without notice from any one except the man. He was
leaning against the wall near the door; and finding that there was
scarcely room for us to pass, went out before us. He seemed to want to
hide that he did this on our account, but we perceived that he did, and
thanked him. He made no answer.
Ada was so full of grief all the way home, and Richard, whom we found
at home, was so distressed to see her in tears (though he said to me
when she was not present, how beautiful it was too!) that we arranged
to return at night with some little comforts, and repeat our visit at
the brickmaker's house. We said as little as we could to Mr. Jarndyce,
but the wind changed directly.
Richard accompanied us at night to the scene of our morning expedition.
On our way there, we had to pass a noisy drinking-house, where a number
of men were flocking about the door. Among them, and prominent in some
dispute, was the father of the little child. At a short distance, we
passed the young man and the dog, in congenial company. The sister
was standing laughing and talking with some other young women, at the
corner of the row of cottages; but she seemed ashamed, and turned away
as we went by.
We left our escort within sight of the brickmaker's dwelling, and
proceeded by ourselves. When we came to the door, we found the woman
who had brought such consolation with her, standing there, looking
anxiously out.
"It's you, young ladies, is it?" she said in a whisper. "I'm a watching
for my master. My heart's in my mouth. If he was to catch me away from
home, he'd pretty near murder me."
"Do you mean your husband?" said I.
"Yes, miss, my master. Jenny's asleep, quite worn out. She's scarcely
had the child off her lap, poor thing, these seven days and nights,
except when I've been able to take it for a minute or two."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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