, 1859-01-13
From "A Hon.e to Let,"1
The MANCHESTER MARRIAGE.
BT CHAS. DICKENS,

life, 10 be introspectivc. lie did not know
that he had any tenderness in bis nature and
il he had become consious Of its abstract ex-
fstcncc, he would have considered it as q
| manifestation Of disease in some part Of his
| nature. But he was decoyed into pity una.
| wares ; nnl pity led on TO tenderness. That
| little helpless clld--always carried about by
Que ol The three busy women Of the houEe, or
else patiently threading colored beads in tha
chair iron which, by no effort of its own could
| it ever move the great grarc blue eyes, full
of serious, not uucheertnl expression, giving
to the small delicate face a l.ok beyond it's
years tue soft, plaintive voice dropping out
hut lew Wotds, 70 unlike the continual pratt
tie ofa child-caucht Mr. 0rensf,ans's at
tcntion in spite Of himself. One lay-he
half scorncd himself for doing so he cut
short his liuucr-hour 10 60 in search OF SONS
toy which should take the place OF those etcr-
nal leads / forgot what he bought; but,
when he gave the present (Which he took care
to DO III short abrupt manuer, aud when 10
ore Tas by to see hi1n) he was almost thrilled
hy the flash Of delight that came aver tia,
clid:s face and could not help all through
that afternoon going over aud orer a.4iu tie
picture left on his memory by the bri INT eifsct
1t unexpected joy OIL the little girls tace.
When be returned home hc found lis sippeEu
rlnccd by bis situng-room fire, aud even more
careful attention paid to lis fancies than WIS
llabltual in thosc molel lodgings. Wien
Alice had taken the last Of bis tea things
Away, she had been silent as usual till then,
size stood for monent With the door in lcr
llaul. Mr.. 0pcnshaw looked a5 if h. were
deep in his book, though in fact lie did not
sec IL llnc bu: was heartily: wishing the NO.
man would he gone, a!:l not make auy palA-
tl} T,,$. II.
'' AM very much obliged to y.u, Sir,
letote lie could scnd ltr away With :. There
my go"l woman, that's cHs'ush!''
FnE s"n,e time longer he tuck no apparent
notce Of the child. Lie even hardened his
heart into disrcga,llng her sudden flush ot
color and little ti1nil smile of recognition,
When he eaw her by shance. But, after all,
this could not last forever J; and, having
second time given way to tenderness, there
was no relapse. The insidous enemy having
thus entered his heart, in the guise Of COM
passion to the child, soon assumed the more
dangerous form Of interest in tie mother,
lie was aware Of this change Of feeling, 1es-
pissed himself for it, struggled with it nav.
Internally yielded to it and cherished it, long
before he suffered the slightest expression oi
it, ly word, action, or look, 10 escape him.
lie watched Alice's docile obclieut ways to
Acr stcPmothcr ; the love which she had ill.,
epircd in the rough Nurah{ {roughcned by the
wear and tear Of sorrow aud yearS) but
above all, lie san 'de Mild, deep Passionate
affection existing between her and her Guild.
They spoke little to any ono else, or when
any one else was by but wien alone toeeth-
cr they talked, and murmu1cd, and cooed,
md chartered 80 continually, that Mr.. Open
shaw first wondered what they could find to
say to each other, and next bacume irritated
because they we're always so grave aud silent
with him. AL this time he was perpctually
deris!ng slnall new pleasures for the child
His thoughts ran, in pertinacious wav. up.
on the desolate life before her; aud often lie
came lack from his day + work loaded with
the very thing Alice had been longing for hut
Lad not been able to procure. One time It
WAS little chair for drawing the little sui
teFer along the streets, anil many nn evening
that ensuing summer Mr.. Openslaw drew her
along himself, regardless Of the remarks of
hs acquaintance. Que day in autumn lie
put down bis newspaper, Us Alice came in
with the breakfast, and said. in Is indifferent
a vojcc as lie could assume:
''MrS- Frank, is there any reason why we
two should not put up cur horses together -
Alice stood still IN perplesed woua,r
What did he mcau? He had resumed tic
reading Of his newspaper as it he did not ex-
rect any answer; 50 Sue found silence ler 81
fest course. and went On, quietly arranging
Ills breakfast without another word passing
between them. Just as he Was leaving tue
house to SO to tile warehouse Us. usual, be
turned back aud put his head into the bright,
neat. tidy kitchen, where All the woman
brcaktastesf in the morning:
You'll think vi what said, Mrs. Frank"
(this Was her name with the lodgers), sand
let me have your opiaiou upon It Tonight"
Alice vas thankful that her mother and
Norah were too busy talking together to at
tend much to this speech. She determined
not to tliuk about it ut all through the day
aud Of course, the effort not to think made
her think all the more. At night she sent up
Norah with his tea, ButMr. Opcnshaw al.
most knocked Norah down as she WIS going
out at the door, By pushing past her aud cali
lug ont "Ars. Trunk ~ in an impa' icnt voice,
at the top of the stairs.
Alice went up, rather than seem 10 hare
affixed too much meaning to bis words.
"Nell, Mrs. F1auk,'' be sa:d, "what an
swer! Don't make It too long for have
lots of office work to get through to-n;eht''
II hardly know what you meant, Sir"
truthful Alice.
"Telll shon!l have thought you might
have guessed. You're not new at this sort
Of work, and am. However, I'll makeit
plain this time. It'll you hare me, to b. thy
welded husband, ard serve me, and all that
sort Of thing Because, it you will, will
do as much by you, and be I father to your
child-and that's more than Is put in the
prayer. book. Now, I'm man Of my word ;
and what I say, I feel and what 1p1onise, I'll
d.. Now, for your ans"er"
Alice was silent He begau to make the
tea. as If her reply Was matter Of perfect
indifference to him; but, as eoou as that was
done. he became inpatient
"Weu! y. said Ae-
.. How long, mir, may I have to think over
Three minutes!:' uooling at his watch.)
"You've had two already-that makes five.
Be- sensible woman, say Yes. and nit down
to tea with me, and we'll talk it over TO-
gether; for, alter ten, shall be busy; say
Mop {he hcsitated moment to try and keep
his voice in the sarne tone,) 'sana shan't say
another word about it, but pay up YEARS
rent for my rooms tomorrow, and be of.
Times up! Yes OF not"
~ yon please. sr-yon have been eo good
to little Ailsie-''
"There, sit do1n comfortably By me on the
eofa, and let US have our tea together. am
glad to find you are as good and sensible rs I |
took you for."'
And this Was Alice Wilson's second wooing, |
Mr. Qpenthaw's will WIS too etron1, and ]
Efs hSHn,-.Ir&- sxe kn,, :.