, 1859-01-17
from "a House 70 Let."1
THE MANCHESTER MARRIAGE,


she went up stairs to the nursery to tell you
about; whom you came down to speak to;
the chap, l make no doubt, whom you took
into the nursery to have your talk out with:
whom Ailsie EAw, and afterwards dreamed
about; thinking, poor wench! s,e saw him
say his prayers, when nothing, III be bound,
was farther from his thoughts; 1ho took Mrs.
Chadwick'S trooch, value ten pounds. Now,
Noral! don't 60 OF! I am as sure as
that my names Thomas Opeusbaw that you
knew nothing Of this robbery. But do think
you've been imposed on, aht that's the truth.
Some good for nothing chap has been making
up to you, aud you've been just like all other
women, and hare turned 4 suit place in your
heart to him; aud you had him up in the nur-
scry, and he made use Of his opportunities,
and made of with few things on bis way
down! Come, now, Norah, it's no blame to
you, only you mnst mot be such a fool again
fell u.s." he continued, "wbat name he gave
you, Norah: I'll be bouud it was not Tie
right one, but it will BE- a clew for the
police"
Sorah drew herself up. "You may ask
| that question, aid taunt nlc With being single,
! and with my crrtluliy, as you will, Master
| Oprnshaw. You'll ret no answer from me.
AS for the brooch, aud the story Of theft and
hurs lazy, if auy friend cycr came to sec, me-
! (which defy you to prove, and leny), he'd
! be just as much above doing such thing as
you, yourself, Mr. Openslsaw, and more 20,
too; tor l'm not at all sure as everything you
have is rightly come by, or would be yours
long If every man had his oUI." She meant,
| If course, lis wifv; but he understood her to
| refer to his properly in goods and chattles.
| "Now, nv good woman" raid he, "l'll
| just tell you truly, never trusted you out
and out; but my vile liked yon, und I
thought you bud many good poiut about
| you. If you once begin to sauce me, iii hare
the police to you. and get out the truth in
court OF insticc, il you'll not tell me quietly
| and civi}ly here. Now the hest thing you
can do is to quietly telfme who the fellow is.
Look here! i man comcs to my house; asks
ior you; you take him up stairs; valuable
brooch is missing next day ne know that
| you, and Mary, and cook, are honest but
| YOU refuse to tell us who tue man is. H.
decd you've told oEe lie already about him,
saying no one was here last night. Now /
just put it 10 you, what do you think police
man would say 10 This, or j magistrate? a
magistrate would soon MAKE you tell tue
truth, my good woman
"TAeye's ucvcr the creature born that
should get it out Of me-" s:id Norah. '' Not
unless choose to TILL"
.sI'Te great mind to sec" raid Mr.. Open.
shaw. growing angry ct the defiance. Then.
checking himself, be thought before he spoke
again:
sNora1l, for your Missus's sake don't
want 10 20 to extrcmites. Be sensible wo-
man il YOU can. It's no diEgrace after all to
have been taken in. l ask you once more MS
a friend, who Was this man whom you let into
my house last nigl't?"
No answer. lIe repeated the question 10
au impatient tone. Still no answer: Nozah's
lips we're set in determination not 10 speak.
ssThen there is but one thing to bc done.
shall send for a policeman"
.sYou will not" raid Norah, starting for
yarl "You shall not, Sir! No policeman
shall touch me. 1 know nothing of tlle
brooch, but know this: ever since I VA!
four.and-twcnty ] have thought more Of you1
wife than of myself; ever s1nce saw her 6
poor mother1ess girl, put upon in her unclc't
house, have thought OF serving her than o
serving myself. have cared for her anl
ler child Us nobody ever cared for me.
don't cast blame on you, Sir, but say it'
i'll giving up ones life to any one for, n
the end, they will turn upon Jon and for
sake you. Why does not my missus come her
self to suspect me! Maybe she is gone 70
the police. But doa't stay here either 70
police, or magistrate, or master. YOU'RE a
unlucky lot believe there's acurse on you
I'll leave you this very day. Yes, I'll leay
that poor Ailsic too. Twill! No good VII
ever come to yeu!'
Mr.. Ooenshnw was utterly astonished a
this spcech most. Of whicl Fas utterly unln
trllisible to him, as may easily be supposed
Before he could make up his mind what t
say, or what to do, Norah had left the room
I 10 not think he hud ever really intended t
!, send for the police to this old servant OF Ii
yifc's; for be had never for Il moment doub
cd her perfect honesty. But be had intende
to compel her to tell him who the man va
aud in this he was baf1ed. He was cons.
oucnlly much irritated. lie returned to
. uncle aud aunt ia a state OF great annoyane
and pcrp1exity, and told them he could s.
nothing out Of the woman hat some ma
. had been in the house the night before, bl
/ that she refused to tell who he was. At th
moment his wife came in, greatly agltatet
\ aud asked what had happened to Ro1ah Fl
, &ba. she had put on her things in passiona
y haste, md had left the house.
y .Thie looks suspicious" said Mr.. Cha
~ wick. at is not the way In which IN hone
person wonld have acted"
"Mr. Openshaw kept silence. He WIS soz
IL pcrple1ed. But Mrs. Openshaw turn
round On Mr. Chadwick with q sudden fierc
ness no one ever saw in her before
.sYou don't know Norah, uncle! She
gone because she is deeply burt at being St
pectel. Oh, wish l had seen her-that h
~ spoken to her myself. She would have 10
me anything" Alice wrung her bands. !,
u muEt confess" continued ME. ChadTi
to his nephew, in . lower voice. II can't ma
. you out You used to be word end bio
N, and otenest The blow first and now, VII
there is every cause for suspicion you Just
=, nadght Your missus is very good von1
. grant; hut she may have been put upon
. well as other folk, suppose. If sou do'
If lend fo5 the police SHALL"
"ve1y WE'LL" replied Mr. Openshaw, e
=: li!y, II caa't clear Norah. She won't cit
IS, he1self, as believe she might, If she wou
'S.a Only 1 wash my hands OF it !; for am 81
= the woman herself is honest, and she iiEet
EE, long time with my wife, and don't like
~ to come to shame"
- 4But she will then be forced to clear b
sKr self. That, at any rate, will be good THU
n avery well very well II am heart'sicl
=: the whole business. Come, Alice, come
bf to the babies; they'll be in sore way.