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anxiously in its face： then strained it to her bosom again。 At
those times； when she gazed upon it； then it was that something
fierce and terrible began to mingle with her love。 Then it was
that her old father quailed。
'Follow her！' was sounded through the house。 'Learn it； from the
creature dearest to your heart！'
'Margaret；' said Fern； bending over her； and kissing her upon the
brow： 'I thank you for the last time。 Good night。 Good bye！ Put
your hand in mine； and tell me you'll forget me from this hour； and
try to think the end of me was here。'
'What have you done？' she asked again。
'There'll be a Fire to…night；' he said； removing from her。
'There'll be Fires this winter…time； to light the dark nights；
East； West； North； and South。 When you see the distant sky red；
they'll be blazing。 When you see the distant sky red； think of me
no more； or； if you do； remember what a Hell was lighted up inside
of me； and think you see its flames reflected in the clouds。 Good
night。 Good bye！' She called to him； but he was gone。 She sat
down stupefied； until her infant roused her to a sense of hunger；
cold； and darkness。 She paced the room with it the livelong night；
hushing it and soothing it。 She said at intervals； 'Like Lilian；
when her mother died and left her！' Why was her step so quick； her
eye so wild； her love so fierce and terrible； whenever she repeated
those words？
'But； it is Love；' said Trotty。 'It is Love。 She'll never cease
to love it。 My poor Meg！'
She dressed the child next morning with unusual care … ah； vain
expenditure of care upon such squalid robes！ … and once more tried
to find some means of life。 It was the last day of the Old Year。
She tried till night； and never broke her fast。 She tried in vain。
She mingled with an abject crowd； who tarried in the snow； until it
pleased some officer appointed to dispense the public charity （the
lawful charity； not that once preached upon a Mount）； to call them
in； and question them； and say to this one； 'Go to such a place；'
to that one； 'Come next week；' to make a football of another
wretch； and pass him here and there； from hand to hand； from house
to house； until he wearied and lay down to die； or started up and
robbed； and so became a higher sort of criminal； whose claims
allowed of no delay。 Here； too； she failed。
She loved her child； and wished to have it lying on her breast。
And that was quite enough。
It was night： a bleak； dark； cutting night： when； pressing the
child close to her for warmth； she arrived outside the house she
called her home。 She was so faint and giddy； that she saw no one
standing in the doorway until she was close upon it； and about to
enter。 Then； she recognised the master of the house； who had so
disposed himself … with his person it was not difficult … as to
fill up the whole entry。
'O！' he said softly。 'You have come back？'
She looked at the child； and shook her head。
'Don't you think you have lived here long enough without paying any
rent？ Don't you think that； without any money； you've been a
pretty constant customer at this shop； now？' said Mr。 Tugby。
She repeated the same mute appeal。
'Suppose you try and deal somewhere else；' he said。 'And suppose
you provide yourself with another lodging。 Come！ Don't you think
you could manage it？'
She said in a low voice； that it was very late。 To…morrow。
'Now I see what you want；' said Tugby； 'and what you mean。 You
know there are two parties in this house about you； and you delight
in setting 'em by the ears。 I don't want any quarrels； I'm
speaking softly to avoid a quarrel； but if you don't go away； I'll
speak out loud； and you shall cause words high enough to please
you。 But you shan't come in。 That I am determined。'
She put her hair back with her hand； and looked in a sudden manner
at the sky； and the dark lowering distance。
'This is the last night of an Old Year； and I won't carry ill…blood
and quarrellings and disturbances into a New One； to please you nor
anybody else；' said Tugby； who was quite a retail Friend and
Father。 'I wonder you an't ashamed of yourself； to carry such
practices into a New Year。 If you haven't any business in the
world； but to be always giving way； and always making disturbances
between man and wife； you'd be better out of it。 Go along with
you。'
'Follow her！ To desperation！'
Again the old man heard the voices。 Looking up； he saw the figures
hovering in the air； and pointing where she went； down the dark
street。
'She loves it！' he exclaimed； in agonised entreaty for her。
'Chimes！ she loves it still！'
'Follow her！' The shadow swept upon the track she had taken； like
a cloud。
He joined in the pursuit； he kept close to her； he looked into her
face。 He saw the same fierce and terrible expression mingling with
her love； and kindling in her eyes。 He heard her say； 'Like
Lilian！ To be changed like Lilian！' and her speed redoubled。
O； for something to awaken her！ For any sight； or sound； or scent；
to call up tender recollections in a brain on fire！ For any gentle
image of the Past； to rise before her！
'I was her father！ I was her father！' cried the old man；
stretching out his hands to the dark shadows flying on above。
'Have mercy on her； and on me！ Where does she go？ Turn her back！
I was her father！'
But they only pointed to her； as she hurried on； and said； 'To
desperation！ Learn it from the creature dearest to your heart！' A
hundred voices echoed it。 The air was made of breath expended in
those words。 He seemed to take them in； at every gasp he drew。
They were everywhere； and not to be escaped。 And still she hurried
on； the same light in her eyes； the same words in her mouth； 'Like
Lilian！ To be changed like Lilian！' All at once she stopped。
'Now； turn her back！' exclaimed the old man； tearing his white
hair。 'My child！ Meg！ Turn her back！ Great Father； turn her
back！'
In her own scanty shawl； she wrapped the baby warm。 With her
fevered hands； she smoothed its limbs； composed its face； arranged
its mean attire。 In her wasted arms she folded it； as though she
never would resign it more。 And with her dry lips； kissed it in a
final pang； and last long agony of Love。
Putting its tiny hand up to her neck； and holding it there； within
her dress； next to her distracted heart； she set its sleeping face
against her： closely； steadily； against her： and sped onward to
the River。
To the rolling River； swift and dim； where Winter Night sat
brooding like the last dark thoughts of many who had sought a
refuge there before her。 Where scattered lights upon the banks
gleamed sullen； red； and dull； as torches that were burning there；
to show the way to Death。 Where no abode of living people cast its
shadow； on the deep； impenetrable； melancholy shade。
To the River！ To that portal of Eternity； her desperate footsteps
tended with the swiftness of its rapid waters running to the sea。
He tried to touch her as she passed him； going down to its dark
level： but； the wi