m　or　given　away　to　a　poor　child；　and　the　act　　applauded　for　its　unfeeling　charity。　　Little　wonder　if　she　　becomes　hurt　and　angry；　and　attempts　to　tyrannise　and　to　　grasp　her　old　power　back　again。　　We　are　not　all　patient　　Grizzels；　by　good　fortune；　but　the　most　of　us　human　beings　　with　feelings　and　tempers　of　our　own。
  And　so；　in　the　end；　behold　her　in　the　room　that　I　described。　　　Very　likely　and　very　naturally；　in　some　fling　of　feverish　　misery　or　recoil　of　thwarted　love；　she　has　quarrelled　with　　her　old　employers　and　the　children　are　forbidden　to　see　her　　or　to　speak　to　her；　or　at　best　she　gets　her　rent　paid　and　a　　little　to　herself；　and　now　and　then　her　late　charges　are　sent　　up　（with　another　nurse；　perhaps）　to　pay　her　a　short　visit。　　　How　bright　these　visits　seem　as　she　looks　forward　to　them　on　　her　lonely　bed！　　How　unsatisfactory　their　realisation；　when　　the　forgetful　child；　half　wondering；　checks　with　every　word　　and　action　the　outpouring　of　her　maternal　love！　　How　bitter　　and　restless　the　memories　that　they　leave　behind！　　And　for　　the　rest；　what　else　has　she？　…　to　watch　them　with　eager　eyes　　as　they　go　to　school；　to　sit　in　church　where　she　can　see　them　　every　Sunday；　to　be　passed　some　day　unnoticed　in　the　street；　　or　deliberately　cut　because　the　great　man　or　the　great　woman　　are　with　friends　before　whom　they　are　ashamed　to　recognise　　the　old　woman　that　loved　them。
  When　she　goes　home　that　night；　how　lonely　will　the　room　　appear　to　her！　　Perhaps　the　neighbours　may　hear　her　sobbing　　to　herself　in　the　dark；　with　the　fire　burnt　out　for　want　of　　fuel；　and　the　candle　still　unlit　upon　the　table。
  And　it　is　for　this　that　they　live；　these　quasi…mothers　…　　mothers　in　everything　but　the　travail　and　the　thanks。　　It　is　　for　this　that　they　have　remained　virtuous　in　youth；　living　　the　dull　life　of　a　household　servant。　　It　is　for　this　that　　they　refused　the　old　sweetheart；　and　have　no　fireside　or　　offspring　of　their　own。
  I　believe　in　a　better　state　of　things；　that　there　will　be　no　　more　nurses；　and　that　every　mother　will　nurse　her　own　　offspring；　for　what　can　be　more　hardening　and　demoralising　　than　to　call　forth　the　tenderest　feelings　of　a　woman's　heart　　and　cherish　them　yourself　as　long　as　you　need　them；　as　long　　as　your　children　require　a　nurse　to　love　them；　and　then　to　　blight　and　thwart　and　destroy　them；　whenever　your　own　use　for　　them　is　at　an　end。　　This　may　be　Utopian；　but　it　is　always　a　　little　thing　if　one　mother　or　two　mothers　can　be　brought　to　　feel　more　tenderly　to　those　who　share　their　toil　and　have　no　　part　in　their　reward。
  SKETCHES　CHAPTER　V　…　A　CHARACTER
  THE　man　has　a　red；　bloated　face；　and　his　figure　is　short　and　　squat。　　So　far　there　is　nothing　in　him　to　notice；　but　when　　you　see　his　eyes；　you　can　read　in　these　hard　and　shallow　orbs　　a　depravity　beyond　measure　depraved；　a　thirst　after　　wickedness；　the　pure；　disinterested　love　of　Hell　for　its　own　　sake。　　The　other　night；　in　the　street；　I　was　watching　an　　omnibus　passing　with　lit…up　windows；　when　I　heard　some　one　　coughing　at　my　side　as　though　he　would　cough　his　soul　out；　　and　turning　round；　I　saw　him　stopping　under　a　lamp；　with　a　　brown　greatcoat　buttoned　round　him　and　his　whole　face　　convulsed。　　It　seemed　as　if　he　could　not　live　long；　and　so　　the　sight　set　my　mind　upon　a　train　of　thought；　as　I　finished　　my　cigar　up　and　down　the　lighted　streets。
  He　is　old；　but　all　these　years　have　not　yet　quenched　his　　thirst　for　evil；　and　his　eyes　still　delight　themselves　in　　wickedness。　　He　is　dumb；　but　he　will　not　let　that　hinder　his　　foul　trade；　or　perhaps　I　should　say；　his　yet　fouler　　amusement；　and　he　has　pressed　a　slate　into　the　service　of　　corruption。　　Look　at　him；　and　he　will　sign　to　you　with　his　　bloated　head；　and　when　you　go　to　him　in　answer　to　the　sign；　　thinking　perhaps　that　the　poor　dumb　man　has　lost　his　way；　you　　will　see　what　he　writes　upon　his　slate。　　He　haunts　the　doors　　of　schools；　and　shows　such　inscriptions　as　these　to　the　　innocent　children　that　come　out。　　He　hangs　about　picture…　galleries；　and　makes　the　noblest　pictures　the　text　for　some　　silent　homily　of　vice。　　His　industry　is　a　lesson　to　　ourselves。　　Is　it　not　wonderful　how　he　can　triumph　over　his　　infirmities　and　do　such　an　amount　of　harm　without　a　tongue？　　　Wonderful　industry　…　strange；　fruitless；　pleasureless　toil？　　　Must　not　the　very　devil　feel　a　soft　emotion　to　see　his　　disinterested　and　laborious　service？　　Ah；　but　the　devil　knows　　better　than　this：　he　knows　that　this　man　is　penetrated　with　　the　love　of　evil　and　that　all　his　pleasure　is　shut　up　in　　wickedness：　he　recognises　him；　perhaps；　as　a　fit　type　for　　mankind　of　his　satanic　self；　and　watches　over　his　effigy　as　　we　might　watch　over　a　favourite　likeness。　　As　the　business　　man　comes　to　love　the　toil；　which　he　only　looked　upon　at　　first　as　a　ladder　towards　other　desires　and　less　unnatural　　gratifications；　so　the　dumb　man　has　felt　the　charm　of　his　　trade　and　fallen　captivated　before　the　eyes　of　sin。　　It　is　a　　mistake　when　preachers　tell　us　that　vice　is　hideous　and　　loathsome；　for　even　vice　has　her　Horsel　and　her　devotees；　who　　love　her　for　her　own　sake。
  THE　GREAT　NORTH　ROAD　CHAPTER　I　…　NANCE　AT　THE　'GREEN　DRAGON'
  NANCE　HOLDAWAY　was　on　her　knees　before　the　fire　blowing　the　　green　wood　that　voluminously　smoked　upon　the　dogs；　and　only　　now　and　then　shot　forth　a　smothered　flame；　her　knees　already　　ached　and　her　eyes　smarted；　for　she　had　been　some　while　at　　this　ungrateful　task；　but　her　mind　was　gone　far　away　to　meet　　the　coming　stranger。　　Now　she　met　him　in　the　wood；　now　at　the　　castle　gate；　now　in　the　kitchen　by　candle…light；　each　fresh　　presentment　eclipsed　the　one　before；　a　form　so　elegant；　　manners　so　sedate；　a　countenance　so　brave　and　comely；　a　voice　　so　winning　and　resolute　…　sure　such　a　man　was　never　seen！　　　The　thick…coming　fancies　poured　and　brightened　in　her　head　　like　the　smoke　and　flames　upon　the　hearth。
  Presently　the　heavy　foot　of　her　uncle　Jonathan　was　heard　upon　　the　stair；　and　as　he　entered　the　room　she　bent　the　closer　to　　her　work。　　He　glanced　at　the　green　fagots　with　a　sneer；　and　　looked　askance　at　the　bed　and　the　white　sheets；　at　the　strip　　of　carpet　laid；　like　an　island；　on　the　great　expanse　of　the　　stone　floor；　and　at　the　broken　glazing　of　the　casement　　clumsily　repaired　with　paper。
  'Leave　that　fire　a…be；'　he　cried。　　'What；　have　I　toiled　all　　my　life　to　turn　innkeeper　at　the　hind　end？　　Leave　it　a…be；　I　　say。'
  'La；　uncle；　it　doesn't　burn　a　bit；　it　only　smokes；'　said　　Nance；　looking　up　from　her　position。
  'You　are　come　of　decent　people　on　both　sides；'　returned　the　　old　man。　　'Who　are　you　to　blow　the　coals　for　any　Robin…run…　agate？　　Get　up；　get　on　your　hood；　make　yourself　useful；　and　　be　off　to　the　〃Green　Dragon。〃'
  'I　thought　you　was　to　go　yourself；'　Nance　faltered。
  'So　did　I；'　quoth　Jonathan；　'but　it　appears　I　was　mistook。'
  The　very　excess　of　her　eagerness　alarmed　her；　and　she　began　　to　hang　back。　　'I　think　I　would　rather　not；　dear　uncle；'　she　　said。　　'Night　is　at　hand；　and　I　think；　dear；　I　would　rather　　not。'
  'Now　you　look　here；'　replied　Jonathan；　'I　have　my　lord's　　orders；　have　I　not？　　Little　he　gives　me；　but　it's　all　my　　livelihood。　　And　do　you　fancy；　if　I　disobey　my　lord；　I'm　　likely　to　turn　round　for　a　lass　like　you？　　No；　I've　that　　hell…fire　of　pain　in　my　old　knee；　I　wouldn't　walk　a　mile；　not　　for　King　George　upon　his　bended　knees。'　　And　he　walked　to　the　　window　and　looked　down　the　steep　scarp　to　where　the　river　　foamed　in　the　bottom　of　the　dell。
  Nance　stayed　for　no　more　bidding。　　In　her　own　room；　by　the　　glimmer　of　the　twilight；　she　washed　her　hands　and　pulled　on　　her　Sunday　mittens；　adjusted　her　black　hood；　and　tied　a　dozen　　times　its　cherry　ribbons；　and　in　less　than　ten　minutes；　with　　a　fluttering　heart　and　excellently　bright　eyes；　she　passed　　forth　under　the　arch　and　over　the　bridge；　into　the　thickening　　shadows　of　the　groves。　　A　well…marked　wheel…track　conducted　　her。　　The　wood；　which　upon　both　sides　of　the　river　dell　was　a　　mere　scrambling　thicket　of　hazel；　hawthorn；　and　holly；　　boasted　on　the　level　of　more　considerable　timber。　　Beeches　　came　to　a　good　growth；　with　here　and　there　an　oak；　and　the　　track　now　passed　under　a　high　arcade　of　branches；　and　now　ran　　under　the　open　sky　in　glades。　　As　the　girl　proceeded　these　　glades　became　more　frequent；　the　trees　began　again　to　decline　　in　size；　and　the　wood　to　degenerate　into　furzy　coverts。　　Last　　of　all　there　was　a　fringe　of　elders；　and　beyond　that　the　　track　came　forth　upon　an　open；　rolling　moorland；　dotted　with　　wind…bowed　and　scanty　bushes；　and　all　golden　brown　with　the　　winter；　like　a　grouse。　　Right　over　against　the　girl　the　last　　red　embers　of　the　sunset　burned　under　horizontal　clouds；　the　　night　fell　clear　and　still　and　frosty；　and　the　track　in　low　　and　marshy　passages　began　to　crackle　under　foot　with　ice。
  Some　half　a　mile　beyond　the　borders　of　the　wood　the　lights　of　　the　'Green　Dragon'　hove　in　sight；　and　running　close　beside　　them；　very　faint　in　the　dying　dusk；　the　pale　ribbon　of　the　　Great　North　Road。　　It　was　the　back　of　the　post…house　that　was　　presented　to　Nance　Holdaway；　and　as　she　continued　to　draw　　near　and　the　night　to　fall　more　completely；　she　became　aware　　of　an　unusual　brightness　and　bustle。　　A　post…chaise　stood　i