As soon as Jem and his mother were left by themselves, he
began on the subject uppermost in his mind.
"Mother!"
She put her handkerchief from her eyes, and turned quickly round so
as to face him where he stood, thinking what best to say. The
little action annoyed him, and he rushed at once into the subject.
"Mother! I am going back to Liverpool to-morrow morning to see how
Mary Barton is."
"And what's Mary Barton to thee, that thou shouldst be running after
her in that-a-way?"
"If she lives, she shall be my wedded wife. If she dies--mother, I
can't speak of what I shall feel if she dies." His voice was choked
in his throat.
For an instant his mother was interested by his words; and then came
back the old jealousy of being supplanted in the affections of that
son, who had been, as it were, newly born to her, by the escape he
had so lately experienced from danger. So she hardened her heart
against entertaining any feeling of sympathy; and turned away from
the face, which recalled the earnest look of his childhood, when he
had come to her in some trouble, sure of help and comfort.
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