's share of the punishment had been in some ways
lighter than hers, in others harder. He had less loneliness; but, on
the other hand, by his constant intercourse with men, he was frequently
reminded of the barrier which separated himself and his wife from
all that went on in the village. He had the same mirthful, social
temperament which she had: the thoughtless, childish, pleasure-loving
quality, which they had in common, had been the root of their sin; and
was now the instrument of their suffering. Stronger people could have
borne up better; worse people might have found a certain evil solace in
evil ways and with evil associates: but Jim and Sally were incapable
of any such course; they were simply two utterly broken-spirited and
hopeless children whose punishment had been greater than they could
bear. In a dogged way, because they must live, Jim went on earning a
little money as surveyor and draughtsman. He often talked of going away
into some new faraway place where they could have, as he said, in the
same words Hetty had used, "a fair chance;" but Sally would not go. "It
would not make a bit of difference," she said: "it would be sure to be
found out, and strange folks would despise us even more than our own
folks do; perhaps things will come round right after a while, if we stay
here." Jim did not insist, for he loved Sally tenderly; and he felt, to
the core of his heart, that the least he could do for her now was to let
her live where she chose to live: but he grew more sullen and dogged,
day by day; and Sally grew sadder and quieter, and things were fast
coming to a bad pass, when Hetty Gunn's generous offer came to them,
like a great rift of sunlight in a black sky.

When Sally sank into the chair sobbing, Hetty made a quick movement
towards her, and was about to speak; but, seeing that old Nan was
hastening to do the same thing, she wisely waited, thinking to
herself,--

"If Nan will only take her under her wing, all will go well."

Old Nan's tenderness of heart was unlimited. If her worst enemy were
in pain or sorrow, she would succor him: ready perhaps to take up
the threads of her resentment again, as soon as his sufferings were
alleviated; but a very Samaritan of good offices as long as he needed
them. Caesar, so well understood this trait in her, that in their
matrimonial disputes, which, it must be confessed, were frequent and
sharp, when all other weapons failed him, he fell back on the colic. He
ha