Sons and Lovers

here was a slight shrinking, a diminishing in his assurance. Physically even, he shrank, and his fine full presence waned. He never grew in t

penitence, hastened forward with his help. He came straight home from the pit, and stayed in at evening t

out of bed at six o'clock. At five, sometimes earlier, he woke, got straight out of bed, and went downstairs. When she could not

wspaper. Then he got his breakfast, made the tea, packed the bottom of the doors with rugs to shut out the draught, piled a big fire, and sat down to an hour of joy. He toasted his bacon on a fork and caught the drops of fat on his bread; then he put the rasher on his thick slice of bread, and cut off chunks with a clasp-knife, poured his tea into his saucer, and was happy. With his family about, meals were never so pleasant. He loathed a fork: it is a modern introduc

ed his tin bottle with tea. Cold tea without milk or sugar was the drink he preferred for the pit. Then he pulled off his

with a cup of tea because she was

ee a cup o' tea,

or you know I don't l

'll pop thee off

It pleased him to see

fe there's no su

big 'un," he r

r," she said,

to him. He always liked it when she put one out for him. He tied a scarf round his neck, put on his great, heavy boots, his coat, with the big pocket, that carried his snap-bag and his bottle of tea, and went forth into the fresh morning air, closing, without locking, the d

ovenly fashion, poking out the ashes, rubbing the fireplace, sweeping the hous

's no 'casions ter stir a peg all

augh, in spite o

r cooks itself

nowt about

if there w

o," he answer

oroughly cleaned; so she went down to the ash-pit with her dustpan. Mrs. Kirk, spying her, would contr

ep wagging

el deprecatingly. "Ther

the road. It was Mrs. Anthony, a black-haired, strange littl

t," said

ot a copperful of clothes, an

e's at t

trap, bending over bundles of cream-coloured stuff; while a cluster of women held up their arms to him

this week," she said

her. "I don't know h

ony. "You can find t

said Mrs. Morel. "And how much

nny a dozen," r

before I'd sit down and seam twenty-f

id Mrs. Anthony. "You

r seamed stockings hanging over their arms. The man, a common fellow, made jokes with

fireplace, which, as the fires were back to back, would make a great noise in the adjoining house. One morning Mrs. Kirk, mixing a p

knock, Mr

ldn't mind,

got over the wall on to Mrs. Morel's

you feeling?" she

h Mrs. Bower,"

ard, lifted up her strong

ie-Ag

At last Aggie came running up, and was sent for Mrs. Bower, wh

Annie and William for dinner. Mrs. Bow

ter's dinner, and make him an apple

pudding this day,

a mile and a half away from the bottom, worked usually till the first mate stopped, then he finished also. This day, however, the miner was sick of the work. At two o'clock he looked at his watch, by the light of the green can

Sorry?" cried Barke

le the world stand

on striking.

-breaking job

end of his tether, to answer. Still he

," said Barker. "It'll do to-morrow

er on this to-morrow,

na, somebody else'll

continued

'!" cried the men, le

ntinued

tch me up," said

g, wet with sweat, he threw his tool down, pulled on his coat, blew out his candle, took his lamp, and went. Down the main ro

r fell plash. Many colliers were waiting their turns to go up,

aid old Giles, who had h

ht at an auction for one-and-six. He stood on the edge of the pit-bank for a moment, looking out over the fields; grey rain was falling. The trucks stood full of wet, bright coal. Water ran down the sides of the waggons, ov

a gang, but he said nothing. He frowned peevishly as he went. Many men passed into the Prince of Wales or into Ellen's. Morel, feeling sufficie

of the colliers from Minton, their voices, and the bang, ba

antry door," she said. "Th' master'l

called for a drink, since it was raining.

l when her chil

he asked, feeli

b

to her heart. She looked at the child. It had blue eyes, and a lot of fair hair, an

grily. He closed his umbrella, and stood it in the sink; then he sluthered

about as bad as she can

bottle on the dresser, went back into the scullery and

ot a drink

on the table before Morel. He drank, gasped, wiped his big moustache on the end of his scarf, drank, gasped, and

master?" ask

his dinner," re

ll-sized dinner-plate-he began to eat. The fact that his wife was ill, that he had another boy, was nothing to him at that moment. He was too tired; h

ctantly upstairs. It was a struggle to face his wife at this moment, and he was tired. His face was black, and smeared with sweat.

re ter, then

ll right," s

'm

ired, and this bother was rather a nuisance t

a says," h

the sheet and

h, because he blessed by rote-pretending pate

w," sh

s," he answered

her, but could not bring herself to give any sign. She only breathed freely when

irth of his first baby, so he remained alone in the manse. He was a Bachelor of Arts of Cambridge, very shy, and no preacher. Mrs.

mind this day. She had always two dinners to cook, because she believed children should have their chief meal at midday, whereas Morel needed his at five o'clock. So Mr. Heaton would hold the baby, whilst Mrs. Morel beat up

d husband and wife, which had before been uninspired, like water, became filled with the Spirit, and was as wine, because, when

thought t

fe is dead; that is why he make

first cup of tea when they he

claimed Mrs. Morel,

was feeling rather savage. He nodded a "How d'yer d

ha niver wants ter shake hands wi' a hand like that, doe

Morel rose, carried out the steaming saucepan. Morel took off

ed?" asked t

orel. "YOU don't know what it

lied the

shoulders of his singlet. "It's a bit dry now, but

l. "Mr. Heaton doesn't want

put out his

her or not. An' iv'ry day alike my singlet's wringin' wet. 'Aven't you g

the beer," said Mrs. Mor

"A man gets that caked up wi' th' dust, you know,-that clogg

does," said

o one if there'

nd there's tea,"

t water as'll c

hrough his great black moustache, sighing afterwards. Then he

Mrs. Morel, putti

do 's too tired to care

med his wife,

e smell of meat and veg

great moustache thrust forward, hi

n the black hole all day, dingin' away at a c

moan of it," p

y. William, sitting nursing the baby, hated him, with a boy's hatred for false sentiment, an

ad gone, Mrs. Morel

mess!" s

my arms danglin', cos tha's got a

hearth, accidentally knocked Annie on the head, whereupon the girl began to whine, and Morel to shout at her. In

ess Our

soothe the baby, jumped up, rush

YOU puttin

ran over her cheeks, while William kicked the

t there is so mu

elf after another display from her husband, she took Annie and the baby and

cricket-ground, and fronted the evening. Before her, level and solid, spread the big green cricket-field, like the bed of a sea of light. Children played in the bluish shadow of the pavilion. Many rooks, high up, came ca

the white forms of men shifting silently over the green, upon which already the under shadows were smouldering. Away at the grange,

ed, as if all the fire had swum down there, leaving the bell cast flawless blue. The mountain-ash berries across the field stood fierily out from the dark leaves, for a moment. A few shocks of corn in a corner of the fallow st

she had the peace and the strength to see herself. Now and again, a swallow cut close to her. Now and again, Annie came

heavy because of the child, almost as if it were unhealthy, or malformed. Yet it seemed quite well. But she noticed the peculiar knitting of the baby's brows, and the peculiar he

king about something-quite

melted into passionate grief. She bowed over him, and a few tear

" she cri

me far inner place of her soul, th

er own, but its look was heavy, steady, as if it had re

avel string that had connected its frail little body with hers had not been broken. A wave of hot love went over her to the infant. She held it close to her face and breast. With all her force, with all her soul she would make up to it for having brought it into the world unloved. She wo

red on the rim of the hill opposite. Sh

said. "Look,

relief. She saw him lift his little fist. Then she put him to her bosom a

to herself, "what will beco

rt was

l," she said suddenl

fine shadow was flung over the

ty. But Morel was home by ten o'clock, a

t speak civilly to anybody. If the fire were rather low he bullied about that; he grumbled about his dinner; if th

unwell, and was restless, crying if he were put down. Mrs. Mo

would come," she sa

sleep in her arms. She was too

t only works me up; I won't say anything. But I know if he d

entered, not wishing to see him. But it went through her like a flash of hot fire when, in passing, he lurched against the dresser, setting the tins rattling, and

servant. In certain stages of his intoxication he affected the clipped,

the house," she said, so co

ed at her without

, and I expect a civil an

," she said, st

get a knife to cut bread. The drawer stuck because he pulled sideways. In a temper he dragged it, so that it flew out bodily, and spoons,

clumsy, drunken foo

g thysen. Tha should get up, like oth

n you?" she cried.

tha's got to. Wait on ME,

'd wait on a dog

t-wh

h he turned round. His face was crimson, his eyes blo

ent quickly,

ent. It fell, cut sharply on his shin,

tly to her bosom. A few moments elapsed; then, with an effort, she brought herself to. The baby was crying plaintively. Her left brow was bleeding rather profusely. As she glanced down at th

tly sure of his balance, he went across to her, swayed, caught hold of the back of her rocking-chair, almost ti

t catc

itch on to the child. With the ca

struggling to keep

let's look at it," he

y!" she

me look at

unequal pull of his swaying grasp

id, and weakly sh

, moving as if in sleep, she went across to the scullery, where she bathed her eye for a minute in cold water; but she was too dizzy

wer back into its cavity, and was on his knees, g

resently Morel got up and came

, lass?" he asked, in a v

hat it's done,

ked at her, who was cold and impassive as stone, with mouth shut tight, he sickened with feebleness and hopelessness of spirit. He was turning drearily away, when he saw a drop of blood fall from the averted wound into the baby's fragile, glisteni

r low, intense tones brought his head lower. She softened:

with a pad, which she singed before the fire, then put

clean pi

presently with a red, narrow scarf. She took it, and wi

t for thee,"

it was done she went upstairs, telling

ning Mrs.

use the candle blew out." Her two small children looked up at her with wide, dismayed eyes.

like a sulking dog. He had hurt himself most; and he was the more damaged because he would never say a word to her, or express his sorrow. He tried to wriggle out of it. "It was her own fault,"

the head. It was Saturday. Towards noon he rose, cut himself food in the pantry, ate it with his head dropped, then pulled on his boots, and went out, t

o'clock, to put on her Sunday dress, he was fast asleep. She would have felt sorry for him, if he had once said, "Wife, I'm sorry." But no; he insisted

y was the only day when all

going to get up

e," the mot

reathed the air that was poisoned, and they felt dreary. They we

characteristic of him all his life. He was all for activity.

without hesitation, his wincing sensitiveness having hardened a

g and asking eternally "why?" Both children hushed into silence as they heard the approaching thud

had need. No one spoke to him. The family life withdrew, shrank away, and

, as he wetted his hair, she closed her eyes in disgust. As he bent over, lacing his boots, there was a certain vulgar gusto in his movement that divided him from the reserved, watchful rest of the family. He always ran away from the battle with himself.

te roofs of the Bottoms shone black with wet. The roads, always dark with coal-dust, were full of blackish mud. He hastened along. The Palmerston windows

cried a voice, as soon as Mo

, wheriver has t

n a minute or two they had thawed all responsibility out of him, al

with which to go to the Palmerston, and being already rather deeply in debt. So, while his wife was down the garden with the child, he hunted in the top drawer of the dresser whe

her sixpence, and her heart sank to her shoes. Then she sat down and thought: "W

n her purse was all the money she possessed. But that he should sneak it from her thus was unbearable. He had done so twice before. The first time she had not a

en he had had his dinner-he came home

pence out of my p

offended way. "No, I didna! I ni

ould dete

you did," she

ted. "Yer at me again, are ye

ut of my purse while I'm

He bustled and got washed, then went determinedly upstairs. Presently he came

, "you'll see me a

ly, but her heart brimming with contempt. What would she do if he went to some other pit, obtained work, and got in with an

said William, comi

run away," rep

ere

bundle in the blue handkerchief,

we do?" cr

rouble, he w

sn't come back

ed to the sofa and wept.

exclaimed. "You'll see h

art of her said it would be a relief to see the last of him; another part fretted because of keeping the child

e in the dark lay the big blue bundle. She sat on a piece of coal and laughed. Every time she saw it, so fat and yet so ignominious

ped he was running up a bill. She was very tired of him-tired to deat

in, slinking, and yet sulky. She said not a word. He took off his c

ndle before you take your b

night," he said, looking up from under his d

You daren't even get your parcel

en angry with him. He continued to t

chief," she said. "But if you leave it th

averted face, hurrying upstairs. As Mrs. Morel saw him slink quickly through the inner doorway,