Sons and Lovers

le. Like all miners, he was a great lover of medicines,

tral," he said. "It's a winder as

anging in the attic great bunches of dried herbs: wormwood, rue, horehound, elder flowers, parsley-purt, marshmallow, hyssop,

ips after wormwood. "Grand!" And

a or your cocoa stews," he vowed

ell since his sleeping on the ground when he went with Jerry to Nottingham. Since then he had drunk and stormed. Now he fell seriously ill, and Mrs. Morel had him to nurse. He was one of the

for her, one would mind the baby for a day. But it was a great drag, nevertheless. It was not every day the neighbours helped. Then s

ion of the stall's profits for Morel's wife. And the neighbours made broths, and gave eggs, and such invalids' trifles. If they had not hel

as pottering about downstairs. During his illness his wife had spoilt him a little. Now he wanted her to continue. He often put his band to his head, pulled down

n, don't be s

tly, but still he cont

a mardy baby," sai

is breath, like a boy. He was forced to r

py. Neither knew that she was more tolerant because she loved him less. Up till this time, in spite of all, he had been her husband and her man. She had felt that, mo

y rose, standing off from him. After this she scarcely desired him. And, standing more aloof from him, not feeling him s

him off, half regretfully, but relentlessly; casting him off and turning now for love and life to the children. Hencefo

t at home and, when the children were in bed, and she was sewing-she did all her sewing by hand, made all shirts and children's clothing-he would read to her from the newspa

the warmth, the sizzle on the bars as he spat in the fire. Then her thoughts turned to William. Already he was getting a big boy. Already he was top o

gone. He felt a sort of emptiness, almost like a vacuum in his soul. He was unsettled and restless. Soon he could not live in that atmosphere, and he affected his wife. Both

born. He was then a plump, pale child, quiet, with heavy blue eyes, and still the peculiar slight knitting of the brows. The last child was also a boy, fair and bo

irst. Mrs. Morel was glad this child loved the father. Hearing the miner's footsteps, the baby would put up h

ty? I sh'll come to

coat, Mrs. Morel would put an apron roun

, taking back the baby, that was smutted on the face from

r, bless his bit o' m

of her life now, when the childre

ot slimmer, and trotted after his mother like her shadow. He was usually active and interested, but sometim

er?" she asked,

er?" she insiste

ow," sobbed

without effect. It made her feel beside herself. Then the f

top, I'll smack

And then she carried the child into the yard, plumped him

ed himself to sleep. These fits were not often, but they caused a shadow in Mrs. Mor

the Bottoms for the barm-man, she heard a voice calling

I want to tell you

ed Mrs. Morel. "Why

s his clothes off'n 'is back," Mrs. An

old as my William,

m a right to get hold of the boy's coll

h my children, and even if I did, I sho

hiding," retorted Mrs. Anthony. "When it comes ter r

t do it on purpose

ar!" shouted

sed her gate. Her hand trembl

mester know," Mrs. An

is meal and wanted to be off again-he was t

ar Alfred Anthon

I tear h

en, but his moth

terday-an' it w

u tore

as 'ad licked seventeen

Eve an'

to a riv

Eve got

r think g

snatched my cobbler an' run off with it. An' so I run after 'im, an' when I was

tring. This old cobbler had "cobbled"-hit and smashed-seventeen oth

"you know you've got no

meant tr'a done it-an' it was on'y an ol

more careful. I shouldn't like it if y

r mother; I never

er miserable at

you be mor

who hated any bother with the neighbours, thought she woul

ing very sour. He stood in the kitchen and glare

hat Willy?

M for?" asked Mrs. M

him," said Morel, banging hi

u and been yarning to you about Alfy's c

" said Morel. "When I get hold of

so ready to side with any snipey vixen who likes

rs to me whose lad 'e is; 'e's none goin' ri

g after that Alfy, who'd taken his cobbler, and he accidentally go

outed Morel

you're told," repli

stormed Morel. "I

, "supposing some loud-mouthed creature had

" repeat

and nursed his bad temper. Su

ve my tea

ore than that!"

said Mrs. Morel; "and do

one wi' him!" shouted Morel, rising

but very sensitive, had gone pale, and wa

. Morel comma

move. Suddenly Morel clen

out'!" he shouted l

with rage. "You shall not touch hi

shouted More

forward. Mrs. Morel sprang in be

u DARE!"

d, baffled for th

round t

ouse!" she comma

Morel rushed to the door, but was too late. He returned, pale

oice. "Only dare, milord, to lay a finger

er. In a towering

the grocery shop of the Bestwood "Co-op". The women were supposed to discuss the benefits to be derived from co-operation, and other social questions. Sometimes Mrs. Morel read a paper. It seemed queer to the

their wives getting too independent, the "clat-fart" shop-that is, the gossip-shop. It is true, from off the basis of the Guild, the women could look at their homes, at the conditions of their own lives, and find fault. So the colliers

the "Co-op." office. He was a very clever boy, frank

for?" said Morel. "All he'll do is to wear his britc

hat he's starting wi

llin' a wik from th' start. But six shillin' wearin' his truck-end

pit," said Mrs. Morel, "

for me, but it's non

t at twelve, it's no reason why I

wor a sight

t was," sai

me he was sixteen he was the best shorthand clerk and book-keeper on the place, except one. Then he

an inkstand of glass, shaped like an anvil. It stood proudly on the dresser, and gave Mrs. Morel a keen pleasure. The boy only ran for

ty!" she

twood. The townlet contained nothing higher than the clergyman. Then came the bank manager, then the doctors, then the tradespeople, and after that the hosts of colliers. Willam began to consort with the sons of the chemist, the sc

nds of flower-like ladies, most of whom lived like

r errant swain. Mrs. Morel would find a strange gir

" the damsel woul

at home," Mrs

Morel," repeated t

? There ar

hing and stammering

rel-at Ripley,"

t a d

es

irls my son meets at danc

ften with his cap pushed jollily to the back of his head. Now he came in frowning. He threw his cap on to the sofa, and took his strong jaw in his hand, and glared down at his mot

for me yesterday,

ut a lady. There

didn't yo

I forgot,

ed a l

ing girl-see

't look

brown

running after you, they're not to come and ask your mother for y

she was a

sure sh

m said he was going to Hucknall Torkard-considered a low town-to a fancy-dress ball. He was to be a Highlander. There was a dress he could hire, wh

ome?" crie

arcel in the

in and cut

in this!" he said, enrapt

n't want to fa

he had come home to dress, Mrs.

to stop and see me

ant to see you

ay as his father. He hesitated a moment, and his heart stood still with anxiety. Then he caught sig

Everybody praised William. It seemed he was going to get on rapidly. Mrs. Morel hoped, with his aid, to help her younger sons. Annie was now studying to be a teacher. Paul, also very clever, was getting on well, having lessons in French a

ng him. Still he went out to the dances and the river parties. He did not drink. The children were all rabid teetotallers. He c

hen amuse yourself, and THEN study on top of all. You can't; the human frame won't stan

wenty a year. This seemed a fabulous sum. His mot

read the letter: "'And will you reply by Thursday whether you accept. Yours faithfully-' They want me, mother, at a hundred and twenty a year, and don't e

son," she an

him. She liked to do things for him: she liked to put a cup for his tea and to iron his collars, of which he was so proud. It was a joy to her to have him proud of his collars. There was no laundry. So she used to rub away at them with her little convex iron, to polish them, till the

g on a file at the top of the kitchen cupboard. From some of them he had read extracts to h

Saturday mor

rough my letters, and you can

ving a last day's holiday. She was making him a rice cake, which he love

t was mauve-tinted, and had purple and g

scent!

the sheet unde

hing in. "What d'you c

er small, fine nose

ell their rubbish,"

l see, I've forgiven you'-I like HER forgiving me. 'I told mother about you this morning, and she will have much pleasure if you come to tea on S

w it' what?" inte

pires'-

. Morel mockingly. "I though

orner with the thistles. He continued to read extracts from his letters, some of

ey've only got to flatter your vanity, and you press

ing for ever," he replied. "And

ring round your neck that you

y of 'em, mater, they ne

YOURSELF," sh

ers, except that Paul had thirty or forty pretty tickets from the corners of the notepaper-