Sons and Lovers

y, a good deal like his father. He hated study, made a great moan i

louring, and his exquisite dark blue eyes shaded with long lashes, together with his generous manner and fiery temper, made him a

himself. When he wanted amusement, all that stood in his way he hated, e

ster who, he said, hated him, "if you don't like it,

t to get mean and rather despicable. There came over him a look of meanness and of paltriness. And when the mean-looking elderly man bullied or ordered the boy about, Arthur was furious. Moreover, Morel's manners got worse and worse, hi

ause his children hated it. He seemed to take a kind of satisfaction in disgusting them, and driving them nearly mad, while they were so irritably

ould seem to feel the contemp

d shout. "He does his best for them, and then gets treat

felt sorry. As it was, the battle now went on nearly all between father and children, he per

ship for the Grammar School in Nottingham, his mother decided to let him

shillings a week. But soon she would have fifteen shillings, since she ha

her. Everything he did was for her. She waited for his coming home in the evening, and then she unburdened herself of all she h

bought her an engagement ring that cost eight gui

fool him! If he'd gen me some on'

" cried Mrs. Morel. "W

foolish. But now the young man talked only of the dances to which he went with his betrothed, and the differen

s. This time William arrived with a lady, but with no presents. Mrs. Morel had pr

side to present a tall, handsome girl, who was weari

e's

er hand and showed her

do, Mrs. Morel

will be hungry,

in the train. Have you

and raw-boned, lo

uld I?"

them. Don't be

as small and curious to her, with its glittering kissing-bunch, its evergreens behin

lo,

son! Tha's

presented the lady. She gave the

ou do, Mr

wed obse

e so are you. You must ma

," she replied

o go upstairs,"

but not if it is a

ie will take you. Walt

ssing yourself up," said

he front bedroom, which Mr. and Mrs. Morel had vacated for her. It, too, was small and col

rap the box?"

nk you v

of maid, then went dow

er," said William. "It's a beastl

g I can give her?

he'll be

n hour Miss Western came down, having put on a purpli

o need to change,"

sweetish smile to Mrs. Morel. "Don't you

Morel. "That's no

n't, r

the mother. "Won't yo

d out of hi

ere!" he cried. "Co

n chair. Sit on the so

is cheer's warmest. Come a

the collier's armchair, the place of honour. She shiv

s if they were alone; which made the rest of the family feel as if they ought not to be present. The young

y condescending to her inferiors. These people were to her, certainly

o," sai

. But when the girl came downstairs again with the hand

London speech, as he puffed. Mrs. Morel, dressed up in her best black silk blouse, answered quietly and rather briefly. The three children sat round in silence and admiration. Miss Western was the princess. Everything of the best was got out for her: t

o'clock he

you tire

once in the intimate tones and pu

the candle, mo

," replied

up, held out her

, Mrs. More

le. Annie swathed the bottle in an old flannel pit-singlet, and kissed her mother

nd took her departure, preceded by William. In five minutes he was downstairs again. His heart was rather sore; he did not know why. He talked very little

, mot

, my

ir, feeling somehow hurt a

u like

me the sl

ot used to it. It's different f

y boy; and she must

swiftly. "If only she wouldn

awkwardness, my boy.

is brow was gloomy. "You know, she's not like you

young,

e was a child. Since then she's lived with her aunt, whom sh

ou must make

to forgive her

ave to forgive

emember she's never had anybody to bring her de

y can s

s. Those sort of people, like those she lives amon

ge too hastily,"

d uneasy wit

, he was up singing and

itting on the stairs.

voice cal

tmas!" he sh

was heard in the bedroom. She di

up when she said she w

was," repl

e, then went to

w Year,"

ear!" came the laugh

p!" he

as waiting for her. Morel, who always

a winder!" h

, all but William. He went

. She only laughed. The family expected, after that time of preparation, som

n all this time gett

estion is not permitt

and London-made costume, Paul and Arthur and Annie expected everybody to bow to the ground in admiration. And Morel, standi

she was with the Morels she queened it. She sat and let Annie or Paul wait on her as if they were her servants. She t

much more interesting. And Paul really DID admire "Gipsy" wholeheartedly; in fact, h

d: "Oh, Annie, do you know where

your bedroom. Why

hut mouth. But it angered the young ma

ur by the fire in the dark. At a quarter to eleven Mrs. Morel was heard

mother?" he said. She

oy, but it is as late

o to bed, th

? No, my boy, I do

u trust u

do it. You can stay till elev

id to his girl. "We won

burning, Lily," said Mrs. M

ou. Good-nigh

the foot of the stairs, and she

, mother?" he repea

eaving two young things like you alone d

ke this answer. He kiss

nd then he discussed his sweeth

r a bit. I shouldn't care if I never saw her again. But, then

arry on," said Mrs. Morel, "if

nd perplexed him. "But yet-there's so muc

it is as you say, I wouldn't call it LOVE-

w, mother. She's

d. She was rather reserved. All his strength and money went in keeping this gi

quite happy at Jordan's, but his health suffered from the long hours and the confin

rnoon. On a Monday morning in May, as t

t will be

surprise. This

asked me last week if I wouldn't go and see Mrs. Leivers, and

lovely!" he cried. "And

, spring was a very flame of green. And the steep swoop of highroad lay, in its cool morning dust, splendid with patterns of sunshine and shadow, pe

dinner-time his mothe

going?"

ready," sh

tly he

ssed while I wa

ite people who can walk in mud without dirtying their shoes. But Paul had to clean them for her. They were kid boots at eight shillings a

y rather shyly. She had got a new cotton

e exclaimed. "Wha

ttle haughty way, a

ler at all!" she repli

rd, whilst he ho

, but pretending to be high

ine little woman to g

urveyed her f

the street behind you, I should say: 'Do

plied Mrs. Morel. "She'

king as if she was wrapped in burnt paper.

le way, pleased, but pr

ree shillings. You couldn't have got it

k you couldn't

now, it's g

pretty,

with a little sprig of

e, though, I'm a

isgust. "Why don't you buy some false

ed," she replied. "I'm

," he said. "What do I want

put up with one, my lad,"

iam had given her, because of the sun. Paul was considerabl

silkily. Minton pit waved its plumes of w

a little group in silhouette against the sky, a horse, a small truck, and a man. They climbed the incline against the heaven

hilst he sketched rapidly. She was silent whilst he worked, looking r

l place," she said, "and

t heaps together, like something alive a

e said. "

g waiting, like a string of

nding," she said, "for that means th

alive. There's a feel of men about trucks, because

said Mr

passed the end of Nethermere, that was tossing its sunshine like petals lightly in its lap. Then they turned on

to Willey Farm?"

he wheat and oats, over a little bridge into a wild meadow. Peewits, with their white breasts glistening, wheeled and screamed

mother," said Paul.

ul!" said Mrs. Mo

eron-see-se

t she must see and what not

"which way? He told

d and dark, lay

oad," said Paul. "You've got town

pine on one hand, an old oak glade dipping down on the other. And among the oaks the bluebells stood in

me-nots. And, again, his heart hurt with love, seeing her hand, used with wo

ing was a fence to climb.

said, "let

I will do it i

ands up ready to help her

xclaimed scornfully, when s

stiles!"

oman," he replied, "w

e apple orchard, where blossom was falling on the grindstone. The pond was deep under a hedge and overhanging oak trees. Some cows

hem. Then, in the doorway suddenly appeared a girl in a dirty apron. She was about fourteen years old, had a rosy dark face, a bunch of short black curls, very fine and free, a

glow, "you've come, then. I AM glad to see

women sh

other to you?" said Mrs. Morel.

hankful to see a new fac

so," said

ace. There the women talked, whilst Paul went out to survey the land. He was in the garden smelling the gill

oses?" he said to her, pointin

m with startled,

abbage-roses when the

altered. "They're whi

y're maid

he had a beautifu

know,"

MUCH in your g

g back and going indoors. He did not notice, but went his round of exploration. Presen

and calves and pigs to look after?

to look after cattle, and I'm not used to it. It'

ose it is," s

the girl

er," she said in a

eplied her mother, almost ingratiatingly. "

Mrs. Morel. "Whe

out into the wood that was flooded with bluebells, while fumy forget-m

ghteen. Then Geoffrey and Maurice, big lads of twelve and thirteen, were in from school. Mr. Leivers was a good

sorts of places. As they were feeding the fowls Miriam came out. The boys took no notice of her. One hen

o it?" he as

see," s

he bird eyed it with her hard, bright eye, and suddenly made a peck into his hand. He started, and la

ts," said Paul, when the last corn had gone. "No

cried, shr

mardy-kid!" sai

" said Paul. "It only j

d, shaking her black

y. "She niver durst do anyt

dursn't stop a girl hittin' her. She can do nowt but go about thin

imson with sh

he cried. "You're never anyt

s!" they repeated minci

clown shal

answered

st her, shoutin

up a parallel bar. They did feats of strength. He was more agile than strong, but

" said Edgar, the eldest brother.

o get it," replie

the back, he saw Miriam kneeling in front of the hen-coop, some maize in her hand, biting her lip, and crouching in an intense attitude. The hen was

hurt you,"

crimson an

o try," she said

o corns in his palm, he let the hen peck, peck, peck

ged it away, tried again, and sta

, "only she bumps a bit. She's ever so neat. If she

from her hand. She gave a little cry-fear, and pain because of

aid the boy. "It do

him with dil

laughed,

ors. She seemed to be in so

hought, and she wanted to prove she was a

s. Leivers walked down the fields with them. The hills were golden with evening; deep in the woods showed the

autiful place,"

only it weren't for the rabbits. The pasture's bitten dow

d broke into motion near the woods

eve it!" exclai

went on alo

ely, mother?"

happiness till it hurt. His mother had to chatte

if I were his wife, the farm would be run, I know! But there, she hasn't the strength-she simply hasn't the strength. She ought never to have been burdened like it, you k

y to both of them. They lay down, all three, in a meadow by Minton Church. On one side, by the Castle Farm, was a beautiful quivering screen of poplars. Hawthorn was dropping from the hedges; penny daisies and ragged robin were in the field, like laughter. William, a big fellow of twenty-three, thinner now and even

itch-woman," the boy said to

ooked at her. In his gaze was a certain baf

f me?" she asked, laug

!" said Will

med to hurt him. He glanced at h

, if that's what you

liam recovered, and was rather tender to her. Coming

. W.

h its glistening hairs and freckles, as h

ess in the house, whilst William and Lily were at home. But often he got irri

to Annie, "washing me these t

ing. Mrs. Morel was furious. And sometimes the young man, catching a

ue as a jay-bird's feather, and in a large cream hat covered with many roses, mostly crimson.

ve you got

" asked

black

N

hunt. She ha

hat's the fourth pair she's lost sinc

e TWO of them,"

and he seemed to hate her. In the afternoon he had left her whilst he went to see some o

Mrs. Morel. "Would you care to g

said the girl. "I

t is s

y at a great rate. As he s

she's never read

Mrs. Morel, cross w

ping up and taking his old position on the he

na see what there is i' books, ter sit bor

y these things," said

er-she CAN'T read. W

f Annie Swan's. Nobody wants to re

she didn't read

taken," said

iserably on the sofa. H

read any?

did," sh

w m

now how ma

ONE THING

coul

nothing but love-making and chatter. He was accustomed to having all his thoughts sifted through his mother's mind; s

e's paid, she'll suddenly buy such rot as marrons glaces, and then I have to buy her season ticket, and her extras, even he

uld be," replied his mother. "I

eak off now," he said, "and so I s

, and there's no stopping you; but I tell

l right, mother.

uy her underclothin

you got warm underthings on?' And she said: 'No, they were cotton.' I asked her why on earth she hadn't got something thicker on in weather like that, and she said because she HAD nothing. And there she is-a bronchial subject! I HA

kout," said Mrs.

ed to be so perfectly careless and laughi

too far," he said. "And, besides, for

G is as bad as a marriage that's a hopeless failure. Mine was bad enough, God know

in his pockets. He was a big, raw-boned man, who looked as if he would go

give her up

there are worse wrongs than

ve her up N

ned in silence, a conflict between them;

l feel better in the morning, a

Before, with her husband, things had seemed to be breaking down in her, but they did not de

atred towards his betrothed. On the last e

me, what she's like, would you believ

" laughed

onfirmation means for her-a bit of a the

!" cried the girl-"I h

n her. "Once in Bromley, once in B

she said, in tea

wasn't why were y

en, Mrs. Morel," she pl

nd it, child. Take no notice of him. You ough

uch religion, or anything else, in her than that table-leg. Gets confirmed three ti

he sofa, crying.

ight as well ask a fly to love

find another place than this. I am ashamed of you, William! Why don't you be more man

ided in wrath a

d, kissed and comforted the girl. Yet it

accompanied them as far as Nottingha

d to her, "Gyp's shallow.

things," said Mrs. Morel, very uncomfort

h in love with me now, but if I died sh

eat furiously, hearing the quiet b

You DON'T know, and therefore you

ing these things

d have somebody else, and I should be fo

the train in Nottingham

ll never have any money to marry on, that I

ate. She firmly believed William would never marry

seemed unnatural and intense. Sometimes he was exaggerat

ng himself against that creature, who isn't w

g while to Christmas. He wrote in wild excitement, saying he could c

ther, when she saw him. She was almost

e seemed to have a dragging cold all th

choolboy escaped; then again he was silent and reserved. He was

oo much," said h

y on, he said. He only talked to his mother once on the Sa

-hearted for two months, and then she'd start to forget me. You'd s

ther, "you're not going to

r or not-"

that, and if you choose her-well,

ing, as he was put

olding up his chin, "what a rash

f chin and throat was

. "Here, put a bit of this soothing ointme

ht, seeming better and more s

caught an express for London in Nottingham. She had to wait in Nottingham nearly an hour. A small figure in her black bonnet, she was anxiously asking the porters if they knew how to get to Elmers End. The journey was three hours. She sat in her corner in

arrived at William's lodgi

he?" s

," said th

face rather discoloured. The clothes were tossed about, there was no fire in the

" said the mo

dull voice, as if repeating a letter from dictation: "Owing to a leakage in the hold

n his business to examine some such

like this?" the moth

sleep all day; then in the night we heard him talking, and this

have a f

o soothe her son,

las, which had started under the chin where the collar chafed, and

ut the young man's face grew more discoloured. In the night she struggled with him. He raved, a

or an hour in the lodging bedroo

she laid him out; then she went round the drear

cottage on Scargill S

night. Let father

ne to work. The three children said not a word. Annie

the sunshine of a soft blue sky; the wheels of the headstocks twinkled hi

go to London," said the boy to

Morel? Go in theer

to the littl

er; he's got to

Is he down? Wh

Mor

lter? Is

to go to

telephone and rang u

mber 42, Hard. Summat's am

urned rou

in a few minu

The great iron cage sank back on its rest, a full carfle was hauled off, an empty tram r

bustle going on. The puller-off swung the small truck on to the turn

ondon, and what will she be doing?" the bo

st, standing beside a wagon, a man's form! the chair sank on its

e, Paul? I

ot to go

ey came out and went along the railway, with the sunny autumn field on on

ver gone

es

n wo

had a telegram

e was not crying. Paul stood looking round, waiting. On the weighing machine a truck trundled

lp his wife. That was on Tuesday. The children were left alone in the house. Pa

he saw his mother and father, who had come to Sethley Bridge Station. They w

e said, in

gure seemed not to ob

said, unin

her, but she seem

all, white, and mute. She notice

u'd better see about some help." Then, turnin

ce, her hands folded on her lap. Paul, looking at her

, mother," he s

she answe

rel, troubled and bew

him when he DOES com

e fron

etter shift

es

im across t

here-Yes, I

unscrewed the top of the big mahogany oval table, and cleared the middle of the room; the

s he is!" said the miner, and w

tood monstrous and black in front of the wide darkness. It

clock Mor

s he

rring and unlocking the front door, which o

er candle,"

the middle of the cleared room waited six chairs, face to face. In the window, against the lace curtains, Arthur held

vehicle, one lamp, and a few pale faces; then some men, miners, all in their shirt-sleeves, seemed to struggl

lled Morel,

ht with their gleaming coffin-end. Limbs of other men were seen struggling

!" cried Morel,

reat coffin aloft. There were three more steps to the door. Th

en!" sa

kered, and she whimpered as the first men appeared, and the limbs and bowed heads of six men s

nd each time the coffin swung to the unequal c

impered, his hand

id no

-my son!" s

with yielding, struggling limbs, filling the room and knocking against the furniture. The coffin

ers sighed, bowed, and, trembling with the struggle, d

six feet four inches long. Like a monument lay the bright brown, ponderous coffin. Paul tho

that looks over the fields at the big church and the houses. It was

ld bright interest in life. She remained shut off. All the way home i

coarse apron. She always used to have changed her dress and put on a black apron, before. Now Annie set his supper, a

-day, and she said my sketch of

ed himself to tell her things, although she did not list

tter, mother

id no

he persisted. "Moth

matter," she said irr

through October, November and December. His mother tried, but she could not rouse

istmas-box in his pocket, Paul wandered blindly home

e matter?"

ed. "Mr. Jordan gave me five

th trembling hands. Sh

reproached her; but

she said, unbutto

he old q

badly,

m to bed. He had pneumonia d

him at home, not let him go to Nottingha

ve been so bad,"

d condemned on

the living, not the d

approached. One night he tossed into consciousness in the ghastly, sickly feeling of dissolution, when all the cells in

he cried, heaving fo

up, crying in

y son-

e will rose up and arrested him. He put his he

was a good thing Paul was ill that Chr

and gold tulips. They used to flame in the window in the March sunshine as he sat on the sofa chattering

tle present and a letter from Lily at Christmas.

were there, and I enjoyed myself thoroughly," said

ver heard any

wide-eyed and blank across the room. Then he got up suddenly and hurried out to the Three Spots, returning in his normal state. But

RT