d," said John to himself,
resolutely turning from a horrible fear that fell coldly on his heart.
Taking up the candle he stepped into the sleeping room, but the bed was
undisturbed, and he came back into the kitchen, muttering: "T' chapel's
all daark and cloosed, where can t'lass be? anyhow aw'll gi'e a look
roound," and taking up his hat, John passed into the darkness without.
Shrieks and shouts, alas! too well known to be mistaken, fell on his
ear. Hastening forward he took his wife from the hands of those who were
bringing her towards her home; but she broke from him, and staggering on
with uncertain footsteps, entered the cottage first. He relit the
candle, then facing her with folded arms and a stern brow, as she
dropped into a chair, he said: "So thee'st been at t' cursed drink
agaain, after all t' foine proomises, and thee a-foolin me, poor daft un
'at I be, to a' gi'en ear ter all thou'st had ter say. What deevil has
been temptin' thee, lass, to-neet, to forget all t' chapel goin' and t'
friends who ha' looked after thee so weel?"

But the only answer that Sarah Ann seemed capable of making was the
reiteration: "Aw've got ter cut un off, lad; aw'll cut un off, t' wicked
haand;" and the poor woman struck at the offending member with such
savage force, that her husband interfered and dragged her in sullen
despair to her bed.

He awoke the next morning with a burden on his heart that he could not
account for, until the recollection of the events of the previous night
flashed into his mind.

"Eh, but she's a reet down bad un; what's t' use o' me pullin' one waay,
and her t' other; t' poor childer's just dragged oop by t' hair o' t'
head; aw'll ha' no more on't, aw've gi'en her her chances o'er and o'er,
but she's coom ter t' end o' tether at laast; t' wicked hussy shaal
goo," the poor fellow groaned; and with this resolve firmly fixed in his
mind, he turned out of bed, and betook himself to the kitchen. There, to
his unbounded astonishment, was his wife, whom he had missed, sitting
beside the fire, with her arms folded in her apron, and bearing on her
face the impress of keen suffering. On the table there was a cup and
saucer placed for him, and the kettle was hissing and steaming on the
glowing coals.

"Tak' summat afore thee goos to woork, lad; aw caan't help thee mysen,
till t' pain's a bit o'er," said Sarah Ann in a trembling voice,
watching her husband's face in evident fear.

"Aw want nought ter eat; tho