me. Jim
were a good young man, honest and true, and a gradely Christian. But
now our Rachel began to suspect as summat was wrong. I were often away
with my cart for three or four days together; and when I were at home I
didn't take so much notice of things, except it always seemed to me as
widow Canter's religion tasted more of vinegar nor sugar--there were
plenty of fault-finding and very little love. Says I to Rachel one day,
when we was by ourselves, `Thy mother-in-law's religion has more of the
"drive" nor the "draw" in't.' The poor thing sighed. I saw there were
summat wrong; but I didn't find it out then."

"Ah," interrupted Jacob, "it were the drink, of course. That's at the
bottom of almost all the crime and wickedness."

"You're right, my lad," continued the other, with a deep sigh. "Ruth
Canters drank, but it were very slily--so slily that her own son Jim
wouldn't believe it at first; but he were obliged to at last. Oh, what
a cheating thing is the drink! She were never so pious in her talk as
when she'd been having a little too much; and nothing would convince her
but that she were safe for heaven. But I mustn't go grinding on, or I
shall grind all your patience away. Rachel had a little babe--a bonny
little wench. Oh, how she loved it--how we both loved it! Poor
Rachel!"

The old man paused to wipe away his tears.

"Well, it were about six months old, when Rachel had to go off for some
hours to see an aunt as were sick. She wouldn't take the babe with her,
'cos there were a fever in the court where her aunt lived, and she were
feart on it for the child. Old Ruth promised to mind the babe gradely;
and our Rachel got back as quick as she could, but it were later nor she
intended. Jim were not coming home till late, and I were off myself for
a day or two. When our Rachel came to the house door, she tried to open
it, but couldn't; it were fast somehow. She knocked, but no one
answered. Again she tried the door; it were not locked, but summat
heavy lay agen it. She pushed hard, and got it a bit open. She just
saw summat as looked like a woman's dress. Then she shrieked out, and
fell down in a faint. The neighbours came running up. They went in by
the wash-house door, and found Ruth Canters lying dead agen the house
door inside, and the baby smothered under her. Both on 'em were stone
dead. She'd taken advantage of our Rachel being off to drink more nor
usual, and she'd missed her fo