home to you because I have something to
bring you; not what I ought--but what I can--you must be satisfied!'--'I
am,' she said.

"'I know also you want it; how is the child, is she quite well?'--'Yes,
quite.'

"'Where is she?' inquired I, looking round the room, but I didn't see
her; she used to be up.--'She has gone to bed,' she said.

"'It is very early.'--'Yes, but she cried so for food that I was obliged
to get her to sleep to forget her hunger: poor thing, she has wanted
bread very badly.'

"'Poor thing!' I said, 'let her be awakened and partake of what I have
brought home.'

"With that my wife waked her up, and the moment she opened her eyes she
again began to cry for food, which I immediately gave her and saw her
devour with the utmost haste and hunger. The sight smote my heart, and
my wife sat by watching, and endeavouring to prevent her from eating so
fast.

"'This is bad,' I said.--'Yes, but I hope it may be the worst,' she
replied, in a deep and hollow voice.

"'Lizzy,' I exclaimed, 'what is the matter--are you ill?'--'Yes, very
ill.'

"'What is the matter with you? For God's sake tell me,' I said, for I
was alarmed.--'I am very ill,' she said, 'very ill indeed; I feel my
strength decreasing every day. I must drink.'

"You, too, want food?'--'I have and perhaps do, though the desire to eat
seems almost to have left me.'

"'For Heaven's sake eat,' said I; 'I will bring you home something more
by to-morrow; eat and drink Lizzy. I have suffered; but for you and your
child's sake, I will do my best.'--'Your best,' she said, 'will kill us
both; but, alas, there is no other aid at hand. You may one day,
however, come here too late to find us living.'

"'Say no more, Lizzy, you know not my feelings when you speak thus;
alas, I have no hope--no aid--no friend.'--'No,' she replied, 'your love
of gaming drove them from you, because they would not aid a gambler.'

"'Say no more, Lizzy,' I said; 'if there be not an end to this life
soon, there will be an end to me. In two days more I shall return to
you. Good bye; God bless you. Keep up your heart and the child.'--'Good
bye,' she said, sorrowfully. She shed tears, and wrung her hands
bitterly. I hastened away--my heart was ready to burst, and I could not
speak.

"I walked about to recover my serenity, but could not do so sufficiently
well to secure anything like an appearance that would render me fit to
go to the gaming-house. That night I remained awa