y's person. When he got upon the pavement, Mr Bailey first butted
at him in front, and then dexterously propped him up behind; and having
steadied him by these means, he assisted him into the house.

'You go up first with the light,' said Bailey to Mr Jonas, 'and we'll
foller. Don't tremble so. He won't hurt you. When I've had a drop too
much, I'm full of good natur myself.'

She went on before; and her husband and Bailey, by dint of tumbling
over each other, and knocking themselves about, got at last into the
sitting-room above stairs, where Jonas staggered into a seat.

'There!' said Mr Bailey. 'He's all right now. You ain't got nothing to
cry for, bless you! He's righter than a trivet!'

The ill-favoured brute, with dress awry, and sodden face, and rumpled
hair, sat blinking and drooping, and rolling his idiotic eyes about,
until, becoming conscious by degrees, he recognized his wife, and shook
his fist at her.

'Ah!' cried Mr Bailey, squaring his arms with a sudden emotion. 'What,
you're wicious, are you? Would you though! You'd better not!'

'Pray, go away!' said Merry. 'Bailey, my good boy, go home. Jonas!' she
said; timidly laying her hand upon his shoulder, and bending her head
down over him. 'Jonas!'

'Look at her!' cried Jonas, pushing her off with his extended arm. 'Look
here! Look at her! Here's a bargain for a man!'

'Dear Jonas!'

'Dear Devil!' he replied, with a fierce gesture. 'You're a pretty clog
to be tied to a man for life, you mewling, white-faced cat! Get out of
my sight!'

'I know you don't mean it, Jonas. You wouldn't say it if you were
sober.'

With affected gayety she gave Bailey a piece of money, and again
implored him to be gone. Her entreaty was so earnest, that the boy had
not the heart to stay there. But he stopped at the bottom of the stairs,
and listened.

'I wouldn't say it if I was sober!' retorted Jonas. 'You know better.
Have I never said it when I was sober?'

'Often, indeed!' she answered through her tears.

'Hark ye!' cried Jonas, stamping his foot upon the ground. 'You made me
bear your pretty humours once, and ecod I'll make you bear mine now. I
always promised myself I would. I married you that I might. I'll know
who's master, and who's slave!'

'Heaven knows I am obedient!' said the sobbing girl. 'Much more so than
I ever thought to be!'

Jonas laughed in his drunken exultation. 'What! you're finding it out,
are you! Patience, and you will in time! Griffin