ead, and I--swore at a member."

I stepped back from William, and glanced apprehensively at the two
members. They still slept.

"I hardly knew," William went on, "what I was doing all day yesterday,
for I had left my wife so weakly that--"

I stamped my foot.

"I beg your pardon for speaking of her," he had the grace to say, "but
I couldn't help slipping up to the window often yesterday to look for
Jenny, and when she did come, and I saw she was crying, it--it sort
of confused me, and I didn't know right, sir, what I was doing. I hit
against a member, Mr. Myddleton Finch, and he--he jumped and swore at
me. Well, sir, I had just touched him after all, and I was so miserable,
it a kind of stung me to be treated like--like that, and me a man as
well as him; and I lost my senses, and--and I swore back."

William's shamed head sank on his chest, but I even let pass his
insolence in likening himself to a member of the club, so afraid was I
of the sleepers waking and detecting me in talk with a waiter.

"For the love of God," William cried, with coarse emotion, "don't let
them dismiss me!"

"Speak lower!" I said. "Who sent you here?"

"I was turned out of the dining-room at once, and told to attend to the
library until they had decided what to do with me. Oh, sir, I'll lose my
place!"

He was blubbering, as if a change of waiters, was a matter of
importance.

"This is very bad, William," I said. "I fear I can do nothing for you."

"Have mercy on a distracted man!" he entreated. "I'll go on my knees to
Mr. Myddleton Finch."

How could I but despise a fellow who would be thus abject for a pound a
week?

"I dare not tell her," he continued, "that I have lost my place. She
would just fall back and die."

"I forbade your speaking of your wife," I said, sharply, "unless you can
speak pleasantly of her."

"But she may be worse now, sir, and I cannot even see Jenny from here.
The library windows look to the back."

"If she dies," I said, "it will be a warning to you to marry a stronger
woman next time."

Now every one knows that there is little real affection among the
lower orders. As soon as they have lost one mate they take another. Yet
William, forgetting our relative positions, drew himself up and raised
his fist, and if I had not stepped back I swear he would have struck me.

The highly improper words William used I will omit, out of consideration
for him. Even while he was apologising for them I retired