an. Of the same university as yourself. I studied
under Simpson." It cost him an effort to get the words out. But, by
speaking, he felt that he did ample penance for the fit of tetchy pride
which, in the first instance, had tied his tongue.

Rogers was dumbfounded.

"Well, upon my word!" he ejaculated, letting his hands with glasses and
handkerchief fall to the table. "God bless my soul! why couldn't you
say so before? And why the deuce didn't you yourself attend--"

"We can go into all that afterwards."

But Rogers was not one of those who could deal rapidly with the
unexpected: he continued to vent his surprise, and to shoot distrustful
glances at his companion. He was flurried, too, at being driven forward
quicker than he had a mind to go, and said sulkily that Mahony must
take full responsibility for what they were about to do. Mahony hardly
heard him; he was looking at the instruments laid out on the table. His
fingers itched to close round them.

"I'll prepare my wife," he said briskly. And going into the bedroom he
bent over the pillow. It was damp with the sweat that had dripped from
Polly's head when the pains were on her.

"'Ere, you girl, get in quick now with your bucket and cloth, and give
that place a good clean-up afore that pore lamb opens 'er eyes again.
I'm cooked--that's what I am!" and sitting heavily down on the
kitchen-chair, Mrs. Beamish wiped her face towards the four points of
the compass.

Piqued by an unholy curiosity young Ellen willingly obeyed. But a
minute later she was back, having done no more than set her pail down
inside the bedroom door. "Oh, sure, Mrs. Beamish, and I can't do't!"
she cried shrilly. "It's jus' like Andy Soakes's shop ... when they've
bin quarterin' a sheep."

"I'll QUARTER you, you lazy trollop, you!" cried Mrs. Beamish, rising
to her aching legs again; and her day-old anxiety found vent in a
hearty burst of temper. "I'll teach you!" pulling, as she spoke, the
floorcloth out of the girl's hand. "Such airs and graces! Why, sooner
or later, milady, you've got to go through it yourself."

"ME ...? Catch me!" said Ellen, with enormous emphasis. "D'yer mean to
say that's 'ow ... 'ow the children always come?"

"Of course it is, you mincing Nanny-hen!--every blessed child that
walks. And I just 'ope," said Mrs. Beamish, as she marched off herself
with brush and scrubber: "I 'ope, now you know it, you'll 'ave a little
more love and gratitoode for your own mother