im for his
insolence. He then made his way out of the inn-yard, and along the
High Street, and down Brewery Lane to his own door, knowing the way
as well as though he had been sober, and passing over it as quickly.
Nor did he fall or even stumble, though now and again he reeled
slightly. And as he went the idea came strongly upon him that
Sharpit was a dangerous man, and that perhaps at this very moment he,
Tappitt, was standing on the brink of a precipice. Then he remembered
that his wife would surely be watching for him, and as he made his
first attempt to insert the latch-key into the door his heart became
forgetful of the brandy, and sank low within his breast.

How affairs went between him and Mrs. Tappitt on that night I will
not attempt to describe. That she used her power with generosity I do
not doubt. That she used it with discretion I am quite convinced. On
the following morning at ten o'clock Tappitt was still in bed; but
a note had been written by Mrs. T. to Messrs. Sharpit and Longfite,
saying that the projected visit had, under altered circumstances,
become unnecessary. That Tappitt's head was racked with pain, and his
stomach disturbed with sickness, there can be no doubt, and as little
that Mrs. T. used the consequent weakness of her husband for purposes
of feminine dominion; but this she did with discretion and even with
kindness. Only a word or two was said as to the state in which he had
returned home,--a word or two with the simple object of putting that
dominion on a firm basis. After that Mrs. Tappitt took his condition
as an established fact, administered to him the comforts of her
medicine-chest and teapot, excused his illness to the girls as having
been produced by the fish, and never left his bedside till she had
achieved her purpose. If ever a man got tipsy to his own advantage,
Mr. Tappitt did so on that occasion. And if ever a man in that
condition was treated with forbearing kindness by his wife, Mr.
Tappitt was so treated then.

"Don't disturb yourself, T.," she said; "there's nothing wants doing
in the brewery, and if it did what would it signify in comparison
with your health? The brewery won't be much to you now, thank
goodness; and I'm sure you've had enough of it. Thirty years of such
work as that would make any man sick and weak. I'm sure I don't
wonder at your being ill;--not the least. The wonder is that you've
ever stood up against it so long as you have. If you'll take my
adv