yer five o' them
suverins, and not tell yer father nothin'."

"Five on 'em?" he said, grinning. "Five on 'em, eh?"

And, dipping his hands into the box, he began deliberately shovelling the
whole hoard into his trousers and waist-coat pockets.

Bessie flung herself upon him. He gave her one business-like blow, which
knocked her down against the bedroom door. The door yielded to her fall,
and she lay there half stunned, the blood dripping from her temple.

"Noa, I'll not take 'em all," he said, not even troubling to look where
she had fallen. "That 'ud be playing it rayther too low down on old
John. I'll leave 'im two--jest two--for luck."

He buttoned up his coat tightly, then turned to throw a last glance at
Bessie. He had always disliked his father's second wife, and his sense
of triumph was boundless.

"Oh! yer not hurt," he said; "yer shammin'. I advise yer to look sharp
with shuttin' up. Father'll be up the hill in two or three minutes now.
Sorry I can't 'elp yer, now yer've set me up so comfortabul. Bye-bye!"

He ran down the stairs. She, as her senses revived, heard him open the
back-door, cross the little garden, and jump the hedge at the end of it.

Then she lay absolutely motionless, till suddenly there struck on her ear
the distant sound of heavy steps. They roused her like a goad. She
dragged herself to her feet, shut the box, had just time to throw it into
the cupboard and lock the door, when she heard her husband walk into the
kitchen. She crept into her own room, threw herself on the bed, and
wrapped her head and eyes in an old shawl, shivering so that the
mattresses shook.

"Bessie, where are yer?"

She did not answer. He made a sound of astonishment, and, finding no
candle, took the lamp and mounted the stairs. They were covered with
traces of muddy snow, and at the top he stooped to examine a spot upon
the boards. It was blood; and his heart thumped in his breast.

"Bessie, whatever is the matter?"

For by this time he had perceived her on the bed. He put down the lamp
and came to the bedside to look at her.

"I've 'ad a fall," she said, faintly. "I tripped up over my skirt as I
wor comin' up to look at Arthur. My head's all bleedin'. Get me some
water from over there."

His countenance fell sadly. But he got the water, exclaiming when he saw
the wound.

He bathed it clumsily, then tied a bit of rag round it, and made her head
easy with the pillow. She did not sp