ked very uncomfortable. What was I to do
with a drunken man down in the parlour? However, she seemed
to think I ought to go. "If he comes up here," said she, "I
shall be the victim. You little know of what that man is
capable, when his wrath has been inflamed by wine!" Now, I
think you are aware that I am not likely to be very much
afraid of any man; but why was I to be got into a row in
such a way as this? I hadn't done anything. And then, if
there was to be a quarrel, and anything was to come of it,
as she seemed to expect,--like bloodshed, I mean, or a
fight, or if he were to knock me on the head with the
poker, where should I be at my office? A man in a public
office, as you and I are, can't quarrel like anybody else.
It was this that I felt so much at the moment. "Go down to
him," said she, "unless you wish to see me murdered at your
feet." Fisher says, that if what I say is true, they must
have arranged it all between them. I don't think that;
for I do believe that she really is fond of me. And then
everybody knows that they never do agree about anything.
But she certainly did implore me to go down to him. Well,
I went down; and, as I got to the bottom of the stairs,
where I found Jemima, I heard him walking up and down
the parlour. "Take care of yourself, Mr Cradell," said
the girl; and I could see by her face that she was in a
terrible fright.

At that moment I happened to see my hat on the hall table,
and it occurred to me that I ought to put myself into the
hands of a friend. Of course, I was not afraid of that man
in the dining-room; but should I have been justified in
engaging in a struggle, perhaps for dear life, in Mrs
Roper's house? I was bound to think of her interests. So I
took up my hat, and deliberately walked out of the front
door. "Tell him," said I to Jemima, "that I'm not at home."
And so I went away direct to Fisher's, meaning to send
him back to Lupex as my friend; but Fisher was at his
chess-club.

As I thought there was no time to be lost on such an
occasion as this, I went down to the club and called him
out. You know what a cool fellow Fisher is. I don't suppose
anything would ever excite him. When I told him the story,
he said that he would sleep upon it; and I had to walk up
and down before the club while he finished his game. Fisher
seemed to think that I m