THE ENGLISH REVIEW

violently, though she felt a slight flush of shame at the ultimate
extravagance of the question. Her words sufficiently startled
the old lady.

"Don't say so, Elizabeth ! We'll hope it's not as bad as
that; no, the Lord will spare us that, Elizabeth. Jack
Rigley came just as I was sittin' down to a glass afore going to
bed, an' 'e said, ' 'Appen you'll go down th' line, Mrs. Bates.
Walt's had an accident. 'Appen you'll go an' sit wi' 'er till
we can get him home.' I hadn't time to ask him a word afore
he was gone. An' I put my bonnet on an' come straight down
to you, Lizzie. I thought to myself, ' Eh, that poor blessed
child, if anybody should come an' tell her of a sudden, there's
no knowin' what'll 'appen to 'er.' You mustn't let it upset you,
Lizzie -- you mustn't, child. Think of that poor little thing as
isn't here by six months -- or is it five, Lizzie ? Ay !"--the
old woman shook her head -- " time slips on, it slips on ! Ay !"

Elizabeth's thoughts were busy elsewhere. If he was killed
-- would she be able to manage on the little pension and what
she could earn ? -- she counted up rapidly. If he was hurt --
they wouldn't take him to the hospital -- how tiresome he would
be to nurse ! -- but perhaps she'd be able to get him away from
the drink and his hateful ways. She would -- while he was ill.
The tears came to her eyes at the picture. Then in thought
she arose once more -- he had killed her "sentiment" -- and
began to consider the children. At any rate she was absolutely
necessary for them. She clung to the thought of the children.

"Ay !" repeated the old woman, "it seems but a week or
two since he brought me his first wages. Ay -- he was a good
lad, Elizabeth, he was a good lad. I don't know -- I don't
know why he got to be such a trouble, I.don't. He was a good
lad at home, a dear lad. But there's no mistake he's been a
handful of trouble, he has ! I hope the Lord'll spare him to
mend his ways. I hope so, I hope so. You've had a sight o'
trouble with him, Elizabeth, you have indeed. But he was a
good lad wi' me, he was, there's no denying. I don't know
how it is . . ."

The old woman continued to muse aloud, a monotonous
plaintive sound, while Elizabeth thought concentratedly,
startled once, when she heard the winding-engine chuff quickly,
and the brakes skirr with a shriek. Then she heard the engine
more slowly, and the brakes made no sound. The old woman
did not notice. Elizabeth waited in suspense. The mother-
in-law talked, with lapses into silence.

"But he wasn't your son, Lizzie, an' it makes a difference.

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