THE ENGLISH REVIEW

anger was evident in the stern unbending of her head. She
looked at the pudding in the fender, and broke out:

"It is a scandalous thing as a man can't even come home
to his dinner !* If it's crozzled* up to a cinder I don't see why
I should care. Past his very door he goes to get to a public-
house, and here I sit with his dinner waiting for him ---- "

She went out. As she dropped piece after piece of coal on
the red fire, the shadows fell on the walls, till the room was
almost in total darkness.

"I canna see,"* grumbled the invisible John. In spite of
herself, the mother laughed.

"You know the way to your mouth," she said. She set
the dustpan outside the door. When she came again like a
tall shadow on the hearth, the lad repeated, complaining
sulkily:

"I canna see."

"Good gracious !" cried the mother irritably, "you're as
bad as your father if it's a bit dusk!"

Nevertheless she took a paper spill* from a sheaf on the
mantelpiece and proceeded to light the lamp that hung from
the ceiling in the middle of the room. As she reached up,
her figure displayed itself just rounding with maternity.

"Oh mother ---- !" exclaimed the girl.

"What ?" said the woman, suspended in the act of putting the
lampglass over the flame. The copper reflector shone
handsomely on her, as she stood with uplifted arm, turning
to face her daughter.

"You've got a flower in your apron !" said the child, in a
little rapture at this unusual event.

"Goodness me !" exclaimed the woman, relieved. "One would
think the house was afire." She replaced the glass and waited a
moment before turning up the wick. A pale shadow
was seen floating vaguely on the floor.

"Let me smell!" said the child, still rapturously, coming
forward and putting her face to her mother's waist.

"Go along, silly !" said the mother, turning up the lamp. The
light revealed their suspense so that the woman felt it almost
unbearable. Annie was still bending at her waist.
Irritably, the mother took the flowers out from her apron-band.

"Oh mother -- don't take them out !" Annie cried, catching
her hand and trying to replace the sprig.

"Such nonsense !" said the mother, turning away. The
child put the pale chrysanthemums to her lips, murmuring:

"Don't they smell beautiful!"

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