Ruth was cold and smiling. She handled Alf always with the caressing contempt with which a cat handles a mouse.
"Little bit of accommodation," she said. "No thank you, Alf. I shouldn't feel that'd help me to start clean."
"See Ern's down and out," continued the tempter in his hushed and confidential voice. "Nobody won't give him a job."
Ruth trembled slightly, though she was smiling still and self-contained.
"You'll see to that now you're on high, won't you?" she said—"for my children's sake."
"It'd be doin Ern a good turn, too," Alf went on in the same low monotone.
"Brotherly," said Ruth. "But he mightn't see it that way."
"He wouldn't mind," continued Alf gently. "See he's all for Joe Burt and the classes now. Says you're keeping him back. Nothin but a burthen to him, he says. Her and her brats, as he said last night at the Institute. Don't give a chap a chance." Alf wagged his head. "Course he shouldn't ha said it. I know that. Told him so at the time afore them all. Tain't right—I told him straight—your own wife and all."
"My Ern didn't say that, Alf," Ruth answered simply.
His eyes came seeking hers furtively, and were gone instantly on meeting them.