"It's the only secret as I've kept from you, and now it's out," he answered. "Why, sweetheart, there's them as works with me, as drinks quarts instead of pints, and see what that mounts up to in a year, let alone the damage as they do to their health. They think it comforts 'em, but I'll tell ye one thing, they feel a deal worse afterwards."
Meg knew that from what she had heard, and Cherry knew it by sorrowful experience.
She bent her head and kissed Dickie. Oh, how thankful she was that they were taken away from all that! She told him for the hundredth time how glad she was to have him back.
But even Cherry's love, pleased as he was to be with her again, could not satisfy him. He soon slid down from her knee and began to feel his way round the room.
"Where are you going, darling?" asked Cherry, watching his renewed powers with delight. "What do you want?"
And Dickie answered in a yearning little tone, brimful of love—
"Only mo'ver-Meg!"