"I don't know, miss, I'm afraid he won't. He gets worse instead of better. The Vicar has spoken to him, but that's done no good. He has only come home for supper now; afterwards he'll go back to the 'Crab and Cockle.' But there, I mustn't cry any more, or he'll notice it!"
SALOME LAID HER HEAD ON THE TOP RAIL OF THE GATE
AND SOBBED HEART-BROKENLY.
"Good-bye, Salome! Mind you come to-morrow."
"Oh, yes! I hope I shall. Oh, miss, I feel so ashamed that you should have seen my father to-night!"
"There's nothing for you to be ashamed about. I think you're the pluckiest girl I know. Good night!" And Margaret ran off with a nod and a smile.
She slackened her speed soon, however; and as she went up the hill beyond the church towards her home, paused now and again to look back the way she had come, and admire the beautiful view. At the entrance to the grounds of Greystone she met her father, and together they walked towards the house, whilst she told him of Josiah Petherick's condition that evening.
"Oh, father, you are right to be a teetotaler!" she cried. "Drink is an awful thing!"
"It is indeed, my dear," he replied with a deep sigh. "I found Petherick a well-informed, civil-spoken man, in fact I was favourably impressed with him this morning, and he talked of his little daughter as though he really loved her. Drink can slay affection, though," he concluded sorrowfully.
"It's dreadful it should, father!"