"I know all about that, Petherick. Silas Moyle told me the tale himself not an hour ago. I heard it with great regret, for Silas is a sincere well-wisher of yours, and he and his wife would do anything in the world for your little girl. You had better let me send Mrs. Moyle to you—that is, if she will come; perhaps she will not. Shall I be the bearer of an apology from you to Silas?"
"I'm sorry I hit him," Josiah acknowledged truthfully.
"Shall I tell him that?"
"If you please, sir. I admit, I deserved what he gave me. Oh, sir, I've had a fine fright this night! I thought I'd killed Salome."
"You might have done so."
"Then I should have been a murderer," Josiah groaned. "I'm a bad lot, sir, that's what I am."
He seemed perfectly sober now, so Mr. Amyatt spoke a few solemn words to him, imploring him, for the sake of his little daughter, to give up the drink, and take the pledge. Josiah declared he would think seriously about doing so, and went back to Salome, whilst the Vicar hurried in search of Mrs. Moyle.
At first, that good woman, kind-hearted and fond of the lame girl though she was, said nothing would make her enter the doors of one who had so insulted her husband as had Josiah. But, on Silas adding his entreaties to the Vicar's, she gave in and betook herself to the Pethericks' cottage, where, after having assisted Salome upstairs, and put her to bed, she declared her intention of remaining for the night. She was not going to leave "that poor motherless lamb," as she called Salome, "in the house alone with a maniac."
Josiah Petherick did not look much like a maniac, however, as he sat in the kitchen listening to Mrs. Moyle's scathing remarks as she put away the supper things. He was in a wonderfully subdued and repentant frame of mind, and sat with his elbows on the table and his aching head resting in his hands. At last, he could bear his companion's home thrusts no longer, and exclaimed, "Good gracious, woman, do you imagine I don't know what a beast I am?"
"Well, if you do know it, why don't you turn over a new leaf?" she inquired. "I mind what a steady young fellow you used to be. You're too easily led, that's what you are. Make up your mind to give up the drink."