"Well, it isn't like you, mother," said Brown; "and there's no telling what I might be if I had a wife like Mrs. Collins. It has always been the same ever since they were married, I have heard. Some of the chaps say she was a pretty dressy piece, but had no idea of making home comfortable for her man. She just let things drift as they could, and when she took to the drink it was more because the gossips persuaded her to take it, than that she cared so much for it herself. It was too much trouble to say 'No' and stick to it," commented Brown. "Her husband always said she was a very easy-going woman, and never troubled him much about anything, so long as she got her money every week."
"Easy-going? Yes, I suppose she was; but somebody else was bound to have the trouble. And now, where are the wages? She don't get the wages every week now! Nor Jessie either; for so much of it goes in drink that the poor girl don't know how to make ends meet very often," exclaimed Mrs. Brown, angrily.
"Are things really as bad as that?" exclaimed Brown. "Well, well, I will try and get a word with him to-night, for the poor girl's sake. Don't stay long when you go over there, and if she hasn't got the money for the meat, just find out what she wants, and I dare say we can make it up between us, and be little the worse off. We can afford to help a neighbour, in thankfulness for God's help to our girl," added Brown, reverently.
"All right. I'll find out what Jessie wants, and very soon be back. If I go now, while Minnie gets the tea ready, we can start as soon as it is over, and get back before the market is so crowded."
But to Mrs. Brown's inquiry as to what Jessie wanted from the shop that night, Jessie shook her head, and burst into tears.
"Thank you, all the same, Mrs. Brown," she said, after a minute, "but I shall have to send Polly for a bit of steak over the way. Father hasn't come home yet, so it isn't much of his wages we shall see at home."
"Never mind the money to-night, Jessie; just tell me what you want, for Brown is in a fidget for me to get back. Shall I do the best I can for you, as I should for myself?" she asked.
The next minute Mrs. Brown had gone, for she thought she heard Collins's unsteady footsteps coming down the street, and she beat a hasty retreat by the back door, for she did not want to meet him if he was the worse for drink.