"Oh, Jack, why didn't you stop my father?" she said, in a reproachful tone. "He only came in about ten minutes ago, and you can see he has been drinking. Polly is out, too, and I am afraid mother is worse to-night."
A sudden twinge of pain in her injured foot was more than Jessie could bear, and with a groan she burst into tears.
"There, don't cry," said Jack, wishing his mother or Minnie had come. "Don't cry, Jess," he repeated. "See, I have brought you some meat, and I'll go and look for Polly if you like. I dare say your father will soon be back. The chaps at the factory know your mother is ill, and they will look after him and see that he comes home all right presently," added Jack, by way of comforting Jessie. He could not deliver his mother's message just now, he thought.
"Polly won't be home yet awhile. We've always been used to a Saturday night run, and she thought father would be at home, and she won't come back for another hour, I know," said Jessie, speaking through her tears. Just then a deep moan was heard from the bedroom above, and Jessie started forward and tried to crawl to the stairs.
"Oh dear, it's mother, and I know she is worse. Help me upstairs, Jack. I must go to her."
Jessie's foot and ankle were so tightly bandaged that it was very difficult for her to get upstairs, but with Jack's help she managed to reach her mother's room. "I couldn't come before, mother," she panted.
"Your father, Jess; I want him," said the invalid, in an eager whisper.
"He'll be in soon," said Jessie, feeling vaguely alarmed at the change in her mother.
"You must take care of your father when I am gone," went on Mrs. Collins. "I have never been the wife to him I ought, but he was always good to me, and you, too, and never till lately did he touch the drink. He got tired of waiting for things to be better, I suppose. Just as they were coming too," she added, with a sigh, "for I know you have been trying to straighten things out and keep the house clean, which I never could do. Don't, don't give up trying, Jess. I never could begin, but you have, and so you can keep on after I am gone."
"Oh, mother, mother, don't talk like that! Try and get better, and help us all to make home comfortable."