"Oh, Peter, why do you say I'm agin you?"
"Did you hear her say that I was drunk. If you tell me I'm drunk I'll say no more. I'll acquie-esh."
"Peter, you must go to sleep."
"Yes, go to sleep. ... I want to go to sleep, but she won't open the door."
"Peter, never mind her."
"It isn't that I mind; I'm getting sleepy, but what I want to know, mother, before I go to bed, is if I'm drunk. Tell me I'm not drunk on my wedding night, and, though Kate—and I'll acquie-esh in all that may be put upon me."
He covered his face with his hands and his mother begged him not to cry. He became helpless, she put a blanket under his head and covered him with another blanket, and went up the ladder and lay down in the hay. She asked herself what had she done to deserve this trouble? and she cried a great deal; and the poor, hapless old woman was asleep in the morning when Peter stumbled to his feet. And, after dipping his head in a pail of water, he remembered that the horses were waiting for him in the farm. He walked off to his work, staggering a little, and as soon as he was gone Kate drew back the bolt of the door and came into the kitchen.
"I'm going, mother," she called up to the loft.
"Wait a minute, Kate," said Mrs. M'Shane, and she was half way down the ladder when Kate said:—
"I can't wait, I'm going."