"When did yer see her lasst?"
"She wor 'ere gettin' us our tea," said another child; "but she didn't eat nothin'."
John impatiently pushed the children before him back into the kitchen.
"You 'old your tongues," he said, "an' stay 'ere."
And he made for the door in the kitchen wall. But Arthur caught hold of his coat tails and clung to them.
"Yer oughtn't to go up there—mother don't let any one go there."
John wrenched himself violently away.
"Oh, don't she! yo' take your 'ands away, yer little varmint, or I'll brain yer."
He raised his stick, threatening. The child, terrified, fell back, and
John, opening the door, rushed up the stairs.
He was so terribly excited that his fumbling fingers could hardly find the ribbon round his neck. At last he drew it over his head, and made stupendous efforts to steady his hand sufficiently to put the key in the lock.