"Will I stay up the night with thee, Bessie?"
"Oh, no, no!"
"I'll leave my door open then, and if thou art wanting anything thou'll call."
"Yes, yes."
"Thy father isn't home yet, and if thou'rt no better when he goes by thy door thou must tell him and he'll let me know."
Bessie raised her eyes in astonishment, and the old woman, with a shamefaced look, began to apologize for her husband. He was not so bad after all, and when a woman had taken a man for better or worse....
"Do you say that, mother?"
Something quivered in the old woman's wrinkled throat.
"Well, we women are all alike, thou knows."
"Good-night and go to sleep, mother."