“Yes, pray for patience, Thomas; and pray to be shown the right way: and give up the drink, man—ay, give it up at once, for Betty’s sake, for Alice’s sake, and for your own soul’s sake.”
“I’ll try, I’ll try; good night.”
“Good night.”
Johnson walked homewards sorrowful but calm. Should he take the pledge? should he boldly break his chains, and brave the scorn of his ungodly companions? He felt that he ought. He murmured a half prayer that he might have strength to do it. He reached his own home; he entered—what did, he see?
Round the fire, slatternly and dirty, with hair uncombed, dress disordered, shoes down at heel, lolling, lounging, stooping in various attitudes, were some half-dozen women, Alice being nearest the fire on one side. Most of them had pipes in their mouths. On the table were cups and saucers, a loaf and some butter, and also a jug, which certainly did not hold milk; its contents, however, were very popular, as it was seldom allowed to rest on the table, while the strong odour of rum which filled the room showed pretty plainly that it had been filled at the public-house and not at the farm. Every eye was flashing, and every tongue in full exercise, when Johnson entered.
“Well, Thomas,” said his wife, “I thought you were down at the ‘George.’ Our Betty’s not so well, so she’s gone up into the chamber to lay her down a bit; and I’ve just been axing a neighbour or two to come in and have a bit of a talk over our Sammul. Come, sit you down, and take a cup of tea, and here’s summat to put in it as’ll cheer you up.”
“I’ve just had my tea at Ned Brierley’s,” replied her husband; “I don’t want no more.”
“Ah, but you must just take one cup. Reach me the jug, Molly. You look as down as if you’d seen a boggart; (see note 2), you must drink a drop and keep your spirits up.”
He made no reply, but threw himself back on the couch, and drew his cap over his eyes. Seeing that he was not likely to go out again, the women dropped off one by one, and left him alone with his wife, who sat looking into the fire, comforting herself partly with her pipe and partly with frequent applications to the jug. After a while Thomas rose from the couch, and took his seat by the fire opposite to her. There was a long pause; at last he broke it by saying,—
“Alice.”