"Mother, isn't father coming home tonight?" he asked.
"No, child; tomorrow."
"But why not, mother? He promised to."
"Oh, God, if he only kept every promise he makes!—Hurry now, hurry and get ready."
They had hardly gone to bed when a gale started to rage as though it would carry the house along with it. The bed-stead quivered, and the chimney-stack rattled as if there were goblins in it.
"Mother, some one's knocking outside!"
"Quiet, Fritzy; that's the loose board on the gable being shaken by the wind."
"No; mother, it's at the door."
"It does not lock; the latch is broken. Heavens, go to sleep! Don't deprive me of my bit of rest at night!"
"But what if father should come now!"