CHAPTER X STEPHEN BLACKPOOL

traiseditselfupintotheformofawomaninasittingattitude. ‘Heaven’smercy,woman!’hecried,fallingfartherofffromthefigure.‘Hastthoucomebackagain!’ Suchawoman!Adisabled,drunkencreature,barelyabletopreservehersittingposturebysteadyingherselfwithonebegrimedhandonthefloor,whiletheotherwassopurposelessintryingtopushawayhertangledhairfromherface,thatitonlyblindedherthemorewiththedirtuponit.Acreaturesofoultolookat,inhertatters,stainsandsplashes,butsomuchfoulerthanthatinhermoralinfamy,thatitwasashamefulthingeventoseeher. Afteranimpatientoathortwo,andsomestupidclawingofherselfwiththehandnotnecessarytohersupport,shegotherhairawayfromhereyessufficientlytoobtainasightofhim.Thenshesatswayingherbodytoandfro,andmakinggestureswithherunnervedarm,whichseemedintendedastheaccompanimenttoafitoflaughter,thoughherfacewasstolidanddrowsy. ‘Eigh,lad?What,yo’rthere?’Somehoarsesoundsmeantforthis,camemockinglyoutofheratlastandherheaddroppedforwardonherbreast. ‘Backagen?’shescreeched,aftersomeminutes,asifhehadthatmomentsaidit.‘Yes!Andbackagen.Backageneverandeversooften.Back?Yes,back.Whynot?’ Rousedbytheunmeaningviolencewithwhichshecrieditout,shescrambledup,andstoodsupportingherselfwithhershouldersagainstthewalldanglinginonehandbythestring,adunghill-fragmentofabonnet,andtryingtolookscornfullyathim. ‘I’llselltheeoffagain,andI’llselltheeoffagain,andI’llselltheeoffascoreoftimes!’shecried,withsomethingbetweenafuriousmenaceandaneffortatadefiantdance.‘Comeawa’fromth’bed!’Hewassittingonthesideofit,withhisfacehiddeninhishands.‘Comeawa!from’t.’Tismine,andI’vearighttot’!’ Asshestaggeredtoit,heavoidedherwithashudder,andpassed—hisfacestillhidden—totheoppositeendoftheroom.Shethrewherselfuponthebedheavily,andsoonwassnoringhard.Hesunkintoachair,andmovedbutonceallthatnight.Itwastothrowacoveringoverherasifhishandswerenotenoughtohideher,eveninthedarkness.