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llywasgivingthechildrentheirtea.Theyallstartedupastheysawtheirmotherwithherhairandclothesindisorder,blotchesofdriedbloodonherface,andthelongscratch-marks. 'Oh,mother,'saidPolly,'wotisthematter?' ''E'sthematter.'sheanswered,pointingtoherhusband.'It'sthrough'imI'vegotallthis.Lookatyerfather,childrene'safathertobeproudof,leavin'yerterstarvean'spendin''isweek'smoneyonadirtylittlestrumper.' Jimfelteasiernowhehadnotgotsomanystrangeeyesonhim. 'Now,look'ere,'hesaid,'I'mnotgoin'terstandthismuchlonger,sojustyoutikecare.' 'Iain'tfrightenedofyer.Iknowyer'dliketerkillme,butyer'llgetstrungupifyoudo.' 'Na,Iwon'tkillyer,butifI'aveanymoreofyoursauceI'lldothenextthingtoit.' 'Touchmeifyerdare,'shesaid,'I'll'avethelawonyou.An'Ishouldn'tmind'owmanymonth's'ardyougot.' 'Bequiet!'hesaid,and,closinghishand,gaveheraheavyblowinthechestthatmadeherstagger. 'Oh,you——!'shescreamed. Sheseizedthepoker,andinafuryofragerushedathim. 'Wouldyer?'hesaid,catchingholdofitandwrenchingitfromhergrasp.Hethrewittotheendoftheroomandgrappledwithher.Foramomenttheyswayedaboutfromsidetoside,thenwithaneffortheliftedheroffherfeetandthrewhertothegroundbutshecaughtholdofhimandhecamedownonthetopofher.Shescreamedasherheadthumpeddownonthefloor,andthechildren,whowerestandinghuddledupinacorner,terrified,screamedtoo. Jimcaughtholdofhiswife'sheadandbeganbeatingitagainstthefloor. Shecriedout:'You'rekillingme!Help!help!' Pollyinterrorranuptoherfatherandtriedtopullhimoff. 'Father,don't'it'er!Anythin'butthet—forGod'ssike!' 'Leavemealone,'hesaid,'orI'llgiveyousomethin'too.' Shecaughtholdofhisarm,butJim,stillkneelingonhiswife,gavePollyabackhandedblowwhichsentherstaggeringback. 'Tikethat!' Pollyranoutoftheroom,downstairstothefirst-floorfront,wheretwomenandtwowomenweresittingattea. 'Oh,comean'stopfather!'shecried.''E'skillin'mother!' 'Why,wot's'edoin'?' 'Oh,'e'sgot'eronthefloor,an''e'sbangin''er'ead.'E'spayin''erahtforgivin'LizaKempa'idin'.' Oneofthewomenstartedupandsaidtoherhusband: 'Comeon,John,yougoan'stopit.' 'Don'tyou,John,'saidtheotherman.'Whenaman'sgivin''iswifesocksit'sbestnotterinterfere.' 'But'e'skillin''er,'repeatedPolly,tremblingwithfright. 'Garn!'rejoinedtheman,'she'llgitoveritan'p'rapsshedeservesit,forallyouknow.' Johnsatundecided,lookingnowatPolly,nowathiswife,andnowattheotherman. 'Oh,dobequick—forGod'ssike!'saidPolly. Atthatmomentasoundasofsomethingsmashingwasheardupstairs,andawoman'sshriek.Mrs.Blakeston,inanefforttotearherselfawayfromherhusband,hadknockedupagainstthewash-handstand,andthewholethinghadcrasheddown. 'Goon,John,'saidthewife. 'No,Iain'tgoin'Ishan'tdonogood,an''e'llonlyroundonme.' 'Well,youareabloomin'lotofcowards,thet'sallIcansay,'indignantlyansweredthewife.'ButIain'tgoin'terseeawomanmurderedI'llgoan'stop'im.' Withthatsheranupstairsandthrewopenthedoor.Jimwasstillkneelingonhiswife,hittingherfuriously,whileshewastryingtoprotectherheadandfacewithherhands. 'Leaveoff!'shoutedthewoman. Jimlookedup.''Oothedevilareyou?'hesaid. 'Leaveoff,Itellyer.Aren'tyerashimedofyerself,knockin'awomanabahtlikethat?'Andshesprangathim,seizinghisfist. 'Letgo,'hesaid,'orI'llgiveyouabit.' 'Yer'dbetternottouchme,'shesaid.'Yerdirtycoward!Why,lookat'er,she'salmostsenseless.' Jimstoppedandgazedathiswife.Hegotupandgaveherakick. 'Gitup!'hesaidbutsheremainedhuddleduponthefloor,moaningfeebly.Thewomanfromdownstairswentonherkneesandtookherheadinherarms. 'Nevermind,Mrs.Blakeston.'E'snotgoin'tertouchyer.'Ere,drinkthislittledropofwater.'ThenturningtoJim,withinfinitedisdain:'Yerdirtyblackguard,you!IfIwasamanI'dgiveyousomethingforthis.' Jimputonhishatandwentout,slammingthedoor,whilethewomanshoutedafterhim:'Goodriddance!' 'Lordloveyer,'saidMrs.Kemp,'wotisthematter?' Shehadjustcomein,andopeningthedoorhadstartedbackinsurpriseatseeingLizaonthebed,alltears.Lizamadenoanswer,butcriedasifherheartwerebreaking.Mrs.Kempwentuptoherandtriedtolookatherface. 'Don'tcry,dearietelluswotitis.' Lizasatupanddriedhereyes. 'Iamsoun'appy!' 'Wot'aveyerbeendoin'teryerfice?My!' 'Nothin'.' 'Garn!Yercan't'avegotaficelikethetallbyitself.' 'I'adabitofascrimmagewithawomandahnthestreet,'sobbedoutLiza. 'She'asgiveyeradoin'an'yerallupset—an'lookatyereye!Ibroughtinalittlebitofstikeforter-morrer'sdinneryoujustcutabitoffan'putitoveryeroptic,that'llsoonputitright.Ialwaysusedterdothetmyselfwhenmean'yourpoorfather'adwords.' 'Oh,I'malloverinatremble,an'my'ead,oo,my'eaddoesfeelbad!' 'Iknowwotyerwant,'remarkedMrs.Kemp,noddingherhead,'an'itso'appensasI'vegottheverythingwithme.'Shepulledamedicinebottleoutofherpocket,andtakingoutthecorksmeltit.'Thet'sgoodstuff,noneofyourfirewateroryourmethylatedspirit.Idon'toftenindulgeinsichthings,butwhenIdoIlikesto'avethebest.' ShehandedthebottletoLiza,whotookamouthfulandgaveitherbackshehadadrinkherself,andsmackedherlips. 'Thet'sgoodstuff.'Aveadropmore.' 'Na,'saidLiza,'Iain'tusedterdrinkin'spirits.' Shefeltdullandmiserable,andaheavypainthrobbedthroughherhead.Ifshecouldonlyforget! 'Na,Iknowyou'renot,but,blessyoursoul,thetwon''urtyer.It'lldoyounoendofgood.Why,oftenwhenI'vebeenfeelin'thetdoneupthetIdidn'tknowwotterdowithmyself,I'vejust'adalittledropofwhiskyorgin—I'mnotpartic'lerwotspirititis—an'it'spulledmeupwonderful.' Lizatookanothersip,aslightlylongeroneitburntasitwentdownherthroat,andse