第76章

lookingwoman，butsun-burnt，andmeanlydressed，andtworaggedchildren，aboyandgirl，aboutfourorfiveyearsold。Themansatwithhiseyesfixeduponthetable，supportinghischinwithbothhishands；thewoman，whowasnexthim，satquitestill，savethatoccasionallysheturnedaglanceuponherhusbandwitheyesthatappearedtohavebeenlatelycrying。Thechildrenhadnoneofthevivacitysogeneralattheirage。AmoredisconsolatefamilyI

hadneverseen；amug，which，whenfilled，mightcontainhalfapint，stoodemptybeforethem；averydisconsolatepartyindeed。

’House!’saidI；’House!’andthen，asnobodyappeared，IcriedagainasloudasIcould，’House!doyouhearme，House!’

’What’syourpleasure，youngman？’saidanelderlywoman，whonowmadeherappearancefromasideapartment。

’Totasteyourale，’saidI。

’Howmuch？’saidthewoman，stretchingoutherhandtowardstheemptymuguponthetable。

’Thelargestmeasure-fullinyourhouse，’saidI，puttingbackherhandgently。’Thisisnottheseasonforhalf-pintmugs。’

’Asyouwill，youngman，’saidthelandlady；andpresentlybroughtinanearthenpitcherwhichmightcontainaboutthreepints，andwhichfoamedandfrothedwithal。

’Willthispayforit？’saidI，puttingdownsixpence。

’Ihavetoreturnyouapenny，’saidthelandlady，puttingherhandintoherpocket。

’Iwantnochange，’saidI，flourishingmyhandwithanair。

’Asyouplease，younggentleman，’saidthelandlady，andthen，makingakindofcurtsey，sheagainretiredtothesideapartment。

’Hereisyourhealth，sir，’saidItothegrimy-lookingman，asI

raisedthepitchertomylips。

Thetinker，forsuchIsupposedhimtobe，withoutalteringhisposture，raisedhiseyes，lookedatmeforamoment，gaveaslightnod，andthenoncemorefixedhiseyesuponthetable。Itookadraughtoftheale，whichIfoundexcellent；’Won’tyoudrink？’

saidI，holdingthepitchertothetinker。

Themanagainlifteduphiseyes，lookedatme，andthenatthepitcher，andthenatmeagain。Ithoughtatonetimethathewasabouttoshakehisheadinsignofrefusal；butno，helookedoncemoreatthepitcher，andthetemptationwastoostrong。Slowlyremovinghisheadfromhisarms，hetookthepitcher，sighed，nodded，anddrankatolerablequantity，andthensetthepitcherdownbeforemeuponthetable。

’Youhadbettermendyourdraught，’saidItothetinker；’itisasadheartthatneverrejoices。’

’That’strue，’saidthetinker，andagainraisingthepitchertohislips，hemendedhisdraughtasIhadbiddenhim，drinkingalargerquantitythanbefore。

’Passittoyourwife，’saidI。

Thepoorwomantookthepitcherfromtheman’shand；before，however，raisingittoherlips，shelookedatthechildren。Truemother’sheart，thoughtItomyself，andtakingthehalf-pintmug，Imadeherfillit，andthenheldittothechildren，causingeachtotakeadraught。Thewomanwipedhereyeswiththecornerofhergown，beforesherai