Raising his big hat from his head, Dick wiped his face, and as if divining his extreme despair, Kate left off singing and dancing, and the procession proceeded in quiet past several different wine-shops. It was not until they came to Short's she declared she was dying of thirst and must have a drink. Dick forbade the barman to serve her, and brought upon himself the most shocking abuse. Knowing that he would be sure to meet a crowd of his 'pals' at the Gaiety bar, he used every endeavour to persuade her to cross the street and get out of the sun. 'Don't bother me with your sun,' she exclaimed surlily; and then, as if struck by the meaning of the word, she said, 'But it wasn't a son, it was a daughter; don't you remember?' 'Oh, Kate! how can you speak so?' 'Speak so? I say it was a daughter, and she died; and you said it was my fault, as you say everything is my fault, you beast! you venomous beast! Yes, she did die. It was a pity; I could have loved her.' At this moment Dick felt a heavy hand clapped on his shoulder, and turning round he saw a pal of his. 'What, Dick, my boy! A drunken chorus lady; trying to get her home? Always up to some charitable action.' 'No; she's my wife.' 'I beg your pardon, old chap; you know I didn't mean it;' and the man disappeared into the bar-room. 'Yes, I'm his wife,' Kate shrieked after him. 'I got that much right out of him at least; and I played the Serpolette in the _Cloches_.' '"Look at me here, look at me there,"' she sang, flirting with her abominable skirt, amused by the applause of the roughs. 'But I'm going to have a drink here,' she said, suddenly breaking off. 'No, you can't, my good woman,' said the stout guardian at the door. 'And why--why not?' 'That don't matter. You go on, or I'll have to give you in charge.' Kate was not yet so drunk that the words 'in charge' did not frighten her, and she answered humbly enough, 'I'm here wi-th--my hu-s-band, and as you're so im-impertinent I shall go-go elsewhere.' At the next place they came to Dick did not protest against her being served, but waited, confident of the result, until she had had her four of gin, and came reeling out into his arms. Shaking herself free she stared at him, and when he was fully recognized, cursed him for his damned interference. She could now scarcely stand straight on her legs, and, after staggering a few yards further, fell helplessly on the pavement. Calling a cab, he bundled her into it and drove away. XXVII 'Oh, Dick, dear, what did I do yesterday? Do tell me about yesterday. Was I very violent? And those wounds on your face, I didn't do that; don't tell me that I did. Dick, Dick, are you going to leave me?' 'I have to attend to my business, Kate.' 'Ah, your business! Your business! Mrs. Forest is your business; you've no other business but her now. And that is what is driving me to drink.' 'Oh, Kate, don't begin it again. I've a rehearsal----'