“Then why don’t you answer?” “I have answered.” “No, yer haven’t, leastways not in a proper manner. D’yer think I’m a stock or a stone? Curse it, you’re always at work――always.” “I suppose there’s no harm in that.” “I say there is,” he returned, with a nod. He was bent upon fastening a quarrel upon the woman, but did not know very well how to begin. “I’ll put my work on one side, then,” said his wife. “Oh, go on. Don’t mind me. I’m nobody. Haven’t been anybody for a long time past.” Here he burst out into an idiotic laugh. Seeing the mood he was in, his wife abstained from making any observation. This had the effect of aggravating him. “Has that fellow been here to-day?” he inquired. “Who do you mean?” “That mealy-mouthed sneaking chap. You know who I mean well enough.” “No, he has not, or at any rate if he has I have not seen him.” “Ugh! not seen him, indeed. I don’t believe it. It’s a lie.” “You can say what you like, and believe what you like, for the matter of that.” “Don’t you give me any of your cheek, my lady. I aint a going to stand it. Do you hear?” “Yes.” “Very well, mind what you are about. I’m not a fool. I know all about your little capers. I say he has been here.” “If he has it was without my knowledge.” “Silence. Don’t contradict me; I won’t stand it!” exclaimed the ruffian, bringing his fist down upon the table with violence. “You’re not going to gammon me, mind you that.” He rose to his feet and moved towards the fireplace. After looking on the mantel-piece he went to a chest of drawers which stood at the further end of the room. He opened one drawer after the other, and in one of the small top ones he discovered a paper packet which contained a few shillings in silver. He drew it forth, and was about to thrust it in his pocket when his wife sprang forward and grasped his hand. “John――John!” she ejaculated, in a tone of terror; “what would you do? Give it to me.” “I shan’t do anything of the sort.” “It is not yours. It is my hard earnings, and it’s all I’ve got to pay the rent. If you meddle with it we shall be turned into the street――you know that as well as I do.” “Let go, I say!” he ejaculated. “I’ll soon show you who is master here. Let go, will yer?” “No I will not. You cannot be so cruel as to rob me of this?” “Cruel――rob!” he cried, in a fury. “Leave the matter to me. I’ll pay the rent when it suits me.” Here he burst out into another mocking laugh. “John,” said his wife, in a beseeching tone, “you are not going to serve me like this. You shall not spend this money in drink, not if I die for it.” “Oh――oh! indeed. You are likely to die, let me tell you that, if you don’t mind what you are about.” Mrs. Bristow was in an agony of despair. She knew perfectly well that if she suffered her husband to depart with her little hoard there would not be the most remote chance of her seeing it again.