"I hope you've not lost much," said Esther. "It wasn't with William that you backed him." "No, it wasn't with William. I only had a few shillings on. It don't matter. Let me have a drink." "What will you have?" "Some whisky." Sarah drank it neat. Esther looked at her doubtfully. The bars would be empty for the next two hours; Esther wished to utilize this time; she had some shopping to do, and asked Sarah to come with her. But Sarah complained of being tired, and said she would see her when she came back. Esther went out a little perplexed. She was detained longer than she expected, and when she returned Sarah was staggering about in the bar-room, asking Charles for one more drink. "All bloody rot; who says I'm drunk? I ain't... look at me. The 'orse did not win, did he? I say he did; papers all so much bloody rot." "Oh, Sarah, what is this?" "Who's this? Leave go, I say." "Mr. Stack, won't you ask her to come upstairs?... Don't encourage her." "Upstairs? I'm a free woman. I don't want to go upstairs. I'm a free woman; tell me," she said, balancing herself with difficulty and staring at Esther with dull, fishy eyes, "tell me if I'm not a free woman? What do I want upstairs for?" "Oh, Sarah, come upstairs and lie down. Don't go out." "I'm going home. Hands off, hands off!" she said, slapping Esther's hands from her arm. "'For every one was drunk last night, And drunk the night before; And if we don't get drunk to-night, We don't get drunk no more. (Chorus.) "'Now you will have a drink with me, And I will drink with you; For we're the very rowdiest lot Of the rowdy Irish crew.' "That's what we used to sing in the Lane, yer know; should 'ave seen the coster gals with their feathers, dancing and clinking their pewters. Rippin Day, Bank 'oliday, Epping, under the trees--'ow they did romp, them gals! "'We all was roaring drunk last night, And drunk the night before; And if we don't get drunk to-night, We won't get drunk no more.' "Girls and boys, you know, all together." "Sarah, listen to me." "Listen! Come and have a drink, old gal, just another drink." She staggered up to the counter. "One more, just for luck; do yer 'ear?" Before Charles could stop her she had seized the whisky that had just been served. "That's my whisky," exclaimed Journeyman. He made a rapid movement, but was too late. Sarah had drained the glass and stood vacantly looking into space. Journeyman seemed so disconcerted at the loss of his whisky that every one laughed. A few moments after Sarah staggered forward and fell insensible into his arms. He and Esther carried her upstairs and laid her on the bed in the spare room. "She'll be precious bad to-morrow," said Journeyman.