"And don't you think, Miriam, that God knows the clay of which poor Billy was made, and knows what was in his mind when he struck those unhappy men down--if he did strike them down? And who's to know he did? Ephraim and the Bradburys were quarrelling before Billy burst in upon them. Maybe the crime lies at Ephraim's door, and I'm not going to break my heart over that villain. Hanging would be too good for him." "Poor Ephraim! Poor misguided man!" "Poor fiddlesticks!" I said, as near losing my patience as ever I was with my sweet love. "If ever a man deserved hanging, he does. He tried to murder me; he vamped up a tale to lure you to Bill's o' Jack's, for I'll go bail half he told you was lies; he gagged and bound you, and I tremble to think what worse he might have attempted; and yet you say 'Poor Ephraim!'" "He was such a nice, brave lad once," she pleaded. "It was the drink, that cursed drink, that warped his mind and his wild nature and hot, fierce blood. Ah! Abe, Abe, let us judge not lest we be judged. How can you, who have always known a father's love and such a father's--and had a Christian home and nurture--how can you mete out just measure to such as Ephraim? It is for One who knows all to judge, not for us who can at best see but darkly as through a glass." "And now have you two done your billing and cooing"--billing and cooing indeed!--came Ruth's brisk voice as she entered the room with a basin of broth and half a teacake for her invalid. "You've been making Miriam cry, Abe, and I won't have it. Why, she vowed it only needed the sight of you to make her happy, but all I can say is if that's how she looks when she's happy I don't want to see her when she's miserable. And you, too, Abe, what ails you? You look as if you'd got the whole world on your shoulders. Eat this, Miriam, and cheer up, dear heart. Fretting ne'er mended anything yet, and ne'er will. What you've got to do is to get well and strong, and then if joy's in store for you, why, you'll be ready for it, and if sorrow, you'll be able to face it. Father's asking for you, Abe, and Jim's on tenterhooks to be off. He says Mitchell Mill's going to rack and ruin, and another Bill's o' Jack's do would bring him to skin and bone. But it's my opinion that man would drink home-brewed and smoke twist if th' world were coming to an end and falling to pieces all around him."