That morning there had been a more than usually violent quarrel. The scolding of the beldam in her house was heard over the whole village, so that the men trembled and grew pale, thus admonished of what an angry woman can say. During the forenoon there was peace, the blacksmith working quietly at his forge. In the dinner-hour the row began again, worse than ever. At two o'clock the poor man came out with hanging head and dejected face to his work. One or two of the elder women admonished him against exasperating his wife; but he replied nothing. Children, for whom the unlucky smith had ever a kind word and a story, came as usual, and stayed outside waiting. But there was no word of kindness for them that day. Men passed down the village street and spoke to him; but he made no reply. Then the village cobbler, a widower, and independent, and so old and crusty of temper that no one was likely to marry him, came forth from his shop and spoke to him. 'How goes it, Tom?' 'Bad,' said Tom. 'Couldn't be worse. And I wish I was dead--dead and buried and out of it.' The cobbler shook his head and retired. Then there came slowly down the street, carrying a basket with vegetables, a young woman of five-and-twenty, and she stopped in front of the forge, and said softly, 'Poor Tom! I heard her this morning.' Tom looked up and shook his head. His eyes, which were soft and gentle, were full of tears. And then ... then ... the wife rushed upon the scene. Her eyes were red, her lips were quivering, her whole frame shook with passion. For she was no longer simply in a common, vulgar, everyday rage; she was in a rage of jealousy. She seized the younger woman by the arm, dragged her into the middle of the road, and threw herself before her husband in a fine attitude. 'Stand back!' she cried. 'You ... you ... Susan! He is my man, not yours--not yours.' 'Poor fellow!' said Susan. She was a young person with black hair and resolute eyes, and it was well known that she had regarded Tom as her sweetheart. 'Poor fellow! It was a bad job indeed for him when he became your man.' * * * * *