In spite of my protestations, she hastened to make that balm for all sorrows--a cup of tea. "But I don't want it, Mary," I protested, "and I'm not hungry." "Then I do, and I am," she said, smiling. "You won't mind having a cup with me, I know, Master Antony dear. Just like old times." "Well, I will try," I said, "and I dare say Revitts will be back by then." Mary glanced at the little Dutch clock in the corner, and saw that it pointed to eleven; then, shaking her head, she said sadly: "No, I don't think he'll come back." "But you don't think he has run away, Mary?" "I don't know what to think, my dear," she said; "I only hope that he won't come to any harm, poor boy. It's his poor head, and that's why he turned so strange." "Yes," I said joyfully, as I saw that at last she had taken the common-sense view of the case, "that's it, depend upon it, Mary; and if he does not come soon, we'll give notice to the police, and they'll find him out." "No, my dear, don't do that," she said piteously; "it would be like shaming the poor boy; for if his mates got to know that he had run away like on his wedding-day, he'd never hear the last of it." I was obliged to agree in the truth of this remark, and I began to realise then, in spite of poor Mary's rough exterior and ignorance, what a depth of patient endurance and thoughtfulness there was in the nature of a woman. Her first outburst of uncontrollable grief past, she was ready to sit down and patiently bear her load of sorrow, waiting for what more trouble might come; for I am fully convinced that the poor woman looked forward to no pleasure in her married life. In spite of her belief that her husband's strange conduct was in some way due to his late accident, she felt convinced that he was regretting his marriage, and, if that were so now, she had no hope of winning him to a better state. We were both weary, and when the tea had been finished, Mary carefully washed up the things, saw that there was a sufficiency of water, and kept it nearly on the boil. Then she reset the tea-things in the tidiest way, ready for Revitts if he should like a cup when he came home, and, on second thoughts, put out another cup and saucer. "It will be more sociable like, Master Antony," she said, by way of excuse; "for, of course, I don't want no more, though I do bless them Chinese as invented tea, which is a blessing to our seck." These preparations made, and a glance round the sitting-room having been given, Mary uttered a deep sigh, took up her work-basket, placed it on her knees, thrust her hand into a black stocking, and began to darn. I sat talking to her in a low voice for some time, feeling sincerely sorry for her, and wondering what could have become of Revitts, but at last, in spite of my honest sympathy, I began to nod, and the various objects in the room grew indistinct.