He rolled over and sat up with look of astonishment face His carefully brushed silk hat had rolled away towards the ditch He pressed his hand brow Something had happened, but rightly determine what Anyhow, no longer dull-- bright, cheerful throat was afire He laughed sudden gaiety heart Had he been dull ? know; but at any rate dull no longer He got up and stood unsteadily, regarding the universe with an agreeable smile He began to remember remember , because of steam roundabout that was beginning head And he disagreeable at home, just because they wanted happy They were quite right; life as gay as possible go home and make it up, and reassure them And take delightful toadstool , to eat ? hatful, no less red ones with white spots , and few yellow He dull dog, an enemy to merriment; make up It gay his coat-sleeves inside out, and stick some yellow gorse into his waistcoat pockets Then home--singing---for jolly evening

departure of Mr Coombes, Jennie discontinued playing, and turned round music-stool again "What fuss about nothing ! " said Jennie

" , Mr Clarence, what I've got up with," said Mrs Coombes

" bit hasty," said Mr Clarence judicially

"He ain't got the slightest sense position," said Mrs Coombes; "that's what I complain of He cares for nothing but his old shop; and if bit of company, or buy anything myself decent, or get any little thing housekeeping money, there's disagreeables 'Economy' ; 'struggle for life,' and all that He lies awake of nights , worrying how screw me out of shilling us to eat Dorset butter once If once in to him--there ! "

" ," said Jennie

"If man values woman," said Mr Clarence, lounging back arm-chair, " prepared sacrifices for her own part," said Mr Clarence, eye on Jennie, "I shouldn't think of marrying till thing in style It's downright selfishness man ought rough-and-tumble by himself, and not drag her--"

"I don't agree altogether ," said Jennie "I don't see why man shouldn't have woman's help, provided he doesn't treat her meanly, It's meanness--"

"You wouldn't believe," said Mrs Coombes "But fool to 'ave 'im 'ave known 'adn't been father, we shouldn't 'ave 'ad not carriage to our wedding "

"Lord ! he didn't stick out ? " said Mr Clarence, quite shocked

"Said the money stock, or some such rubbish Why, he wouldn't have woman in to help me once week wasn't standing out plucky fusses he makes about money--comes , well, pretty near crying, with sheets of paper and figgers 'If only tide over this year,' , 'the business is bound ' 'If only tide over this year,' I says; 'then it'll be, if only tide over you,' I says 'And you don't catch me screwing myself lean and ugly Why didn't you marry slavey ? ' I says, 'if one--instead of respectable girl,' I says "

So Mrs Coombes But follow this unedifying conversation further Suffice it that Mr Coombes was very satisfactorily disposed of, had snug little time round the fire Then Mrs Coombes went the tea, and Jennie sat coquettishly arm of Mr Clarence's chair until the tea-things clattered outside "What I heard ? " asked Mrs Coombes playfully, as she entered, and badinage about kissing They were just sitting down little circular table first intimation of Mr Coombes' return was heard

fumbling latch front door

"'Ere's my lord," said Mrs Coombes "Went out like lion and comes back like lamb, I'll lay "

Something fell over shop: chair, it sounded like Then sound as of some complicated step exercise passage Then the door opened and Coombes appeared But Coombes transfigured The immaculate collar torn carelessly throat His carefully-brushed silk hat, half-full of crush of fungi, was under one arm; his coat was inside out, waistcoat adorned with bunches of yellow-blossomed furze These little eccentricities of Sunday costume, however, were quite overshadowed change face; livid white, his eyes were unnaturally large and bright, pale blue lips were drawn back in cheerless grin "Merry ! " He had stopped dancing to open the door "Rational 'njoyment Dance " three fantastic steps room, and stood bowing

"Jim ! " shrieked Mrs Coombes, and Mr Clarence sat petrified, with dropping lower jaw

"Tea," said Mr Coombes "Jol' thing, tea Tose-stools, too Brosher "

"He's drunk," said Jennie in weak voice Never before had she seen this intense pallor in drunken man, or such shining, dilated eyes

Mr Coombes held out handful of scarlet agaric to Mr Clarence "Jo' stuff," said he; "ta' some "

moment genial Then sight startled faces he changed, swift transition of insanity, into overbearing fury And it seemed he had suddenly recalled the quarrel departure huge voice as Mrs Coombes had never heard before, he shouted, "My house I'm master 'ere Eat what yer ! " He bawled this, as it seemed, without an effort, without violent gesture, standing there as motionless as one who whispers, holding out handful of fungus

Clarence approved himself coward meet the mad fury in Coombes' eyes; he rose feet, pushing back his chair, and turned, stooping Coombes rushed at him Jennie saw her opportunity, and, ghost of shriek, made door

Mrs Coombes followed her Clarence tried to dodge Over went the tea-table with smash as Coombes clutched him collar and tried to thrust the fungus into his mouth Clarence was content to leave his collar behind him, and shot out passage with red patches of fly agaric still adherent face "Shut 'im in ! " cried Mrs Coombes, and closed the door, but her supports deserted her; Jennie saw the shop door open, and vanished thereby, locking it behind her, while Clarence went on hastily kitchen Mr Coombes came heavily against the door, and Mrs Coombes, finding the key was inside, fled upstairs and locked herself spare bedroom