"Na, na, that's not it. He's well enough. All he bade me say was,
'Tell mother I'm in trouble, and can't come home tonight.'"

"Not come home to-night! And what am I to do with Alice? I can't
go on, wearing my life out wi' watching. He might come and help
me."

"I tell you he can't," said the man.

"Can't, and he is well, you say? Stuff! It's just that he's getten
like other young men, and wants to go a-larking. But I'll give it
him when he comes back."

The man turned to go; he durst not trust himself to speak in Jem's
justification. But she would not let him off.

She stood between him and the door, as she said--

"Yo shall not go till yo've told me what he's after. I can see
plain enough you know, and I'll know too, before I've done."

"You'll know soon enough, missis!"

"I'll know now, I tell ye. What's up that he can't come home and
help me nurse? Me, as never got a wink o' sleep last night wi'
watching."

"Well, if you will have it out," said the poor badgered man, "the
police have got hold on him."