"More than an hour."

"And you don't know where she went to?"

"No, sir."

Nothing more was said, but I heard the landlord's heavy feet
moving backward and forward across the room for some minutes.

"Why, Ann! where have you been?" The door of the next room had
opened and shut.

"Where I wish you had been with me," was answered in a very firm
voice.

"Where?"

"To Joe Morgan's."

"Humph!" Only this ejaculation met my ears. But something was said
in a low voice, to which Mrs. Slade replied with some warmth:

"If you don't have his child's blood clinging for life to your
garments, you may be thankful."

"What do you mean?" he asked, quickly.

"All that my words indicate. Little Mary is very ill!"

"Well, what of it?"