Saturday night, keeping
back by consent only twopence a week toward the gown. The sum was
complete, the pattern had long been settled, and Hester had only on
the Monday morning to go to the shop, pay her money, and bring home
her gown to be made. Her mother happened to go out early that
morning to iron in a gentleman's family, where she usually staid a
day or two, and Hester was busy putting the house in order before
she went to the shop.

On that very Monday there was to be a meeting at the Bell of all the
idle fellows in the parish. John Wilmot, of course, was to be there.
Indeed he had accepted a challenge of the blacksmith to match at
all-fours. The blacksmith was flush of money, John thought himself
the best player; and, that he might make sure of winning, he
resolved to keep himself sober, which he knew was more than the
other would do. John was so used to go upon tick for ale, that he
got to the door of the Bell before he recollected that he could not
keep his word with the gambler without money, and he had not a penny
in his pocket, so he sullenly turned homeward. He dared not apply to
his wife, as he knew he should be more likely to get a scratched
face than a sixpence from her; but he knew that Hester had received
two shillings for her last week's spinning on Saturday, and,
perhaps, she might not yet have given it to her mother. Of the
hoarded sum he knew nothing. He asked her if she could lend him half
a crown, and he would pay her next day. Hester, pleased to see him
in a good humor after what had passed the night before, ran up and
fetched down her little box, and, in the joy of her heart that he
now desired something she _could_ comply with without wounding her
conscience, cheerfully poured out her whole little stock on the
table. John was in raptures at the sight of three half crowns and a
sixpence, and eagerly seized it, box and all, together with a few
hoarded halfpence at the bottom, though he had only asked to borrow
half a crown. None but one whose heart was hardened by a long course
of drunkenness could have taken away the whole, and for such a
purpose. He told her she should certainly have it again next
morning, and, indeed, intended to pay it, not doubting but he should
double the sum. But John overrated his own skill, or luck, for he
lost every farthing to the blacksmith, and sneaked home before
midnight, and quietly walked up to bed. He was quite sober, which
Hester thought a good sign. Next