rthing on myself, but you don't seem to understand how hard
it is. I don't care nothing about having to go without things myself,
but I can't bear it when you speak to me like you do lately. You seem
to blame me for everything. You usen't to speak to me like that before
I--before--Oh, I am so tired--I am so tired, I wish I could lie down
somewhere and sleep and never wake up any more.'

She turned away from him, half kneeling, half sitting on the floor, her
arms folded on the seat of the chair, and her head resting upon them.
She was crying in a heartbroken helpless way.

'I'm sorry I spoke to you like that,' said Easton, awkwardly. 'I
didn't mean what I said. It's all my fault. I leave things too much
to you, and it's more than you can be expected to manage. I'll help
you to think things out in future; only forgive me, I'm very sorry. I
know you try your best.'

She suffered him to draw her to him, laying her head on his shoulder as
he kissed and fondled her, protesting that he would rather be poor and
hungry with her than share riches with anyone else.

The child in the cradle--who had been twisting and turning restlessly
all this time--now began to cry loudly. The mother took it from the
cradle and began to hush and soothe it, walking about the room and
rocking it in her arms. The child, however, continued to scream, so
she sat down to nurse it: for a little while the infant refused to
drink, struggling and kicking in its mother's arms, then for a few
minutes it was quite, taking the milk in a half-hearted, fretful way.
Then it began to scream and twist and struggle.

They both looked at it in a helpless manner. Whatever could be the
matter with it? It must be those teeth.

Then suddenly as they were soothing and patting him, the child vomited
all over its own and its mother's clothing a mass of undigested food.
Mingled with the curdled milk were fragments of egg, little bits of
bacon, bread and particles of potato.

Having rid his stomach of this unnatural burden, the unfortunate baby
began to cry afresh, his face very pale, his lips colourless, and his
eyes red-rimmed and running with water.

Easton walked about with him while Ruth cleaned up the mess and got
ready some fresh clothing. They both agreed that it was the coming
teeth that had upset the poor child's digestion. It would be a good
job when they were through.

This work finished, Easton, who was still convinced in his own mind
tha