ica she knew very simple, very quiet, and
very remote.

Night by night she had gone to the music-halls and theatres, and her
mind had been powerfully wrought upon by what she had seen and heard. In
all these trips Haney had heroically accompanied his wife, though he
frequently dropped asleep in his seat; and he, too, left the city with
regret, though he said, "Thank God, I'm out of it," as they settled into
their seats in the ferry. "'Tis not the night traffic that wears me
down--I'm used to being on the night shift; 'tis the wild pace Lucius
sets by day. Faith, 'twas the aquarium in the morning and the circus in
the afternoon. Me dreams have been wan long procession of misbegotten
fish, ballet-dancers, dirty monkeys, and big elephants the nights. 'Tis
a great city, but I am ready to return to me peaceful perch above the
faro-board; I think 'twould rest me soul to see a game of craps."

"Why didn't you order Lucius to let up on the sight-seeing business?"
Bertha said.

"And expose me weak knees to me nigger? No, no, Mike."

"I wanted you to let me rummage about alone."

"You did. But I could not allow that, neyther. So long as I can sit the
road-cart or run me arms into a biled shirt I'll stay by, darlin'. 'Tis
not safe for you to go about alone in the hell-broth of these Eastern
streets. Besides, while I'm losin' weight I'm lighter on me feet than
when I came. I've enjoyed me trip, but it does seem sinful to think of
our big house standing empty and the horses 'stockin'' in their stalls,
and I'm glad we're edgin' along homeward."

"So am I," Bertha heartily agreed, even as she looked lovingly back upon
the mighty walls and towers which filled the sky behind her. It was a
gloriously exciting place to live in, after all. "Some day I may come
back," she promised herself, but the thought of Humiston lurking like a
wolf in the shadow came to make her going more and more like an escape.

The elder Haney amused her by his frank comment on everything that was
strange to him. His new teeth, which did not fit him very securely,
troubled him greatly, and he spoke with one hand held alertly, ready to
catch them if they fell, but his smile was a radiant grin, and his
shrewd old face was good to look at as he faced the splendors of the
limited express.

"'Tis foine as a bar-room," said he. "To be whisked about over the world
like this is no hairdship. Bedad, if I'd known how aisy it was I'd a
visited McArdle befoore." He pr