"There's your father--now go." Suddenly she looked at him almost as if in fear.
"Perhaps I'm selfish.

If you want her, take her, my boy." His mother looked so strange, Paul kissed her, trembling.
"Ha--mother!" he said softly.
Morel came in, walking unevenly.

His hat was over one corner of his eye.
He balanced in the doorway.
"At your mischief again ?" he said venomously.
Mrs.Morel's emotion turned into sudden hate of the drunkard who had come in thus upon her.
"At any rate, it is sober," she said.
"H'm--h'm! h'm--h'm!" he sneered.

He went into the passage, hung up his hat and coat.

Then they heard him go down three steps to the pantry.