And, when the door was closed-- 'My dear, what _is_ the matter with him?
Don't you notice his strangeness ?' 'Yes, mother, I do.' 'Can he have--It's a thing he never does! You know what I mean?
That Cheeseman has been taking him to a public-house; I am sure of it.' Emily had had no such thought.

To her a squalid horror clung about the suggestion.

To picture her father in such circumstances was to realise a fresh fall into degradation, no doubt the inevitable consequence of that she already knew of.

There was a painful stricture at her heart; a cry of despair all but found utterance.
Her father's voice was calling from the stair-head--'Emily!' She darted to the door in momentary terror and replied.
'Will you come up ?' Hood said; 'I want you.' She ascended to the garret.

Hood was standing with his back to the little window, so that his face was shadowed.