He started and jumped same as our big tom cat when Mouser comes round about him.

You'd have died of laughing.

Then he comes on for the bank'et, and stamps his foot and tells the ghost to be off; and then he trembles and dodders from head to foot like Mouser when he's had his wash on Saturday nights.

You'd have dropt, it was so queer." Liza's enjoyment of the tragedy had not been exhausted with the occasion, for now she laughed at the humors of her own narrative.
"But those days are gone," she continued.

"I met Robbie last night, and I says, says I, 'Have you pawned your dancing shoes, Robbie, as you're so glum ?' And that's what he is, save when he's tipsy, and then what do ye think the maizelt creature does ?" "What ?" said Rotha.
"Why," answered Liza, with a big tear near to toppling over the corner of her eye, "why, the crack't 'un goes and gathers up all the maimed dogs in Wythburn; 'Becca Rudd's 'Dash,' and that's lame on a hind leg, and Nancy Grey's 'Meg,' and you know she's blind of one eye, and Grace M'Nippen's 'King Dick,' and he's been broken back't this many a long year, and they all up and follow Robbie when he's nigh almost drunk, and then he's right--away he goes with his cap a' one side, and all the folks laughin'-- the big poddish-head!" There was a great sob for Liza in the heart of the humor of that situation; and trying no longer to conceal her sorrow at her lover's relapse into drinking habits, she laid her head on Rotha's breast and wept outright.
"We must go to Mrs.Ray; she'll be lonely, poor old thing," said Rotha, drying Liza's eyes; "besides, she hasn't had her supper, you know." The girls left the dairy, where the churning had made small progress as yet, and went through the kitchen towards the room where the Dame of Shoulthwaite lay in that long silence which had begun sooner with her than with others.
As they passed towards the invalid's room, Mrs.Garth came in at the porch.