He used to smoke a good deal out of a big meerschaum pipe with figures on it that he used to show us when he was in a good humour.

But two or three times a year he used to set-to and drink for a week, and then school was left off till he was right.
We didn't think much of that.

Everybody, almost, that we knew did the same--all the men--nearly all, that is--and some of the women--not mother, though; she wouldn't have touched a drop of wine or spirits to save her life, and never did to her dying day.

We just thought of it as if they'd got a touch of fever or sunstroke, or broke a rib or something.

They'd get over it in a week or two, and be all right again.
All the same, poor old Mr.Howard wasn't always on the booze, not by any manner of means.