THE TWIN SISTERS. 407 



on the agitated spirits of the twin sisters. Day wove on but all 

 their efforts were unavailing to bring forth a single demonstration 

 that he felt and appreciated their efforts. Towards evening he 

 suddenly called Jane. The frightened girl hastened to him, as it was 

 the first time he had addressed them by name ; and, though she came 

 tremblingly, she trusted that surely now a change was coming over 

 him. She was doomed to be bitterly disappointed. In a tone, if 

 possible, more harsh than he had as yet spoken, he asked for money. 

 Her stock was small, but it was immediately surrendered. Abruptly 

 leaving the house without any intimation as to whether he should 

 return or not, it can excite no surprise that they devoutly prayed 

 that he might not come back, or that he might return an altered 

 man. The experience of one day had been sufficient to show how 

 completely his presence would blast all their hopes and ruin all 

 their comfort. The grandmother had done little but sit weeping all 

 day. Several times she had spoken to him, and his answers had been 

 uniformly brief and unkind. To all his departure was a relief, and 

 they immediately set about their usual employments. Hour after hour 

 passed away, and their buoyant spirits were recovering from the 

 depression which they had undergone. Night came, and as the twin 

 sisters retired to their common bed, they wept on each other's 

 bosom, from the knowledge that such a father should have dis- 

 covered them in their happy retirement. 



The balmy sleep of innocence had long sealed their eyelids, when 

 they were disturbed by the impatient knocking of the fiend-father. 

 Terrified by an occurrence so unusual, they clasped each other still 

 closer, not daring to rise ; and it was not till they heard the window 

 of their grandmother's room opened which overlooked the door, and 

 listened to her voice chiding the intruder, that a sense of their 

 situation broke upon them. Jane then hastily arose. Her grand- 

 mother was entreating and beseeching her father to depart in peace. 

 Oaths, execrations, and threatenings were her only answer, and the 

 horrified girl descended to admit him. If not intoxicated, he was in 

 a state bordering upon it, at least in charity let it be so supposed. 

 With coarse and brutal epithets he loaded his unoffending and 

 shrinking child ; and leaving him at length, she rushed into her 

 sister's arms, and eased her bursting heart by a flood of tears. 



Day after day the same scenes were repeated. Urgent and in- 

 cessant demands for money were made upon them. With unceasing 

 industry they devoted themselves to its acquisition ; and giving up 

 their customary walks and relaxations, they laboured incessantly to 

 satisfy his cravings. All was in vain : " give, give," was the cry that 

 ever met the anxious girls. Day was soon insufficient, and the night, 

 or a considerable part of it, was often spent in their efforts. 



These exertions, joined with their constant unhappiness, soon 

 produced their effects: Anne drooped, became pale, melancholy, and 

 desponding 



" Like a fair flower o'ercharged with dew, she wept," 



as their cruel taskmaster urged on their labours relentlessly, un- 

 touched even by these evidences of over-wrought strength. The 



