XVIII 



MRS. MUTTON, poor soul, has had a dead infant. It 

 is perhaps scarcely to be wondered at, as she had another 

 encounter with the water-butt shortly before the event/ 

 but she is as much " taken-to " as if she had been hoping 

 to bring an heir-apparent into a realm of splendour. The 

 doctor, to console her, asked her hadn't she plenty 

 already. 



" I did think it unkind of him, Miss ! It does seem 'ard ! 

 I did so seem to long for this one to live ! " 

 We had a confidential conversation with the experienced 

 matron who was ministering to her, and we mentioned 

 the water-butt with some severity. But Mrs. Tosher 

 would have none of this. Hers is a large mind philo- 

 sophy : 



" Ho ! well, you see, Miss, it's just as it takes them. 

 I don't say as Mutton isn't a bit fond of his glass / but 

 after all, Miss," she smiled indulgently, "you must re- 

 member he was a bit upset-like. It isn't as if there 'adn't 

 been a reason. When 'e 'eard there was going to be 

 another, it turned 'im against 'er. Of course, poor feller ! 

 That was only to be expected like'" 

 "Good Heavens!" 



Mrs. Tosher smiled more broadly than ever at our 

 innocence. 



" Some men do take it very 'ard ! " 

 Words failed us. We could not reason upon such a 

 point of view. 



At the bottom of the garden the " little cot," as Mrs. 

 Adam calls it, which she and her husband have made so 



123 



