174 RUNS TO THE SEA-SHORE. CHAP. ix. 



sacrificed his life. At the same time, the loss of work, 

 starvation, and ruin, stared him in the face. Is it 

 surprising that, thus situated, despair should for a 

 time have got the mastery over his better and sounder 

 judgment? 



The afternoon was far advanced His dinner, which 

 had been brought to him an hour before, still lay un- 

 tasted. He was pacing up and down the apartment, 

 pondering over his miserable position, when his father 

 entered. Edward was looking so agitated, that the 

 old man inquired " what ailed him ?" He said he was 

 going out, and went towards the door, fearing lest his 

 wife or any of his children might appear. His father 

 stepped between him and the door, remonstrating with 

 him, and saying that he was not fit to go out in such 

 a state. But a woman entering, attracted his father's 

 attention, and Edward was thus allowed to slip away 

 unobserved. 



Edward rushed down Union Street, on his way 

 to the sands. At first he thought of going to the Dee 

 at the Craiglug ; but he bethought him that it would 

 be better to go to the sea-shore, where it might be 

 thought his death was accidental. From the time of 

 his leaving the shop in Union Street until about four 

 hours after, when he recovered his senses, his memory 

 remained almost a complete blank. He had a vague 

 idea of crossing the links, and seeing some soldiers at 

 the foot of the Broadhill. But beyond that, he re- 

 membered next to nothing. Unlike a dream, of which 



