COMMUTER'S WIFE 165 



And she walked out, and Patsy he got up from his 

 two knees, and to kape his word went out and 

 drowned hisself in drink before witnesses in Grogan's 

 saloon." 



Mrs. Mullins talked so rapidly, hurried by a keen 

 relish of her subject, that I followed her with diffi- 

 culty, divided between laughter and admiration of 

 Delia's spirit. So when Mrs. Mullins creaked down- 

 stairs, she carried the tidings to the girl that, failing 

 of being a bride, she might still be a waitress without 

 reproach. 



Having a healthy appetite, and no woman being 

 within reach with whom I could discuss the morn- 

 ing's happenings, thereby magnifying their impor- 

 tance, I went in search of luncheon, and by the time 

 it appeared, together with father, the only part of the 

 trilogy of woes that seemed worth repeating was Mrs. 

 Mullins' s account of the failure of Delia's venture in 

 real estate. 



