Heretheylieiogether,livingembodimentsoftwooftheSevenDeadlySins,butheknowshisavariooffencebecauseheneverspendsanymoneyandsheknowssheisnotgreedybecausethegrubsheshovelsdowngivesherdyspepsia.

    SheemploysanIrishcookandBridgetsrough-and-readyhandifulfilsAbbyseverycriterion.Bread,meat,cabbage,potatoes--Abbywasmadefortheheavyfoodthatmadeher.Bridgetmerrilyslapsoableboileddinners,boiledfish,ealmush,Indianpudding,johnnycakes,cookies.

    Butthosecookies...ah!thereyoutouAbbyslittleweakness.Molassescookies,oatmealcookies,raisincookies.Butwheacklesastickybrownie,oozingchocolate,thenshefeelsaqueasysenseofhavinggonealmosttoofar,thatsinmightbejustaroundtheerifherstomachdidnotimmediatelypalpitatelikeaguiltysce.

    Herflannelnightdressisthesamelinesashisnightshirtexceptforthelimpflannelfrillroundtheneck.Sheweighstwohundredpounds.Sheisfivefeetnothingtall.Thebedsagsonherside.Itisthebedinwhichhisfirstwifedied.

    Lastnight,theydosedthemselveswithcastoroil,duetotheindispositionthatkeptthembothawakeandvomitingthewholenightbeforethat;thecopiousresultsoftheirpurgesbrimthechamber-potsbehebed.Itisfittomakeasewerfaint.

    Backtobacktheylie.Youcouldrestaswordinthespacebetweentheoldmanandhiswife,betweentheoldmansbae,theidthingheeverofferedher,andhersoft,warm,enormousbum.Theirpurgesflailedthem.Theirfacesshowupdeposinggreeninthegloomofthecurtainedroom,inwhichtheairistoothickforfliestomove.

    Theyoudaughterdreamsbehindthelockeddoor.

    Lookatthesleepiy!

    Shethrewbackth