Page:Emma Speed Sampson--The shorn lamb.djvu/109

Rh them to be more abstemious, but that was in the early days. She had long since ceased to try to change their habits, but the odor still sickened her. Sometimes the thought came to her that it would be wise to encourage them and they might drink themselves to death, but the alcohol only seemed to preserve Aunt Peachy and as far as she could see did no harm to Rolfe. Certainly they were much pleasanter when they had had their dram, and it was easier to get along with both the old negress and the master when they were slightly under the influence of liquor. Elizabeth hated to have Betsy and Jo present while the jug was being passed around, and she shrank pitifully from the thought of Philip having to come in contact with it, as he surely would as soon as he came home.