Page:The Father Confessor, Stories of Danger and Death.djvu/304

294 ; the worn stair-carpets, the dirty hall paper, the lack of a woman's touch to make the home comfort I knew and loved.

"Clean everything is, but what is done here is by the servant at my side," I thought "All honour to her for her endeavours. Otherwise what a house it would be for dirt! Agnes has no hand in this. Look at her hat with torn ribbons upon the hall rack, and her little velvet jacket flung upon the chair. Untidy Agnes!"

As we reached the door of his room I heard the sound of squabbling inside. At the noise the woman flung the door open and rushed in. I saw her seize the two younger children by the arms and force them apart Bobby and Lily were fighting over a toy.

"I told you not to come in here, disturbing your father when he's ill!" the woman shouted; "get out of here, both of you!"

She pushed them roughly to the door, Lily scratching and Bobby kicking.

"I want my train!" he roared, escaping from her and running back for his toy. He caught it by the leading string, and drew it out after him, the iron wheels creaking and rattling over the wooden floor.