“I never change,” replied the resolute father.

“She is the child of thy beloved wife, now in heaven, friend Crawford.”

“Good morning!” and Crawford turned and walked away.

“Rash words are bad enough,” said the Quaker to himself, “but how much worse is it to abide by rash words, after there has been time for reflection and repentance!”

Crawford was troubled by what the Quaker said; but more troubled by what he saw a few minutes afterwards, as he walked along the street, in the person of his daughter’s husband.  He met the young man, supported by two others—­so much intoxicated that he could not stand alone.  And in this state he was going home to his wife—­to Fanny!

The father clenched his hands, set his teeth firmly together, muttered an imprecation upon the head of Logan, and quickened his pace homeward.  Try as he would, he could not shut out from his mind the pale, faded countenance of his child, as described by the Quaker, nor help feeling an inward shudder at the thought of what she must suffer on meeting her husband in such a state.

“She has only herself to blame,” he said, as he struggled with his feelings.  “I forewarned her; I gave her to understand clearly what she had to expect.  My word is passed.  I have said it; and that ends the matter.  I am no childish trifler.  What I say, I mean.”

Logan had been from home all day, and, what was worse, had not been, as his wife was well aware, at the shop for a week.  The woman with whom they were boarding, came into her room during the afternoon, and, after some hesitation and embarrassment, said—­

“I am sorry to tell you, Mrs. Logan that I shall want you to give up your room, after this week.  You know I have had no money from you for nearly a month, and, from the way your husband goes on, I see little prospect of being paid any thing more.  If I was able, for your sake, I would not say a word.  But I am not, Mrs. Logan, and therefore must, in justice to myself and family, require you to get another boarding-house.”

Mrs. Logan answered only with tears.  The woman tried to soften what she had said, and then went away.

Not long after this, Logan came stumbling up the stairs, and opening the door of his room, staggered in and threw himself heavily upon the bed.  Fanny looked at him a few moments, and then crouching down, and covering her face with her hands, wept long and bitterly.  She felt crushed and powerless.  Cast off by her father, wronged by her husband, destitute and about to be thrust from the poor home into which she had shrunk:  faint and weary, it seemed as if hope were gone forever.  While she suffered thus, Logan lay in a drunken sleep.  Arousing herself at last, she removed his boots and coat, drew a pillow under his head, and threw a coverlet over him.  She then sat down and wept again.  The tea bell rung, but she did not go to the table.  Half an hour afterwards, the landlady came to the door and kindly inquired if she would not have some food sent up to her room.