48 | DIGGING A GRAVE

behaving like that; and she aiting her bread.
‘So that was Peggy’s reason,” —so ran her
thoughts, as she walked back to Pimlico, —
4 So that was Peggy’s reason for not letting
me get sight at that poor lady. Oh dear! but
the Lord’s hand is heavy on the country,
when such a one falls into those ways; I’ve
often argued with Peggy that there is an ex-
cuse for the poor crayshures, that get warmth
and support from a penn’orth of — poison!
when they have neither. food nor fire ; but for
the likes of her, with all earth’s blessings
blossoming round her, to let herself down .to
the level of the staggerers in the street! Sure,
t’s past understanding how it can be! and mes
with my heart like lead in me ‘bosom on ac-
count of that fine handsome boy, whose been
the love of my life, before I knew what love
was ; I wish I had money enough to be a nun;
and wouldn’t I be one to-day before to-morrow,

and so shut out the sin and the shame of the