40 THE FIRST GLASS OF WINE;

dishes which strewed the room, rearranged
the old table as well as she was able, and
placed upon it some of the ham and bread
and butter. The monster viewed these
preparations with an air of satisfaction, and
drawing up to the table, ate with a hearti-
ness which showed that though he would not,
earn bread for his. family, he knew pretty
well how to dispose of that which was given
to them in charity.
_ ** His wife stood silently looking at him,
while her hands were tightly clasped over
her aching heart, and her features worked —
convulsively with nervous anxiety. But at
length, seeing him restored to tolerable
: good-humor, she timidly said —

‘**¢ You spoke of work, William. Have
you been doing anything to-day ? We have

only a few sticks of wood left in the house,