"You've done us," she said almost vengefully.
"What are I done then?" asked the accused, feigning abrupt indignation.
Ruth dismissed the child, and turned on Ernie.
"Got us turn into the street--me and my babies," she answered, splendidly indignant. "A chap's been round arter the house, while you was up before the beaks settlin whether you were for Lewes Gaol or not. Says Alf's let it him a week from Saraday, and we got to go. I wouldn't let him in."
"Ah," said Ernie stubbornly, "don't you worry. Alf's got to give us notice first. And he daren't do that."
"I'll tell you for why," answered Ernie. "He's goin up before the Watch Committee come Thursday to get his licence for his blessed Touring Syndicate. We've friends on that Committee, good friends--Mr. Pigott, and the Colonel, not to say Mr. Geddes; and Alf knaws it. He ain't goin to do anythink to annoy them just now. Knaws too much, Alf do."
"We got no friends," she said sullenly. "We shall lose em all over this. O course we shall, and I don't blame em. A fair disgrace on both of you, I call it. You're lucky not to have to do a stretch. And as to Alf, they've sack him from sidesman over it, and he'll never forgive us."
They were walking slowly back to the cottage, the man hang-dog, the woman cold.
"All I know is this," she said. "If you're out again through your own fault I'm done with it, and I'll tell you straight what I shall do, Ern."
"I shall leave you with your children and go away with mine." She stood with heaving bosom, immensely moved. "I ca-a'nt keep the lot. But I can keep one. And you know which one that'll be."
Ernie, the colour of dew, went indoors without a word.
The rumour that Alf had been dismissed from his position as sidesman at St. Michael's, owing to the incident in the Goffs, was not entirely true, but there was something in it.
The Archdeacon had his faults, but there was no more zealous guardian of the fair fame of the Church and all things appertaining to her.
Alf's appearance before the magistrates was discussed at the weekly conference of the staff at the Rectory.
Both Mr. Spink and Bobby Chislehurst were present. The former stoutly defended his protégé, and the Archdeacon heard him out. Then he turned to Bobby.