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he drinks。 The four men had a pint each of four ale； and Mrs Crass had another threepennyworth of gin。 Ruth protested that she did not want any more to drink； but the others ridiculed this； and both the Besotted Wretch and the Semi…drunk seemed to regard her unwillingness as a personal insult； so she allowed them to get her another half…pint of beer； which she was compelled to drink； because she was conscious that the others were watching her to see that she did so。
The Semi…drunk now suggested a return match。 He wished to have his revenge。 He was a little out of practice； he said； and was only just getting his hand in as they were finishing the other game。 Crass and his partner readily assented； and in spite of Ruth's whispered entreaty that they should return home without further delay； Easton insisted on joining the game。
Although they played more carefully than before； and notwithstanding the fact that the Besotted Wretch was very drunk； Easton and his partner were again beaten and once more had to pay for the drinks。 The men had a pint each as before。 Mrs Crass … upon whom the liquor so far seemed to have no effect … had another threepennyworth of gin； and Ruth consented to take another glass of beer on condition that Easton would come away directly their drinks were finished。 Easton agreed to do so； but instead of keeping his word he began to play a four…handed game of shove…ha'penny with the other three； the sides and stakes being arranged as before。
The liquor was by this time beginning to have some effect upon Ruth： she felt dizzy and confused。 Whenever it was necessary to reply to Mrs Crass's talk she found some difficulty in articulating the words and she knew she was not answering very intelligently。 Even when Mrs Crass introduced her to the interesting Mr Partaker； who arrived about this time； she was scarcely able to collect herself sufficiently to decline that fascinating gentleman's invitation to have another drink with himself and Mrs Crass。
After a time a kind of terror took possession of her； and she resolved that if Easton would not come when he had finished the game he was playing； she would go home without him。
Meantime the game of shove…ha'penny proceeded merrily； the majority of the male guests crowding round the board； applauding or censuring the players as occasion demanded。 The Semi…drunk was in high glee； for Crass was not much of a hand at this game； and the Besotted Wretch； although playing well； was not able to make up for his partner's want of skill。 As the game drew near its end and it became more and more certain that his opponents would be defeated； the joy of the Semi…drunk was unbounded； and he challenged them to make it double or quits … a generous offer which they wisely declined； and shortly afterwards； seeing that their position was hopeless； they capitulated and prepared to pay the penalty of the vanquished。
Crass ordered the drinks and the Besotted Wretch … half the damage … a pint of four ale for each of the men and the same as before for the ladies。 The Old Dear executed the order； but by mistake； being very busy； he served two ‘threes' of gin instead of one。 Ruth did not want any more at all； but she was afraid to say so； and she did not like to make any fuss about it being the wrong drink； especially as they all assured her that the spirits would do her more good than beer。 She did not want either； she wanted to get away； and would have liked to empty the stuff out of the glass on the floor； but she was afraid that Mrs Crass or one of the others might see her doing so； and there might be some trouble about it。 Anyway； it seemed easier to drink this small quantity of spirits and water than a big glass of beer； the very thought of which now made her feel ill。 She drank the stuff which Easton handed to her at a single draught and； handing back the empty glass with a shudder； stood up resolutely。
‘Are you coming home now？ You promised you would；' she said。
‘All right： presently；' replied Easton。 'There's plenty of time； it's not nine yet。'
‘That doesn't matter； it's quite late enough。 You know we've left the child at home alone in the house。 You promised you'd come as soon as you'd finished that other game。'
‘All right； all right；' answered Easton impatiently。 ‘Just wait a minute； I want to see this； and then I'll come。'
‘This' was a most interesting problem propounded by Crass； who had arranged eleven matches side by side on the shove…ha'penny board。 The problem was to take none away and yet leave only nine。 Nearly all the men in the bar were crowding round the shove…ha'penny board； some with knitted brows and drunken gravity trying to solve the puzzle and others waiting curiously for the result。 Easton crossed over to see how it was done； and as none of the crowd were able to do the trick； Crass showed that it could be accomplished by simply arranging the eleven matches so as to form the word NINE。 Everybody said it was very good indeed； very clever and interesting。 But the Semi…drunk and the Besotted Wretch were reminded by this trick of several others equally good； and they proceeded to do them； and then the men had another pint each all round as a reviver after the mental strain of the last few minutes。
Easton did not know any tricks himself； but he was an interested spectator of those done by several others until Ruth came over and touched his arm。
‘Aren't you coming？'
‘Wait a minute； can't you？' cried Easton roughly。 ‘What's your hurry？'
‘I don't want to stay here any longer；' said Ruth； hysterically。 ‘You said you'd come as soon as you saw that trick。 If you don't come； I shall go home by myself。 I don't want to stay in this place any longer。'
‘Well； go by yourself if you want to！' shouted Easton fiercely； pushing her away from him。 ‘I shall stop 'ere as long as I please； and if you don't like it you can do the other thing。'
Ruth staggered and nearly fell from the force of the push he gave her； and the man turned again to the table to watch the Semi…drunk； who was arranging six matches so as to form the numeral XII； and who said he could prove that this was equal to a thousand。
Ruth waited a few minutes longer； and then as Easton took no further notice of her； she took up the string…bag and the other parcels； and without staying to say good night to Mrs Crass … who was earnestly conversing with the interesting Partaker … she with some difficulty opened the door and went out into the street。 The cold night air felt refreshing and sweet after the foul atmosphere of the public house； but after a little while she began to feel faint and dizzy； and was conscious also that she was walking unsteadily； and she fancied that people stared at her strangely as they passed。 The parcels felt very heavy and awkward to carry； and the string…bag seemed as if it were filled with lead。
Although under ordinary circumstances it was only about ten minutes' walk home from here； she resolved to go by one of the trams which passed by the end of North Street。 With this intention； she put down her bag on the pavement at the stopping…place； and waited； resting her hand on the iron pillar at the corner of the street； where a little crowd of people were standing evidently with the same object as herself。 Two trains passed without stopping； for they were already full of passengers； a common circumstance on Saturday nights。 The next one stopped； and several persons alighted； and then ensued a fierce struggle amongst the waiting crowd for the vacant seats。 Men and women pushed； pulled and almost fought； shoving their fists and elbows into each other's sides and breasts and faces。 Ruth was quickly thrust aside and nearly knocked down； and the tram； having taken aboard as many passengers as it had accommodation for； passed on。 She waited for the next one； and the same scene was enacted with the same result for her； and then； reflecting that if she had not stayed for these trains she might have been home by now； she determined to resume her walk。 The parcels felt heavier than ever； and she had not proceeded very far before she was compelled to put the bag down again upon the pavement； outside an empty house。
Leaning against the railings； she felt very tired and ill。 Everything around her … the street； the houses； the traffic … seemed vague and shadowy and unreal。 Several people looked curiously at her as they passed； but by this time she was scarcely conscious of their scrutiny。
Slyme had gone that evening to the usual ‘open…air' conducted by the Shining Light Mission。 The weather being fine； they had a most successful meeting； the disciples； including Hunter； Rushton； Sweater； Didlum； and Mrs Starvem … Ruth's former mistress … assembled in great force so as to be able to deal more effectively with any infidels or hired critics or drunken scoffers who might try to disturb the proceedings； and … possibly as an evidence of how much real faith there was in them … they had also arranged to have a police officer in attendance； to protect them from what they called the ‘Powers of Darkness'。 One might be excused for thinking that … if they really believed … they would have relied rather upon those powers of Light which they pro