Those standing near overheard. Bessie and the girl stopped quarrelling.
The landlord, startled, cast a sly eye in Bessie's direction. She came
up to the bar.

'What's that yer sayin?' she demanded.

The man repeated his remark.

'Well, I dessay there was,' said Bessie--'I dessay there was. I s'pose
there's plenty of 'em. Where do I get 'em?--why I get 'em at Bedford, of
course, when I goes for my money.'

She looked round defiantly. No one said anything; but everybody
instinctively suspected a lie. The sudden silence was striking.

'Well, give me my change, will yer?' she said, impatiently to the
landlord. 'I can't stan here all night.'

He gave it to her, and she went out showering reckless good-nights, to
which there was little response. The door had no sooner closed upon her
than every one in the taproom pressed round the bar in a close gathering
of heads and tongues.

Bessie ran across the green and began to climb the hill at a rapid pace.
Her thin woolen shawl blown back by the wind left her arms and bosom
exposed. But the effects of the spirit in her veins prevented any sense
of cold, though it was a bitter night.

Once or twice, as she toiled up the hill, she gave a loud sudden sob.