JIMSELLA
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he could afford to be independent. But thenext day had found him gone. The desertedwife wept for a time, for she had been fond ofJim, and then she set to work to struggle onby herself. It was a dismal effort, and thepeople about her were not kind to her. Shewas hardly of their class. She was only a sim-ple, honest countrywoman, who did not go outwith them to walk the avenue. When a month or two afterward the sheepishJim returned, ragged and dirty, she had forgivenhim and taken him back. But immunity frompunishment spoiled him, and hence of late hislapses had grown more frequent and of longerduration. He walked in one morning, after one of his- absences, with a more than usually forbiddingface, for he had heard the news in the neigh-bourhood before he got in. During his absencea baby had come to share the poverty of hishome. He thought with shame at himself,which turned into anger, that the child must bethree months old and he had never seen it. “Back ag’in, Jim?” was all Mandy said ashe entered and seated himself sullenly. “Yes, I’s back, but I ain’t back fu’ long. I 115
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