Their sitting lasted about an hour, and before taking leave of each other they arranged for a meeting at a different place in the course of a few days.
Joseph walked homewards with deliberation, in absent mood, his countenance alternating strangely between a look of mischievous jocoseness and irritable concern; occasionally he muttered to himself.
Just before reaching the Close he turned into a public-house; when he came forth the malicious smile was on his face, and he walked with the air of a man who bas business of moment before him.

He admitted himself to the house.
'That you, Jo ?' cried Clem's voice from upstairs.
'Me, sure enough,' was the reply, with a chuckle.

'Come up sharp, then.' Humming a tune, Joseph ascended to the sitting-room on the first floor, and threw himself on a seat.

His wife stood just in front of him, her sturdy arms a-kimbo; her look was fiercely expectant, answering in some degree to the smile with which he looked here and there.
'Well, can't you speak ?' 'No hurry, Mrs.Clem; no hurry, my dear.

It's all right.