`No,' she said, faintly.
`Oh yes! We're heavy swells too, and so I tell you. Don't you come out, a-catching cold in your head. I'll wake him!' Mr. Bailey expressing in his demeanour a perfect confidence that he could carry him in with ease, if necessary, opened the coach door, let down the steps, and giving Jonas a shake, cried `We've got home, my flower! Tumble up, then!'
He was so far recovered as to be able to respond to this appeal, and to come stumbling out of the coach in a heap, to the great hazard of Mr. Bailey's person. When he got upon the pavement, Mr. Bailey first butted at him in front, and then dexterously propped him up behind; and having steadied him by these means, he assisted him into the house.
`You go up first with the light,' said Bailey to Mr Jonas, `and we'll foller. Don't tremble so. He won't hurt you. When I've had a drop too much, I'm full of good natur myself.'
She went on before; and her husband and Bailey, by dint of tumbling over each other, and knocking themselves about, got at hast into the sitting-room above stairs, where Jonas staggered into a seat.
`There!' said Mr. Bailey. `He's all right now. You ain't got nothing to cry for, bless you! He's righter than a trivet!'
The ill-favoured brute, with dress awry, and sodden face, and rumpled hair, sat blinking and drooping, and rolling his idiotic eyes about, until, becoming conscious by degrees, he recognised his wife and shook his fist at her.
`Ah!' cried Mr. Bailey, squaring his arms with a sudden emotion. `What, you're wicious, are you? Would you though! You'd better not!'
`Pray, go away!' said Merry. `Bailey, my good boy, go home. Jonas!' she said; timidly laying her hand upon his shoulder, and bending her head down over him. `Jonas!'
`Look at her!' cried Jonas, pushing her off with his extended arm. `look here! Look at her! Here's a bargain for a man!'
`Dear Jonas!'
`Dear Devil!' he replied, with a fierce gesture. `You're a pretty clog to be tied to a man for life, you mewling, white-faced cat! Get out of my sight!'
`I know you don't mean it, Jonas. You wouldn't say it if you were sober.'
With affected gaiety she gave Bailey a piece of money, and again implored him to be gone. Her entreaty was so earnest, that the boy had not the heart to stay there. But he stopped at the bottom of the stairs, and listened.
`I wouldn't say it if I was sober!' retorted Jonas. `You know better. Have I never said it when I was sober?'
`Often, indeed!' she answered through her tears.
`Hark ye!' cried Jonas, stamping his foot upon the ground. `You made me bear your pretty humours once, and ecod I'll make you bear mine now. I always promised myself I would. I married you that I might. I'll know who's master, and who's slave!'
`Heaven knows I am obedient!' said the sobbing girl. `Much more so than I ever thought to be!'