He continued to speculate while the old horse, undisturbed by the driver’s absence, placidly continued its journey.  A mile farther, however, he got down to take the short cut by the fields.

“If Joe can’t look after his ’orse and cart,” he said, primly, as he watched it along the road, “it’s not my business.”

The footpath was not much used at that time of night, and he only met one man.  They were in the shadow of the trees which fringed the new cemetery as they passed, and both peered.  The stranger was satisfied first and, to Mr. Blows’s growing indignation, first gave a leap backward which would not have disgraced an acrobat, and then made off across the field with hideous outcries.

“If I get ’old of some of you,” said the offended Mr. Blows, “I’ll give you something to holler for.”

He pursued his way grumbling, and insensibly slackened his pace as he drew near home.  A remnant of conscience which had stuck to him without encouragement for thirty-five years persisted in suggesting that he had behaved badly.  It also made a few ill-bred inquiries as to how his wife and children had subsisted for the last three months.  He stood outside the house for a short space, and then, opening the door softly, walked in.

The kitchen-door stood open, and his wife in a black dress sat sewing by the light of a smoky lamp.  She looked up as she heard his footsteps, and then, without a word, slid from the chair full length to the floor.

“Go on,” said Mr. Blows, bitterly; “keep it up.  Don’t mind me.”

Mrs. Blows paid no heed; her face was white and her eyes were closed.  Her husband, with a dawning perception of the state of affairs, drew a mug of water from the tap and flung it over her.  She opened her eyes and gave a faint scream, and then, scrambling to her feet, tottered toward him and sobbed on his breast.

“There, there,” said Mr. Blows.  “Don’t take on; I forgive you.”

“Oh, John,” said his wife, sobbing convulsively, “I thought you was dead.  I thought you was dead.  It’s only a fortnight ago since we buried you!”

“Buried me?” said the startled Mr. Blows.  “Buried me?”

“I shall wake up and find I’m dreaming,” wailed Mrs. Blows; “I know I shall.  I’m always dreaming that you’re not dead.  Night before last I dreamt that you was alive, and I woke up sobbing as if my ’art would break.”

“Sobbing?” said Mr. Blows, with a scowl.  “For joy, John,” explained his wife.

Mr. Blows was about to ask for a further explanation of the mystery when he stopped, and regarded with much interest a fair-sized cask which stood in one corner.

“A cask o’ beer,” he said, staring, as he took a glass from the dresser and crossed over to it.  “You don’t seem to ’ave taken much ’arm during my—­my going after work.”

“We ’ad it for the funeral, John,” said his wife; “leastways, we ’ad two; this is the second.”