A Child Shall Lead Them by Mary E. Ropes

"THIS IS THE DOG THAT WORRIED THE CAT."

FOR some time Ratcliffe continued very ill; the bleeding from the lungs recurred at intervals, and he was extremely weak. Nor was this his wife's only or greatest source of anxiety. Though unable to do any work, he seemed to have money, which he gave her, a gold piece at a time, when she needed it for household expenses. Once when she ventured to ask how he had become possessed of it, he turned upon her almost fiercely, telling her to hold her tongue and not bother him; but she was very unhappy, for generally Ratcliffe was sullen and silent, sitting in his chair often for hours without speaking, and taking no notice even of his little girl, of whom he had always been devotedly fond. Nancy could see that a heavy burden was resting upon his heart, but she was not permitted to share it, and this was constant pain to her.