Robbery under Arms by Rolf Boldrewood — Read

Jim, by all accounts, had a great afternoon's shooting, and was as pleased and contented as if there was nothing ahead that we need trouble about in the world. A little pleasure went a long way with poor old Jim. He was like mother in that way, when I recollect her before she found out all about father's cross work, and what might come of it.

In the regular old days of all she was always as happy as could be, working and singing away all day long, and thinking about nothing but her housework and her children, and hardly ever sitting down from morning to night. Even when father was away it seems she was that simple she never dropped down to his being at any kind of dishonest work that would bring him within the law. She knew he'd done it once in his life and suffered for it; but she believed all that was over and paid for. She never dreamt he'd taken to it again, worse than ever: and meant to stick to it to the end of his days.