Cotter's England Read Online Free PDF Page B

him, so that Mr. Cotter was able to kick out with his large boot and prod him.
    "Couldn't you see Mother, Pop," said Nellie. "She's waiting for ye, pet. You know she doesn't sleep till you come in."
    "Yes," said Mr. Cotter, "that's a bad dog and that was a black day, Mrs. Cook, when you brought that dog across the threshold, Nellie. You never did a worse thing."
    Nellie laughed loudly to oblige him.
    Peggy came back to the kitchen and said to her father, "Now you leave that dog alone, man, and I'll leave you alone." She opened the drawers of the dresser and asked good-humoredly where the silver was. "I had it all out this afternoon; and I suppose Mother took it away."
    "Look for it in the grandfather clock, pet," said Nellie, "that's where she had her shoes this afternoon."
    "Then that's where it'll not be; it is vexing."
    "Do go and see Mother, Father," said Nellie. "She should have been asleep long ago; but she stayed awake for you, now go on."
    Mr. Cotter heaved himself up and went along the hall to the front room where his wife had been sleeping since her fall on the stairs. She now spent her days there, sometimes walking about a little in her nightgown; he slept upstairs still in the fine front bedroom. They could hear him crooning and cajoling, "How are you, Mary, are you better? Are you feeling better now, this evening, Mary my girl? Are you going to sleep? Now that's right then, sleep now, my girl; are you going to sleep now? Now, that's all right, now will you sleep if I tell you, will you promise?"
    Peggy had found some knives and forks done up in a parcel in the cleaning drawer, had laid the tray and got the dish from the oven, a full plate of meat. "It's still hot," she said, "that's good; the fuss he makes! He thinks the whole henhouse must wait up for him."
    "Now then, pet," said Nellie, "it's his right, he's the head of the family." Uncle Simon laughed at this and read his paper.
    Peggy said, "As a father of a family, he's a disgrace. Why should he get it when he's spending it all in the pubs?"
    "Hush, pet," said Nellie, "he's the head of the house and you must be grateful because he's always kept a roof over our heads."
    Now Mr. Cotter could be heard in the hall, still crooning, "Are you all right for the night, then, Mollie? Are you comfortable, Mollie? That's right then, dear. Sleep now, sweetheart, have a good night now and please me."
    Nellie smiled, "Ah, he's a pet."
    Peggy said, "If he worried about her, he'd stay at home and entertain her at nights."
    "Now then pet, it isn't the custom of the men in this town as you know; you can't blame the puir old lad for doing what the others do."
    Peggy hrmphed. "I know he can't do any wrong with you, but he can do wrong with me. He can do wrong with her. And you can all do wrong with me, for I know what's under it all."
    Nellie said, "No, you don't, darling. You don't know that."
    "I know," said Peggy, "it's selfishness, it's nothing but self. The dog there has a better heart than you all."
    Nellie said, "Now then, pet, now there he goes into the dining room. I'll take it in, pet, and you'll bring the tea."
    As soon as Nellie went out with the tray, the dog began to torment Uncle Simon, by barking rowdily and snatching at his hand. Peggy said meaningly to the dog, "Don't do it, man, don't do it, man!"
    Simon said sarcastically, "Don't do it, don't do it, do it!"
    "If you didn't torment him man, he'd let you alone. He knows what's what."
    Simon said, "Knows what's what."
    Peggy cried, "Don't mumble there at him, man; it drives him silly. He's not responsible. He knows you mean harm, man! He's a young dog and he's sharp; and he knows what ye mean. Besides, doesn't he know as I know, ye kick him in the darkness of the hall? I'm on to you. Don't play so hypocritical, Uncle Simon, man. I see through you, man. Let's have a bit of peace, for God's sake."
    "A bit of peace for God's sake," said Uncle Simon.
    Peggy continued, "Now he doesn't mean anything. That's just his