Page:Life's little ironies (1894).pdf/233

and as he had not come in she waited awhile for him, putting away the irons and things, and preparing the table for his breakfast in the morning. Still he did not return, but supposing him not far off, and wanting to get to bed herself, tired as she was, she left the door unbarred and went to the stairs, after writing on the back of the door with chalk; Mind and do the door (because he was a forgetful man).

"To her great surprise, I might say alarm, on reaching the foot of the stairs his boots were standing there as they always stood when he had gone to rest ; going up to their chamber she found him in bed sleeping as sound asa rock. How he could have got back again without her seeing or hearing him was beyond her comprehension. It could only have been by psssing behind her very quietly while she was bumping with the iron. But this notion did not satisfy her; it was surely impossible that she should not have seen him come in through a room ao small, She could net unravel the mystery, and felt very queer and uncomfortable about it. However, she would not disturb him to question him then, and went to bed herself.

“He rose and left for his work very early the next morning, befere she was awake, and she waited his return to breakfast with much anxiety for an explanation, for thinking over the matter by daylight made it seem only the more startling. When he came in to the meal he said, before she could put her question, “ What's the meaning of them words chalked on the door ?”

She told him, and asked him about his going out the night before. William declared that he had never left the bedroom after entering it, having in fact undressed, lain down, and fallen asleep directly, never once waking till the clock etruck five, and he rose up to go to his labor.