lookingwoman，butsun-burnt，andmeanlydressed，andtworaggedchildren，aboyandgirl，aboutfourorfiveyearsold。Themansatwithhiseyesfixeduponthetable，supportinghischinwithbothhishands；thewoman，whowasnexthim，satquitestill，savethatoccasionallysheturnedaglanceuponherhusbandwitheyesthatappearedtohavebeenlatelycrying。Thechildrenhadnoneofthevivacitysogeneralattheirage。AmoredisconsolatefamilyI
hadneverseen；amug，which，whenfilled，mightcontainhalfapint，stoodemptybeforethem；averydisconsolatepartyindeed。
’House!’saidI；’House!’andthen，asnobodyappeared，IcriedagainasloudasIcould，’House!doyouhearme，House!’
’What’syourpleasure，youngman？’saidanelderlywoman，whonowmadeherappearancefromasideapartment。
’Totasteyourale，’saidI。