But he knocked the glass sway, spilling the liquor over himself and the
bed.
It was drink or fight, and Nixon was ready to fight; but after parley
they had a drink all round, and fell to persuasion again. The night was
cold, and poor Nixon sat shivering on the edge of his bed. If he would
take one drink they would leave him alone. He need not show himself so
stiff. The whisky fumes filled his nostrils. If one drink would get
them off, surely that was better than fighting and killing some one or
getting killed. He hesitated, yielded, drank his glass. They sat about
him amiably drinking, and lauding him as a fine fellow after all. One
more glass before they left. Then Nixon rose, dressed himself, drank all
that was left of the bottle, put his money in his pocket, and came down
to the dance, wild with his old-time madness, reckless of faith and
pledge, forgetful of home, wife, babies, his whole being absorbed in one
great passion--to drink and drink and drink till he could drink no more.
Before Shaw had finished his tale, Craig's eyes were streaming with
tears, and groans of rage and pity broke alternately from him.
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