About eleven o'clock
Sol had not been home . Phil counselled her to go back and wait in her little cottage for the return of her husband , for he did not wish her to be a witness of his usual reaction . She departed , but whether or not she took Phil 's advice , he did not know . About eleven o'clock , Sol staggered in , helpless , but good-natured as usual . The heat of the smithy soon did its work and the big fellow curled himself up in a corner , among some empty sacks , and dropped off to sleep . It was the awakening that Phil dreaded , but risky as he knew it would be , he determined to give Sol a chance and leave him to wake up , without sending out to inform Royce Pederstone , who was home for a week to participate in the Christmas festivities , and the Mayor , -- whose combined duty it was to see that Sol was properly secured against doing anyone any bodily injury . But Phil 's good intentions were not allowed to fructify .