第53章

`There's husbands in the world,' continued Mrs Glegg after a pause, `as 'ud have known how to do something different to siding with everybody else against their own wives.Perhaps I'm wrong, and you can teach me better - but I've allays heard as it's the husband's place to stand by the wife, instead o' rejoicing and triumphing when folks insult her.'

`Now, what call have you to say that?' said Mr Glegg, rather warmly, for though a kind man, he was not as meek as Moses.`When did I rejoice or triumph over you?'

`There's ways o' doing things worse than speaking out plain, Mr Glegg.

I'd sooner you'd tell me to my face as you make light of me, than try to make out as everybody's in the right but me, and come to your breakfast in the morning, as I've hardly slept an hour this night, and sulk at me as if I was the dirt under your feet.'

`Sulk at you?' said Mr Glegg, in a tone of angry facetiousness.`You're like a tipsy man as thinks everybody's had too much but himself.'

`Don't lower yourself with using coarse language to me , Mr Glegg!

It makes you look very small, though you can't see yourself,' said Mrs Glegg in a tone of energetic compassion.`A man in your place should set an example, and talk more sensible.'

`Yes; but will you listen to sense?' retorted Mr Glegg, sharply.`The best sense I can talk to you is what I said last night - as you're i' the wrong to think o' calling in your money, when it's safe enough if you'd let it alone, all because of a bit of a tiff, and I was in hopes you'd ha' altered your mind this morning.But if you'd like to call it in, don't do it in a hurry now, and breed more enmity in the family - but wait till there's a pretty mortgage to be had without any trouble.You'd have to set the lawyer to work now to find an investment, and make no end o' expense.'

Mrs Glegg felt there was really something in this, but she tossed her head and emitted a guttural interjection to indicate that her silence was only an armistice, not a peace.And, in fact, hostilities soon broke out again.

`I'll thank you for my cup o' tea now, Mrs G.,' said Mr Glegg, seeing that she did not proceed to give it him as usual, when he had finished his porridge.She lifted the teapot with a slight toss of the head, and said, `I'm glad to hear you'll thank me, Mr Glegg.It's little thanks I get for what I do for folks i' this world.Though there's never a woman o' your side i' the family, Mr Glegg, as is fit to stand up with me, and I'd say it if I was on my dying bed.Not but what I've allays conducted myself civil to your kin, and there isn't one of 'em can say the contrary, though my equils they aren't, and nobody shall make me say it.'

`You'd better leave finding fault wi' my kin till you've left off quarrelling with your own, Mrs G.,' said Mr Glegg, with angry sarcasm.`I'll trouble you for the milk-jug.'

`That's as false a word as ever you spoke, Mr Glegg,' said the lady, pouring out the milk with unusual profuseness, as much as to say, if he wanted milk, he should have it with a vengeance.`And you know it's false.

I'm not the woman to quarrel with my own kin: you may, for I've known you do it.'

`Why, what did you call it yesterday, then, leaving your sister's house in a tantrum?'

`I'd no quarrel wi' my sister, Mr Glegg, and it's false to say it.Mr Tulliver's none o' my blood, and it was him quarrelled with me, and drove me out o' the house.But perhaps you'd have had me stay and be swore at, Mr Glegg; perhaps you was vexed not to hear more abuse and foul language poured out upo' your own wife.But let me tell you, it's your disgrace.'

`Did ever anybody hear the like i' this parish?' said Mr Glegg, getting hot.`A woman with everything provided for her, and allowed to keep her own money the same as if it was settled on her, and with a gig new-stuffed and lined at no end o' expense, and provided for when I die beyond anything she could expect...to go on i' this way, biting and snapping like a mad dog! It's beyond everything as God A'mighty should ha' made women so.'