CHAPTER XXXII

supposeIoughttobetoddling.Comealong,Mr.Muff—youwantanewcoat,butIdon’tknowwho’llgiveityou,I’msure”andaddressingherapparelwithmournfulhumour,Dollymovedfromtheroom. MargaretfollowedhertoaskwhetherHenryknewaboutMissAvery’srudeness. “Ohyes.” “Iwonder,then,whyheletmeaskhertolookafterthehouse.” “Butshe’sonlyafarmwoman,”saidDolly,andherexplanationprovedcorrect.Henryonlycensuredthelowerclasseswhenitsuitedhim.HeborewithMissAveryaswithCrane—becausehecouldgetgoodvalueoutofthem.“Ihavepatiencewithamanwhoknowshisjob,”hewouldsay,reallyhavingpatiencewiththejob,andnottheman.Paradoxicalasitmaysound,hehadsomethingoftheartistabouthimhewouldpassoveraninsulttohisdaughtersoonerthanloseagoodcharwomanforhiswife. Margaretjudgeditbettertosettlethelittletroubleherself.Partieswereevidentlyruffled.WithHenry’spermission,shewroteapleasantnotetoMissAvery,askinghertoleavethecasesuntouched.Then,atthefirstconvenientopportunity,shewentdownherself,intendingtorepackherbelongingsandstorethemproperlyinthelocalwarehousetheplanhadbeenamateurishandafailure.Tibbypromisedtoaccompanyher,butatthelastmomentbeggedtobeexcused.So,forthesecondtimeinherlife,sheenteredthehousealone.