CHAPTER XXXVII. IN WHICH THE READER MAY PERCEIVE A CONTRAST, NOT UNCOMMON IN MATRIMONIAL CASES

ut,themeasureofhisdegradationwasnotyetfull.Aftermakingatourofthehouse,andthinking,forthefirsttime,thatthepoor-lawsreallyweretoohardonpeopleandthatmenwhoranawayfromtheirwives,leavingthemchargeabletotheparish,ought,injusticetobevisitedwithnopunishmentatall,butratherrewardedasmeritoriousindividualswhohadsufferedmuchMr.Bumblecametoaroomwheresomeofthefemalepauperswereusuallyemployedinwashingtheparishlinen:whenthesoundofvoicesinconversation,nowproceeded. “Hem!”saidMr.Bumble,summoningupallhisnativedignity.“Thesewomenatleastshallcontinuetorespecttheprerogative.Hallo!hallothere!Whatdoyoumeanbythisnoise,youhussies?” Withthesewords,Mr.Bumbleopenedthedoor,andwalkedinwithaveryfierceandangrymanner:whichwasatonceexchangedforamosthumiliatedandcoweringair,ashiseyesunexpectedlyrestedontheformofhisladywife. “Mydear,”saidMr.Bumble,“Ididn’tknowyouwerehere.” “Didn’tknowIwashere!”repeatedMrs.Bumble.“Whatdoyoudohere?” “Ithoughttheyweretalkingrathertoomuchtobedoingtheirworkproperly,mydear,”repliedMr.Bumble:glancingdistractedlyatacoupleofoldwomenatthewash-tub,whowerecomparingnotesofadmirationattheworkhouse-master’shumility. “Youthoughttheyweretalkingtoomuch?”saidMrs.Bumble.“Whatbusinessisitofyours?” “Why,mydear—”urgedMr.Bumblesubmissively. “Whatbusinessisitofyours?”demandedMrs.Bumble,again. “It’sverytrue,you’rematronhere,mydear,”submittedMr.Bumble“butIthoughtyoumightn’tbeinthewayjustthen.” “I’lltellyouwhat,Mr.Bumble,”returnedhislady.“Wedon’twantanyofyourinterference.You’reagreatdealtoofondofpokingyournoseintothingsthatdon’tconcernyou,makingeverybodyinthehouselaugh,themomentyourbackisturned,andmakingyourselflooklikeafooleveryhourintheday.Beoffcome!” Mr.Bumble,seeingwithexcruciatingfeelings,thedelightofthetwooldpaupers,whoweretitteringtogethermostrapturously,hesitatedforaninstant.Mrs.Bumble,whosepatiencebrookednodelay,caughtupabowlofsoap-suds,andmotioninghimtowardsthedoor,orderedhiminstantlytodepart,onpainofreceivingthecontentsuponhisportlyperson. WhatcouldMr.Bumbledo?Helookeddejectedlyround,andslunkawayand,ashereachedthedoor,thetitteringsofthepaupersbrokeintoashrillchuckleofirrepressibledelight.Itwantedbutthis.Hewasdegradedintheireyeshehadlostcasteandstationbeforetheverypaupershehadfallenfromalltheheightandpompofbeadleship,tothelowestdepthofthemostsnubbedhen-peckery. “Allintwomonths!”saidMr.Bumble,filledwithdismalthoughts.“Twomonths!Nomorethantwomonthsago,Iwasnotonlymyownmaster,buteverybodyelse’s,sofarastheporochialworkhousewasconcerned,andnow!—” Itwastoomuch.Mr.Bumbleboxedtheearsoftheboywhoopenedthegateforhim(forhehadreachedtheportalinhisreverie)andwalked,distractedly,intothestreet. Hewalkeduponestreet,anddownanother,untilexercisehadabatedthefirstpassionofhisgriefandthentherevulsionoffeelingmadehimthirsty.Hepassedagreatmanypublic-housesbut,atlengthpausedbeforeoneinaby-way,whoseparlour,ashegatheredfromahastypeepovertheblinds,wasdeserted,savebyonesolitarycustomer.Itbegantorain,heavily,atthemoment.Thisdeterminedhim.Mr.Bumblesteppedinandorderingsomethingtodrink,ashepassedthebar,enteredtheapartmentintowhichhehadlookedfromthestreet. Themanwhowasseatedthere,wastallanddark,andworealargecloak.Hehadtheairofastrangerandseemed,byacertainhaggardnessinhislook,aswellasbythedustysoilsonhisdress,tohavetravelledsomedistance.HeeyedBumbleaskance,asheentered,butscarcelydeignedtonodhisheadinacknowledgmentofhissalutation. Mr.Bumblehadquitedignityenoughfortwosupposingeventhatthes