Chapter II. Mr Tulliver, of Dorlcote Mill, Declares His Resolution about Tom

’lavenderasit’udbeapleasuretolay’emoutan’theylieattheleft-handcornero’thebigoaklinen-chestattheback:notasIshouldtrustanybodytolook’emoutbutmyself.” AsMrsTulliverutteredthelastsentence,shedrewabrightbunchofkeysfromherpocket,andsingledoutone,rubbingherthumbandfingerupanddownitwithaplacidsmilewhileshelookedattheclearfire.IfMrTulliverhadbeenasusceptiblemaninhisconjugalrelation,hemighthavesupposedthatshedrewoutthekeytoaidherimaginationinanticipatingthemomentwhenhewouldbeinastatetojustifytheproductionofthebestHollandsheets.Happilyhewasnotsohewasonlysusceptibleinrespectofhisrighttowater-powermoreover,hehadthemaritalhabitofnotlisteningveryclosely,andsincehismentionofMrRiley,hadbeenapparentlyoccupiedinatactileexaminationofhiswoollenstockings. “IthinkI’vehitit,Bessy,”washisfirstremarkafterashortsilence.“Riley’saslikelyamanasanytoknowo’someschoolhe’shadschoolinghimself,an’goesabouttoallsortso’places,arbitratin’andvallyin’andthat.Andweshallhavetimetotalkitoverto-morrownightwhenthebusinessisdone.IwantTomtobesuchasorto’manasRiley,youknow,—ascantalkprettynighaswellasifitwasallwroteoutforhim,andknowsagoodloto’wordsasdon’tmeanmuch,soasyoucan’tlayholdof’emi’lawandagoodsolidknowledgeo’businesstoo.” “Well,”saidMrsTulliver,“sofarastalkingproper,andknowingeverything,andwalkingwithabendinhisback,andsettinghishairup,Ishouldn’tmindtheladbeingbroughtuptothat.Butthemfine-talkingmenfromthebigtownsmostlywearthefalseshirt-frontstheywearafrilltillit’sallamess,andthenhideitwithabibIknowRileydoes.Andthen,ifTom’stogoandliveatMudport,likeRiley,he’llhaveahousewithakitchenhardlybigenoughtoturnin,an’nivergetafresheggforhisbreakfast,an’sleepupthreepairo’stairs,—orfour,forwhatIknow,—andbeburnttodeathbeforehecangetdown.” “No,no,”saidMrTulliver,“I’venothoughtsofhisgoingtoMudport:ImeanhimtosetuphisofficeatStOgg’s,closebyus,an’liveathome.But,”continuedMrTulliverafterapause,“whatI’mabitafraidonis,asTomhasn’tgottherightsorto’brainsforasmartfellow.Idoubthe’sabitslowish.Hetakesafteryourfamily,Bessy.” “Yes,thathedoes,”saidMrsTulliver,acceptingthelastpropositionentirelyonitsownmerits“he’swonderfulforliking