Chapter VI. The Aunts and Uncles Are Coming

ItwasEasterweek,andMrsTulliver’scheesecakesweremoreexquisitelylightthanusual.“Apuffo’wind’udmake’emblowaboutlikefeathers,”Keziathehousemaidsaid,feelingproudtoliveunderamistresswhocouldmakesuchpastrysothatnoseasonorcircumstancescouldhavebeenmorepropitiousforafamilyparty,evenifithadnotbeenadvisabletoconsultsisterGleggandsisterPulletaboutTom’sgoingtoschool. “I’dasliefnotinvitesisterDeanethistime,”saidMrsTulliver,“forshe’sasjealousandhavingascanbe,and’sallaystryingtomaketheworsto’mypoorchildrentotheirauntsanduncles.” “Yes,yes,”saidMrTulliver,“askhertocome.Ineverhardlygetabito’talkwithDeanenowwehaven’thadhimthissixmonths.What’sitmatterwhatshesays?Mychildrenneedbebeholdingtonobody.” “That’swhatyouallayssay,MrTulliverbutI’msurethere’snobodyo’yourside,neitherauntnoruncle,toleave’emsomuchasafive-poundnoteforaleggicy.Andthere’ssisterGlegg,andsisterPullettoo,savingmoneyunknown,fortheyputbyalltheirowninterestandbutter-moneytootheirhusbandsbuy’emeverything.”MrsTulliverwasamildwoman,butevenasheepwillfaceaboutalittlewhenshehaslambs. “Tchuh!”saidMrTulliver.“Ittakesabigloafwhenthere’smanytobreakfast.Whatsignifiesyoursisters’bitso’moneywhenthey’vegothalf-a-dozennevviesandniecestodivideitamong?AndyoursisterDeanewon’tget’emtoleavealltoone,Ireckon,andmakethecountrycryshameon’emwhentheyaredead?” “Idon’tknowwhatshewon’tget’emtodo,”saidMrsTulliver,“formychildrenaresoawk’ardwi’theirauntsanduncles.Maggie’stentimesnaughtierwhentheycomethansheisotherdays,andTomdoesn’tlike’em,blesshim!—thoughit’smorenat’ralinaboythanagell.Andthere’sLucyDeane’ssuchagoodchild,—youmaysetheronastool,andthereshe’llsitforanhourtogether,andneveroffertogetoff.Ican’thelplovingthechildasifshewasmyownandI’msureshe’smorelikemychildthansisterDeane’s,forshe’dallaysaverypoorcolourforoneofourfamily,sisterDeanehad.” “Well,well,ifyou’refondo’thechild,askherfatherandmothertobringherwith’em.Andwon’tyouasktheirauntanduncleMosstoo,andsomeo’theirchildren?” “Oh,dear,MrTulliver,why,there’dbeeightpeoplebesidesthechildren,andImustputtwomoreleavesi’thetable,besidesreachingdownmoreo’thedinner-serviceandyouknowaswellasIdoasmysistersandyoursisterdon’tsuitwelltogether.” “Well,well,doasyoulike,Bessy,”saidMrTulliver,takinguphishatandwalkingouttothemill.FewwivesweremoresubmissivethanMrsTulliveronallpointsunconnectedwithherfamilyrelationsbutshehadbeenaMissDodson,andtheDodsonswereaveryrespectablefamilyindeed,—asmuchlookeduptoasanyintheirownparish,orthenexttoit.TheMissDodsonshadalwaysbeenthoughttoholduptheirheadsveryhigh,andnoonewassurprisedthetwoeldesthadmarriedsowell,—notatanearlyage,forthatwasnotthepracticeoftheDodsonfamily.Therewereparticularwaysofdoingeverythinginthatfamily:particularwaysofbleachingthelinen,ofmakingthecowslipwine,curingthehams,andkeepingthebottledgooseberriessothatnodaughterofthathousecouldbeindifferenttotheprivilegeofhavingbeenbornaDodson,ratherthanaGibsonoraWatson.FuneralswerealwaysconductedwithpeculiarproprietyintheDodsonfamily:thehat-bandswereneverofablueshade,theglovesneversplitatthethumb,everybodywasamournerwhooughttobe,andtherewerealwaysscarfsforthebearers.Whenoneofthefamilywasintroubleorsickness,alltherestwenttovisittheunfortunatemember,usuallyatthesametime,anddidnotshrinkfromutteringthemostdisagreeabletruthsthatcorrectfamilyfeelingdictatediftheillnessortroublewasthesufferer’sownfault,itwasnotinthepracticeoftheDodsonfamilytoshrinkfromsayingso.Inshort,therewasinthisfamilyapeculiartraditionastowhatwastherightthinginhouseholdmanagementandsocialdemeanour,andtheonlybittercircumstanceattendingthissuperioritywasapainfulinabilitytoapprovethecondimentsortheconductoffamiliesungovernedbytheDodsontradition.AfemaleDodson,whenin“strangehouses,”alwaysatedrybreadwithhertea,anddeclinedanysortofpreserves,havingnoconfidenceinthebutter,andthinkingthatthepreserveshadprobablybeguntofermentfromwantofduesugarandboiling.ThereweresomeDodsonslesslikethefamilythanothers,thatwasadmittedbutinsofarastheywere“kin,”theywereofnecessitybetterthanthosewhowere“nokin.”AnditisremarkablethatwhilenoindividualDodsonwassatisfiedwithanyotherindividualDodson,eachwassatisfied,notonlywithhimorher