Chapter IX. To Garum Firs

dependentfortin.” “Well,yourhusbandisawk’ard,youknow,Bessy,”saidMrsPullet,good-naturedlyreadytouseherdeepdepressiononhersister’saccountaswellasherown.“He’sneverbehavedquitesoprettytoourfamilyasheshoulddo,andthechildrentakeafterhim,—theboy’sverymischievous,andrunsawayfromhisauntsanduncles,andthegell’srudeandbrown.It’syourbadluck,andI’msorryforyou,Bessyforyouwasallaysmyfavouritesister,andweallayslikedthesamepatterns.” “IknowTulliver’shasty,andsaysoddthings,”saidMrsTulliver,wipingawayonesmalltearfromthecornerofhereye“butI’msurehe’sneverbeentheman,sincehemarriedme,toobjecttomymakingthefriendso’mysideo’thefamilywelcometothehouse.” “Idon’twanttomaketheworstofyou,Bessy,”saidMrsPullet,compassionately,“forIdoubtyou’llhavetroubleenoughwithoutthatandyourhusband’sgotthatpoorsisterandherchildrenhangingonhim,—andsogiventolawing,theysay.Idoubthe’llleaveyoupoorlyoffwhenhedies.NotasI’dhaveitsaidouto’thefamily.” ThisviewofherpositionwasnaturallyfarfromcheeringtoMrsTulliver.Herimaginationwasnoteasilyactedon,butshecouldnothelpthinkingthathercasewasahardone,sinceitappearedthatotherpeoplethoughtithard. “I’msure,sister,Ican’thelpmyself,”shesaid,urgedbythefearlestheranticipatedmisfortunesmightbeheldretributive,totakecomprehensivereviewofherpastconduct.“There’snowomanstrivesmoreforherchildrenandI’msureatscouring-timethisLady-dayasI’vehadallthebedhangingstakendownIdidasmuchasthetwogellsputtogetherandthere’sthelastelder-flowerwineI’vemade—beautiful!Iallaysofferitalongwiththesherry,thoughsisterGleggwillhaveitI’msoextravagantandasforlikingtohavemyclothestidy,andnotgoafrightaboutthehouse,there’snobodyintheparishcansayanythingagainstmeinrespecto’backbitingandmakingmischief,forIdon’twishanybodyanyharmandnobodylosesbysendingmeaporkpie,formypiesarefittoshowwiththebesto’myneighbours’andthelinen’ssoinorderasifIwastodieto-morrowIshouldn’tbeashamed.Awomancandonomorenorshecan.” “Butit’sallo’nouse,youknow,Bessy,”saidMrsPullet,holdingherheadononeside,andfixinghereyespatheticallyonhersister,“ifyourhusbandmakesawaywithhismoney.Notbutwhatifyouwassoldup,andotherfolksboughtyourfurniture,it’sacomforttothinkasyou’vekeptitwellrubbed.Andthere’sthelinen,withyourmaidenmarkon,mightgoalloverthecountry.It’udbeasadpityforourfamily.”MrsPulletshookherheadslowly. “ButwhatcanIdo,sister?”saidMrsTulliver.“MrTulliver’snotamantobedictatedto,—notifIwastogototheparsonandgetbyheartwhatIshouldtellmyhusbandforthebest.AndI’msureIdon’tpretendtoknowanythingaboutputtingoutmoneyandallthat.Icouldneverseeintomen’sbusinessassisterGleggdoes.” “Well,you’relikemeinthat,Bessy,”saidMrsPullet“andIthinkit’udbeadealmorebecomingo’Janeifshe’dhavethatpier-glassrubbedoftener,—therewaseversomanyspotsonitlastweek,—insteado’dictatingtofolksashavemorecomingsinthansheeverhad,andtelling’emwhatthey’retodowiththeirmoney.ButJaneandmewereallayscontrairyshewouldhavestripedthings,andIlikespots.Youlikeaspottoo,Bessyweallayshungtogetheri’that.” “Yes,Sophy,”saidMrsTulliver,“Irememberourhavingabluegroundwithawhitespotbothalike,—I’vegotabitinabed-quiltnowandifyouwouldbutgoandseesisterGlegg,andpersuadehertomakeitupwithTulliver,Ishouldtakeitverykindofyou.Youwasallaysagoodsistertome.” “Buttherightthing’udbeforTullivertogoandmakeitupwithherhimself,andsayhewassorryforspeakingsorash.Ifhe’sborrowedmoneyofher,heshouldn’tbeabovethat,”saidMrsPullet,whosepartialitydidnotblindhertoprinciplesshedidnotforgetwhatwasduetopeopleofindependentfortune. “It’snousetalkingo’that,”saidpoorMrsTulliver,almostpeevishly.“IfIwastogodownonmybarekneesonthegraveltoTulliver,he’dneverhumblehimself.” “Well,youcan’texpectmetopersuadeJanetobegpardon,”saidMrsPullet.“Hertemper’sbeyondeverythingit’swellifitdoesn’tcarryheroffhermind,thoughthereneverwasanyofourfamilywenttoamadhouse.” “I’mnotthinkingofherbeggingpardon,”saidMrsTulliver.“Butifshe’djusttakenonotice,andnotcallhermoneyinasit’snotsomuchforonesistertoaskofanothertime’udmendthings,andTulliver’udforgetallaboutit,andthey’dbefriendsagain.” MrsTulliver,youperceive,wasnotawareofherhusband’sirrevocabledeterminationtopayinthefivehundredpoundsatleastsuchadeterminationexceededherpowersofbelief. “Well,Bessy,”saidMrsPullet,mournfully,“Idon’twanttohelpyouontoruin.Iwon’tbebehindhandi’doingyouagoodturn,ifitistobedone.AndIdon’tlikeitsaidamongacquaintanceaswe’vegotquarrelsinthefamily.IshalltellJanethatandIdon’tminddrivingtoJane’stomorrow,ifPulletdoesn’tmind.Whatdoyousay,MrPullet?” “I’venoobjections,”saidMrPullet,whowasperfectlycontentedwithanycoursethequarrelmighttake,sothatMrTulliverdidnotapplytohimformoney.MrPulletwasnervousabouthisinvestments,anddidnotseehowamancouldhaveanysecurityforhismoneyunlessheturneditintoland. AfteralittlefurtherdiscussionastowhetheritwouldnotbebetterforMrsTullivertoaccompanythemonavisittosisterGlegg,MrsPullet,observingthatitwastea-time,turnedtoreachfromadraweradelicatedamasknapkin,whichshepinnedbeforeherinthefashionofanapron.Thedoordid,infact,soonopen,butinsteadofthetea-tray,SallyintroducedanobjectsostartlingthatbothMrsPulletandMrsTullivergaveascream,causingunclePullettoswallowhislozenge—forthefifthtimeinhislife,asheafterwardnoted.