Chapter XIII. Mr Tulliver Further Entangles the Skein of Life

OwingtothisnewadjustmentofMrsGlegg’sthoughts,MrsPulletfoundhertaskofmediationthenextdaysurprisinglyeasy.MrsGlegg,indeedcheckedherrathersharplyforthinkingitwouldbenecessarytotellhereldersisterwhatwastherightmodeofbehaviourinfamilymatters.MrsPullet’sargument,thatitwouldlookillintheneighbourhoodifpeopleshouldhaveitintheirpowertosaythattherewasaquarrelinthefamily,wasparticularlyoffensive.IfthefamilynameneversufferedexceptthroughMrsGlegg,MrsPulletmightlayherheadonherpillowinperfectconfidence. “It’snottobeexpected,Isuppose,”observedMrsGlegg,bywayofwindingupthesubject,“asIshallgotothemillagainbeforeBessycomestoseeme,orasIshallgoandfalldowno’mykneestoMrTulliver,andaskhispardonforshowinghimfavoursbutIshallbearnomalice,andwhenMrTulliverspeaksciviltome,I’llspeakciviltohim.Nobodyhasanycalltotellmewhat’sbecoming.” FindingitunnecessarytopleadfortheTullivers,itwasnaturalthatauntPulletshouldrelaxalittleinheranxietyforthem,andrecurtotheannoyanceshehadsufferedyesterdayfromtheoffspringofthatapparentlyill-fatedhouse.MrsGleggheardacircumstantialnarrative,towhichMrPullet’sremarkablememoryfurnishedsomeitemsandwhileauntPulletpitie