Chapter XIII. Mr Tulliver Further Entangles the Skein of Life

ateitforamoment.ItwasnotuntiltheeveningbeforeTomwenttoschool,atthebeginningofAugust,thatMrsGleggpaidavisittohersisterTulliver,sittinginhergigallthewhile,andshowingherdispleasurebymarkedlyabstainingfromalladviceandcriticismfor,assheobservedtohersisterDeane,“Bessymustbeartheconsequenceo’havingsuchahusband,thoughI’msorryforher,”andMrsDeaneagreedthatBessywaspitiable. ThateveningTomobservedtoMaggie:“Ohmy!Maggie,auntGlegg’sbeginningtocomeagainI’mgladI’mgoingtoschool.You’llcatchitallnow!” MaggiewasalreadysofullofsorrowatthethoughtofTom’sgoingawayfromher,thatthisplayfulexultationofhisseemedveryunkind,andshecriedherselftosleepthatnight. MrTulliver’spromptprocedureentailedonhimfurtherpromptitudeinfindingtheconvenientpersonwhowasdesirousoflendingfivehundredpoundsonbond.“ItmustbenoclientofWakem’s,”hesaidtohimselfandyetattheendofafortnightitturnedouttothecontrarynotbecauseMrTulliver’swillwasfeeble,butbecauseexternalfactwasstronger.Wakem’sclientwastheonlyconvenientpersontobefound.MrTulliverhadadestinyaswellas?dipus,andinthiscasehemightplead,like?dipus,thathisdeedwasinflictedonhimratherthancommittedbyhim.