Mrs. Dorriman: A Novel. Volume 2 of 3

IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON: CHAPMAN and HALL Limited 1886
WESTMINSTER: PRINTED BY NICHOLS AND SONS, 25, PARLIAMENT STREET.
Man proposes ... and wives sometimes interfere.
John went with the single and innocent object of conveying his master's wishes to Mr. Macrae. He found, however, that there were two sides to this as to all other questions.
Mr. Macrae was a portly, good-humoured man, who suffered from some perplexity as to the reason why his waistcoats had taken to hitching themselves up in front; waistcoats being, he supposed, made on different principles in these days. When he was younger, waistcoats had not this evil habit. The cut probably was different. His first action on being summoned was to pull down his waistcoat, his next to brush some imaginary crumbs off his coat-sleeves, and then to hold his head up and march off. But fate—and his wife—interposed. Mrs. Macrae was a slight woman, who was kindly and good-natured, but who had a keen eye to her own interests, and, who being more able than her husband to see those two sides of a question, had a slight contempt for his intellectual powers.
If Sir Albert wants a little conversation I'll go myself, she said, with alacrity; especially as Mr. Macrae cannot leave the bar at the busiest time of the day.
But you'll do at the bar as well as myself, said her husband, unguardedly, preparing to go and yet not quite able to assert himself so decidedly.
As well as yourself! she returned, with strong contempt. I'll do as well and better than you in both ways. Sir Albert probably wishes to speak about his diet, and what do you know about that?
Mr. Macrae looked at John, who said, blandly, I am sure master would be glad to see you, Mrs. Macrae, but I was to be sure and say, not if you was busy.
Mr. Macrae let things alone. He was quite able to perceive the great inconsistency of his wife's proceedings. How often did she not say to him that he was of no use, and she would be better without him, and yet now he could not be spared from the bar for even a few moments. He contented himself, however, by muttering a good deal of treason against the sex generally, and his wife in particular; and then he turned to the contemplation of the street and pier; watched the gambols of two dogs, and the unlading of a cart, and allowed his waistcoat to wrinkle up undisturbed.