"I don't know, ma'am. I don't see why. He's always pleased to see James."
"To see him as a friend. That may be. Todd is a pleasant young man, I believe. But is he a good man?"
"I'm sure he wants to do right," said Marigold rather faintly.
"If he can do it, without trouble to himself."
"He does want to get work, ma'am."
"But he has had work offered to him again and again; and he keeps to nothing. Marigold, I want you very much to look this matter in the face bravely. I don't even ask whether Todd is a man of high religious principle, because that unhappily I know he is not." Marigold opened her lips, and shut them again. "I ask only—is he steady and hard-working? Is he one who could be expected to make his wife happy?"
"I think he's steady," said Marigold, not so confidently as when she had spoken to Narcissus.
"I'm afraid—not—always," said Mrs. Heavitree gently. "My husband has twice come across him, lately, the worse for drink."
Marigold said nothing; but her downcast face showed what she felt.
"I know you too well to believe it possible that you could ever be happy with a drunkard for a husband. Impossible that you should. Life would be one long misery. And the habit is one which grows upon a man fearfully, unless nipped in a very early stage."