Mrs. Long, to whom Mrs. Thompson seems to have confided her troubles, believes that she would not have “gone to the drink” if it had not been for the cruelty to which she was latterly subjected.
But that she did drink is beyond dispute.
Indeed, the old woman, Mrs. Ward, gave it out to Mrs. Cleaves, a most intelligent neighbour, from whom I had many most interesting details, that her principal business at No. 5 was to watch Mrs. Thompson, whose drunkenness grieved Mr. Thompson very much.
He was a very temperate man himself, and could not do with drunken people about him.
Mrs. Ward was eloquent about Peace’s liberality to the younger woman.
“He did not care,” she said to Mrs. Cleaves, “what she costs him in dress; he never refused her anything she asked, and what was very kind of him, he always bought it and brought it himself.”
Of course he did, the clever scoundrel!
He knew the places to get his goods on easy terms.
“She could swim in gold if she liked,” said Mrs. Ward, on another occasion. “He does not mind what he gives her, he is so fond of her, if she would only keep off the drink.” That was good Mr. Peace’s greatest trouble, “and that,” added the old lady, carefully removing a tear from the corner of her eye, “frequently puts him out, and makes him angry, till I’am afraid the neighbours hear him.”
And the neighbours did hear him. Frequently, there were sounds of quarrelling at No. 5. In the shrill tones of a boy’s voice would be heard the cry, “Don’t, father, don’t,” succeeded shortly after by the shriek of a woman.