I thought, but did not say, that possibly I was obliging him by offering him a shilling for what the postman or the post-office would have done for a penny. The truth is, I knew how badly off my neighbours were, and was glad of an opportunity of putting a shilling in their way without making a show of charity. I could have given the shilling without exacting a return; but it was my whim at that time to make the man fairly earn it, so I only said, "Bring the answer to my house, William, and then I will pay you for the journey."
"Shall I go at once, sir?" he wanted to know.
I told him yes; and so he shut up the book, and took his departure, leaving me in his cottage.
"Did you ever see the like of Will?" said Martha, whose wrath was not yet subsided.
"There are many worse husbands than Will," I replied.
"I don't complain of him as a husband altogether," continued she; "but it isn't much of a husband's part either, when he won't look out for work as he ought, and won't try to keep it when he has got it."
"You have told him so, I have no doubt."
"Haven't I, sir? I just have. I have been giving him such a dressing!"
"I thought so. Now do you think that was quite wise, Mrs. Howland?" I asked.
"I don't know what to say about that, sir; but one can't be always wise, you know, when things go so uncommonly crooked."