"Do you know, Poppins, what I did twice,—ay, thrice,—in those dark days?"
"What; when Brisket was after her?"
"Yes; when she used to say that she loved another. Thrice did I go down to the river bank, intending to terminate this wretched existence."
"Did you now?"
"I swear to you that I did. But Providence, who foresaw the happiness that is in store for me, withheld me from the leap."
"Polly once took up with a sergeant, and I can't say I liked it."
"And what did you do?"
"I got uncommon drunk, and then I knocked the daylight out of him. We've been the best of friends ever since. But about marrying;—if a man is to do it, he'd better do it. It depends a good deal on the young woman, of course, and whether she's comfortable in her mind. Some women ain't comfortable, and then there's the devil to pay. You don't get enough to eat, and nothing to drink; and if ever you leave your pipe out of your pocket, she smashes it. I've know'd 'em of that sort, and a man had better have the rheumatism constant."
"I don't think Maryanne is like that."
"Well; I can't say. Polly isn't. She's not over good, by no means, and would a deal sooner sit in a arm-chair and have her victuals and beer brought to her, than she'd break her back by working too hard. She'd like to be always a-junketing, and that's what she's best for,—as is the case with many of 'em."