“She wasn’t coming to town for a week; and then, of a sudden, she’d had a letter. I dare say she had. And then, as she said, it would be company for her to come with us. No doubt. She thought I should be ill again, and down in the cabin, but with all her art, she does not know the depth of me - quite. Not but what I was ill; though, like a brute, you wouldn’t see it.
“What do you say?
“Good-night, love?
“Yes: you can be very tender, I dare say - like all of your sex - to suit your own ends; but I can’t go to sleep with my head full of the house. The fender in the parlour will never come to itself again. I haven’t counted the knives yet, but I’ve made up my mind that half of ’em are lost. No: I don’t always think the worst; no, and I don’t make myself unhappy before the time; but of course that’s my thanks for caring about your property. If there aren’t spiders in the curtains as big as nutmegs, I’m a wicked creature. Not a broom has the whole place seen since I’ve been away. But as soon as I get up, won’t I rummage the house out, that’s all! I hadn’t the heart to look at my pickles; but for all I left the door locked, I’m sure the jars have been moved. Yes; you can swear at pickles when you’re in bed; but nobody makes more noise about ’em when you want ’em.
“I only hope they’ve been to the wine-cellar: then you may know what my feelings are. That poor cat, too - What?
“You hate cats?
“Yes, poor thing! because she’s my favourite - that’s it. If that cat could only speak - What?
“It isn’t necessary?
“I don’t know what you mean, Mr. Caudle: but if that cat could only speak, she’d tell me how she’s been cheated. Poor thing! I know where the money’s gone to that I left for her milk - I know. Why, what have you got there, Mr. Caudle? A book? What!
“If you aren’t allowed to sleep, you’ll read?