“It’s not cowardly, or mean to want to put a wrong right and make people better content. But nobody wants to interfere between husband and wife, and the people are very fond of you both as you well know. You say ‘Ned can’t help being himself.’ Begin there, then. You’ve been married a year now and you didn’t marry in haste either. He was what he is before you took him. He hasn’t changed.”
“I didn’t think he was such a fool, if you must know,” said Medora.
“What d’you mean by a fool?”
“Simple—like a dog. There’s nothing to Ned. Other men have character and secrets and a bit up their sleeve. They count, and people know they ain’t seeing the inside of them. Ned’s got no inside. He’s a boy. I thought I’d married a man and I’ve married a great boy. I’m only telling you this, mind. I’m a good wife enough; but I’m not a brainless one and I can’t help comparing my husband to other men.”
“You always compare everything you’ve got to what others have got,” answered Lydia. “When you was a tiny child, you’d love your toys till you saw the toys of other children. Then you’d grow discontent. At school, if you took a prize, it was poisoned, because some other girl had got a prettier book than you; and everybody else’s garden was nicer than ours; and everybody else had better furniture in their houses and better pictures on their walls and better clothes on their backs. And now it’s your husband that isn’t in it with other people’s husbands. Perhaps you’ll tell me, Medora, what husbands round about can beat Ned for sense and cheerfulness and an easy mind and the other things that go to make a home comfortable.”
“Everybody isn’t married,” answered Medora. “I don’t look round and compare Ned to other husbands. I’ve got something better to do. But I can’t help seeing with all his good nature and the rest of it that he’s a slight man—not a sort for woman to repose upon as something with quicker wits—stronger, more masterful than herself.”
“Like who?” asked Mrs. Trivett.
“Well—I’m only speaking to you, mother—take yesterday. Jordan Kellock asked us to go for a row in the gamekeeper’s boat and see the river—me and Ned. And we went; and how could I help seeing that Jordan had the brains? Nothing he said, for he’s a good friend and above smallness; but while Ned chattered and laughed and made a noise, there was Jordan, pleasant and all that; but you felt behind was strength of character and a mind working and thinking more than it said; while my husband was saying more than he thinks. And I hate to hear him chatter and then, when he’s challenged, climb down and say he sees he was wrong.”
“You’ve got to take the rough with the smooth in human nature, Medora. And it’s a bit staggering to hear you mention Kellock, of all men, seeing the circumstances. If you feel like that, why didn’t you take Kellock when you could?”
Medora’s reply caused her mother consternation.