“They are all correct, madam, I believe—the certificate and the entries in the register perfectly corresponding,” replied Dr. Peters.
“Oh, I knowed that; I never expected nothing else, of course. I only wanted the ole folks here to be satisfied as the gal had no right to my ole man, and would only ruinate herself, if she took him.”
“Will you take a seat, ma’am?” inquired Mr. Force, rising and bringing forward a large, cushioned armchair.
“Lord, no! I don’t want to disturb you! I only come to hear the upshot of this business! I went in the kitchen just now, and asked the cook if I could help her, and she said no; but I saw a heap of currants and raisins on the table to be picked for the plum pudding, and now I am going to help her to do it, whether or no! Well, I reckon I shall stay ’long o’ you all till the spring, and try make myself useful and cheerful and contented, as it ain’t never no use crying for spilt milk; and, then, I reckon as I can’t get any of my money out’n that man—Lord! why, he’s gambled it all away long a-merry-ago! I’ll just go back to Wild Cats’, and open a miners’ boarding house! The boys won’t let me want! And I s’pose by the time I make another pile my rascal will be coming back to me, to get hold of it! For that’s the way they all do! But just let him, that’s all! The boys would give him a short trial and a long rope, you bet! You needn’t look so horrified, Mr. Parson. You just wait till some foreign beat comes and marries you, and then runs off with all your money, and then see how you’d feel!”
The aged husband of an old wife, the father of married sons and daughters, the grandfather of growing or grown-up boys and girls, could not, by any effort of imagination, put himself in the wrong wife’s case; so he only answered by a deprecating bow.
“Well, now I must be going, if I mean to pick them dried currants and raisins for the plum pudding!” said the intruder, and she left the room as suddenly and unceremoniously as she had entered.
“What do you think of our guest, Dr. Peters?” inquired Mrs. Force.
“A rough, untrained, but well-meaning, woman, I should say,” replied the rector.
“A mere good-natured animal, I should call her,” added the squire.
“My dear, have you got through with your accounts?” inquired the lady.