CHAPTER V. THE SORE SPOT.
We went on talking for some time. Indeed we talked so long that the dinner-hour was approaching, when one of the maids came with the message that Mr. Stokes had called again, wishing to see me. I could not help smiling inwardly at the news. I went down at once, and found him smiling too.
“My wife do send me for you this time, sir,” he said. “Between you and me, I cannot help thinking she have something on her mind she wants to tell you, sir.”
“Why shouldn’t she tell you, Mr. Stokes? That would be most natural. And then, if you wanted any help about it, why, of course, here I am.”
“She don’t think well enough of my judgment for that, sir; and I daresay she be quite right. She always do make me give in before she have done talking. But she have been a right good wife to me, sir.”
“Perhaps she would have been a better if you hadn’t given in quite so much. It is very wrong to give in when you think you are right.”
“But I never be sure of it when she talk to me awhile.”
“Ah, then I have nothing to say except that you ought to have been surer—sometimes; I don’t say always.”
“But she do want you very bad now, sir. I don’t think she’ll behave to you as she did before. Do come, sir.”