atwomenfeltalittleirritableattimes,butifamangave’emplentyofrope,they’dcalmdownafterabit.
“Womenarelikechickens,”hetoldafriend.“Give’emagoodrun,properlyclosedinwithstoutwirenetting,sothattheycan’tgetintomischief,andwhentheycluckandcacklejustsittightandtakenonotice.”
MarriagehadmadenogreatdifferenceinEdward’slife.Hehadalwaysbeenamanofregularhabits,andthesehecontinuedtocultivate.Ofcoursehewasmorecomfortable.
“There’snodenyingit:afellowwantsawomantolookafterhim,”hetoldDr.Ramsay,whomhesometimesmetonthelatter’srounds.“BeforeIwasmarriedIusedtofindmyshirtsworeoutinnotime,butnowwhenIseeacuffgettingabitgroggyIjustgiveittotheMissisandshemakesitasgoodasnew.”
“There’sagooddealofextrawork,isn’tthere,nowyou’vetakenontheHomeFarm?”
“Oh,blessyou,Ienjoyit.Factis,Ican’tgetenoughworktodo.Anditseemstomethatifyouwanttomakefarmingpaynowadaysyoumustdoitonabigscale.”
AlldayEdwardwasoccupied,ifnotonthefarms,thenwithbusinessatBlackstable,Tercanbury,andFaversley.
“Idon’tapproveofidleness,”hesaid.“Theyalwayssaythedevilfindsworkforidlehandstodo,anduponmywordIthinkthere’salotoftruthinit.”
MissGlover,towhomthissentimentwasaddressed,naturallyapproved,andwhenEdwardimmediatelyafterwardswentout,leavingherwithBertha,shesaid—
“Whatagoodfellowyourhusbandis!Youdon’tmindmysayingso,doyou?”
“Notifitpleasesyou,”saidBertha,drily.
“Ihearpraiseofhimfromeveryside.OfcourseCharleshasthehighestopinionofhim.”
Berthadidnotanswer,andMissGloveradded,“Youcan’tthinkhowgladIamthatyou’resohappy.”
Berthasmiled.“You’vegotsuchakindheart,Fanny.”
Theconversationdragged,andafterfiveminutesofheavysilenceMissGloverrosetogo.Whenthedoorwascloseduponher,Berthasankbackinherchair,thinking.Thiswasoneofherunhappydays—EddiehadwalkedintoBlackstable,andshehadwishedtoaccompanyhim.