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purpose of my visit； I dare say； ma'am。 I understand there is a world of
pure； disinterested； faithful love cooped up here。 I am happy to bring it
all it wants； to make it complete。 I bring you your son…in…law； ma'am
and you； your husband； miss。 The gentleman is a perfect stranger to me；
but I wish him joy of his wise bargain。〃
He snarled at me as he went out； and I never saw him again。
It is altogether a mistake （continued the poor relation） to suppose that
my dear Christiana； over…persuaded and influenced by her mother； married
a rich man； the dirt from whose carriage wheels is often； in these changed
times； thrown upon me as she rides by。 No； no。 She married me。
The way we came to be married rather sooner than we intended； was
this。 I took a frugal lodging and was saving and planning for her sake；
when； one day； she spoke to me with great earnestness； and said：
〃My dear Michael； I have given you my heart。 I have said that I
loved you； and I have pledged myself to be your wife。 I am as much
yours through all changes of good and evil as if we had been married on
the day when such words passed between us。 I know you well； and know
that if we should be separated and our union broken off； your whole life
would be shadowed； and all that might； even now； be stronger in your
character for the conflict with the world would then be weakened to the
shadow of what it is！〃
〃God help me； Christiana！〃 said I。 〃You speak the truth。〃
〃Michael！〃 said she； putting her hand in mine； in all maidenly devotion；
〃let us keep apart no longer。 It is but for me to say that I can live
contented upon such means as you have； and I well know you are happy。
I say so from my heart。 Strive no more alone； let us strive together。 My
dear Michael； it is not right that I should keep secret from you what you do
not suspect； but what distresses my whole life。 My mother： without
considering that what you have lost； you have lost for me； and on the
assurance of my faith： sets her heart on riches； and urges another suit
upon me； to my misery。 I cannot bear this； for to bear it is to be untrue to
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you。 I would rather share your struggles than look on。 I want no better
home than you can give me。 I know that you will aspire and labour with
a higher courage if I am wholly yours； and let it be so when you will！〃
I was blest indeed； that day； and a new world opened to me。 We were
married in a very little while； and I took my wife to our happy home。
That was the beginning of the residence I have spoken of； the Castle we
have ever since inhabited together； dates from that time。 All our children
have been born in it。 Our first childnow marriedwas a little girl；
whom we called Christiana。 Her son is so like Little Frank； that I hardly
know which is which。
The current impression as to my partner's dealings with me is also
quite erroneous。 He did not begin to treat me coldly； as a poor simpleton；
when my uncle and I so fatally quarrelled； nor did he afterwards gradually
possess himself of our business and edge me out。 On the contrary； he
behaved to me with the utmost good faith and honour。
Matters between us took this turn：… On the day of my separation from
my uncle； and even before the arrival at our counting…house of my trunks
（which he sent after me； NOT carriage paid）； I went down to our room of
business； on our little wharf； overlooking the river； and there I told John
Spatter what had happened。 John did not say； in reply； that rich old
relatives were palpable facts； and that love and sentiment were moonshine
and fiction。 He addressed me thus：
〃Michael；〃 said John； 〃we were at school together； and I generally had
the knack of getting on better than you； and making a higher reputation。〃
〃You had； John；〃 I returned。
〃Although〃 said John； 〃I borrowed your books and lost them；
borrowed your pocket…money； and never repaid it； got you to buy my
damaged knives at a higher price than I had given for them new； and to
own to the windows that I had broken。〃
〃All not worth mentioning； John Spatter；〃 said I； 〃but certainly true。〃
〃When you were first established in this infant business； which
promises to thrive so well；〃 pursued John； 〃I came to you； in my search for
almost any employment； and you made me your clerk。〃
〃Still not worth mentioning； my dear John Spatter；〃 said I； 〃still；
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equally true。〃
〃And finding that I had a good head for business； and that I was really
useful TO the business； you did not like to retain me in that capacity； and
thought it an act of justice soon to make me your partner。〃
〃Still less worth mentioning than any of those other little
circumstances you have recalled； John Spatter；〃 said I； 〃for I was； and am；
sensible of your merits and my deficiencies。〃
〃Now； my good friend；〃 said John； drawing my arm through his； as he
had had a habit of doing at school； while two vessels outside the windows
of our counting…housewhich were shaped like the stern windows of a
shipwent lightly down the river with the tide； as John and I might then be
sailing away in company； and in trust and confidence； on our voyage of
life； 〃let there； under these friendly circumstances； be a right
understanding between us。 You are too easy； Michael。 You are
nobody's enemy but your own。 If I were to give you that damaging
character among our connexion； with a shrug； and a shake of the head； and
a sigh； and if I were further to abuse the trust you place in me〃
〃But you never will abuse it at all； John；〃 I observed。
〃Never！〃 said he； 〃but I am putting a caseI say； and if I were further
to abuse that trust by keeping this piece of our common affairs in the dark；
and this other piece in the light； and again this other piece in the twilight；
and so on； I should strengthen my strength； and weaken your weakness；
day by day； until at last I fou