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these words； and when she dried her eyes； and shook her head and her
handkerchief at Tugby； with an expression of firmness which it was quite
clear was not to be easily resisted； Trotty said； 'Bless her！ Bless her！'
Then he listened； with a panting heart； for what should follow。
Knowing nothing yet； but that they spoke of Meg。
If Tugby had been a little elevated in the parlour； he more than
balanced that account by being not a little depressed in the shop； where he
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now stood staring at his wife； without attempting a reply； secretly
conveying； however … either in a fit of abstraction or as a precautionary
measure … all the money from the till into his own pockets； as he looked at
her。
The gentleman upon the table…beer cask； who appeared to be some
authorised medical attendant upon the poor； was far too well accustomed；
evidently； to little differences of opinion between man and wife； to
interpose any remark in this instance。 He sat softly whistling； and
turning little drops of beer out of the tap upon the ground； until there was a
perfect calm： when he raised his head； and said to Mrs。 Tugby； late
Chickenstalker：
'There's something interesting about the woman； even now。 How did
she come to marry him？'
'Why that；' said Mrs。 Tugby； taking a seat near him； 'is not the least
cruel part of her story； sir。 You see they kept company； she and Richard；
many years ago。 When they were a young and beautiful couple；
everything was settled； and they were to have been married on a New
Year's Day。 But； somehow； Richard got it into his head； through what the
gentlemen told him； that he might do better； and that he'd soon repent it；
and that she wasn't good enough for him； and that a young man of spirit
had no business to be married。 And the gentlemen frightened her； and
made her melancholy； and timid of his deserting her； and of her children
coming to the gallows； and of its being wicked to be man and wife； and a
good deal more of it。 And in short； they lingered and lingered； and their
trust in one another was broken； and so at last was the match。 But the
fault was his。 She would have married him； sir； joyfully。 I've seen her
heart swell many times afterwards； when he passed her in a proud and
careless way； and never did a woman grieve more truly for a man； than
she for Richard when he first went wrong。'
'Oh！ he went wrong； did he？' said the gentleman； pulling out the vent…
peg of the table…beer； and trying to peep down into the barrel through the
hole。
'Well； sir； I don't know that he rightly understood himself； you see。 I
think his mind was troubled by their having broke with one another； and
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that but for being ashamed before the gentlemen； and perhaps for being
uncertain too； how she might take it； he'd have gone through any suffering
or trial to have had Meg's promise and Meg's hand again。 That's my
belief。 He never said so； more's the pity！ He took to drinking； idling；
bad companions： all the fine resources that were to be so much better for
him than the Home he might have had。 He lost his looks； his character；
his health； his strength； his friends； his work： everything！'
'He didn't lose everything； Mrs。 Tugby；' returned the gentleman；
'because he gained a wife； and I want to know how he gained her。'
'I'm coming to it； sir； in a moment。 This went on for years and years；
he sinking lower and lower； she enduring； poor thing； miseries enough to
wear her life away。 At last； he was so cast down； and cast out； that no
one would employ or notice him； and doors were shut upon him； go where
he would。 Applying from place to place； and door to door； and coming
for the hundredth time to one gentleman who had often and often tried him
（he was a good workman to the very end）； that gentleman； who knew his
history； said； 〃I believe you are incorrigible； there is only one person in the
world who has a chance of reclaiming you； ask me to trust you no more；
until she tries to do it。〃 Something like that； in his anger and vexation。'
'Ah！' said the gentleman。 'Well？'
'Well； sir； he went to her； and kneeled to her； said it was so； said it ever
had been so； and made a prayer to her to save him。'
'And she？ … Don't distress yourself； Mrs。 Tugby。'
'She came to me that night to ask me about living here。 〃What he
was once to me；〃 she said； 〃is buried in a grave； side by side with what I
was to him。 But I have thought of this； and I will make the trial。 In the
hope of saving him； for the love of the light… hearted girl （you remember
her） who was to have been married on a New Year's Day； and for the love
of her Richard。〃 And she said he had come to her from Lilian； and Lilian
had trusted to him； and she never could forget that。 So they were married；
and when they came home here； and I saw them； I hoped that such
prophecies as parted them when they were young； may not often fulfil
themselves as they did in this case； or I wouldn't be the makers of them for
a Mine of Gold。'
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The gentleman got off the cask； and stretched himself； observing：
'I suppose he used her ill； as soon as they were married？'
'I don't think he ever did that；' said Mrs。 Tugby； shaking her head； and
wiping her eyes。 'He went on better for a short time； but； his habits were
too old and strong to be got rid of； he soon fell back a little； and was
falling fast back； when his illness came so strong upon him。 I think he
has always felt for her。 I am sure he has。 I have seen him； in his crying
fits and tremblings； try to kiss her hand； and I have heard him call her
〃Meg；〃 and say it was her nineteenth birthday。 There he has been lying；
now； these weeks and months。 Between him and her baby； she has not