'We have made the promise to ourselves these six
months. We think, you see, that home--'
'Bah! what's home?' cried Tackleton. 'Four walls and a ceiling!
(why don't you kill that Cricket? _I_ would! I always do. I hate
their noise.) There are four walls and a ceiling at my house.
Come to me!'
'You kill your Crickets, eh?' said John.
'Scrunch 'em, sir,' returned the other, setting his heel heavily on
the floor. 'You'll say you'll come? it's as much your interest as
mine, you know, that the women should persuade each other that
they're quiet and contented, and couldn't be better off. I know
their way. Whatever one woman says, another woman is determined to
clinch, always. There's that spirit of emulation among 'em, sir,
that if your wife says to my wife, "I'm the happiest woman in the
world, and mine's the best husband in the world, and I dote on
him," my wife will say the same to yours, or more, and half believe
it.'
'Do you mean to say she don't, then?' asked the Carrier.
'Don't!' cried Tackleton, with a short, sharp laugh.
Pages:
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49