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head。 'I wouldn't take the responsibility of saying it could be
done； myself。 You had better leave him where he is。 He can't live
long。'
'It's the only subject；' said Tugby； bringing the butter…scale down
upon the counter with a crash； by weighing his fist on it； 'that
we've ever had a word upon； she and me； and look what it comes to！
He's going to die here； after all。 Going to die upon the premises。
Going to die in our house！'
'And where should he have died； Tugby？' cried his wife。
'In the workhouse；' he returned。 'What are workhouses made for？'
'Not for that；' said Mrs。 Tugby； with great energy。 'Not for that！
Neither did I marry you for that。 Don't think it； Tugby。 I won't
have it。 I won't allow it。 I'd be separated first； and never see
your face again。 When my widow's name stood over that door； as it
did for many years： this house being known as Mrs。
Chickenstalker's far and wide； and never known but to its honest
credit and its good report： when my widow's name stood over that
door； Tugby； I knew him as a handsome； steady； manly； independent
youth； I knew her as the sweetest…looking； sweetest…tempered girl；
eyes ever saw； I knew her father （poor old creetur； he fell down
from the steeple walking in his sleep； and killed himself）； for the
simplest； hardest…working； childest…hearted man； that ever drew the
breath of life； and when I turn them out of house and home； may
angels turn me out of Heaven。 As they would！ And serve me right！'
Her old face； which had been a plump and dimpled one before the
changes which had come to pass； seemed to shine out of her as she
said 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 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 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。'
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