صفحة 374 من 896

"I try to be a good wife, Jerry," the poor woman protested, with

tears.

"Is it being a good wife to oppose your husband's business? Is it

honouring your husband to dishonour his business? Is it obeying

your husband to disobey him on the wital subject of his

business?"

"You hadn't taken to the dreadful business then, Jerry."

"It's enough for you," retorted Mr. Cruncher, "to be the wife of

a honest tradesman, and not to occupy your female mind with

calculations when he took to his trade or when he didn't. A

honouring and obeying wife would let his trade alone altogether.

Call yourself a religious woman? If you're a religious woman,

give me a irreligious one! You have no more nat'ral sense of duty

than the bed of this here Thames river has of a pile, and

similarly it must be knocked into you."