the next pew on a body of inferior standing, was a
downright outrage to the congregation, the rector, and all religion. A
cold-blooded creature, with no pin-money, might reconcile it with her
principles, if any she had, to stand up like a dowdy and allow a poor
man to risk his life by shot and storm and starvation, and then to deny
him a word or a look, because of his coming with the genuine thing at
a quarter the price fat tradesmen asked, who never stirred out of their
shops when it rained, for a thing that was a story and an imposition.
Charity, duty, and common honesty to their good husbands in these bad
times compelled them to make the very best of bargains; of which they
got really more and more, as those brave mariners themselves bore
witness, because of the depression in the free trade now and the
glorious victories of England. Were they bound to pay three times the
genuine value, and then look a figure, and be laughed at?

And as for Captain Carroway, let him scold, and threaten, and stride
about, and be jealous, because his wife dare not buy true things, poor
creature--although there were two stories also about that, and the
quantities of things that he got for nothing, whenever he was clever
enough to catch them, which scarcely ever happened, thank goodness! Let
Captain Carroway attend to his own business; unless he was much belied,
he had a wife who would keep him to it. Who was Captain Carroway to come
down here, without even being born in Yorkshire, and lay down the law,
as if he owned the manor?

Lieutenant Carroway had heard such questions, but disdained to answer
them. He knew who he was, and what his grandfather had been, and he
never cared a--short word--what sort of stuff long tongues might prate
of him. Barbarous broad-drawlers, murderers of his Majesty's English,
could they even pronounce the name of an officer highly distinguished
for many years in both of the royal services? That was his description,
and the Yorkshire yokels might go and read it--if read they could--in
the pages of authority.

Like the celebrated calf that sucked two cows, Carroway had drawn royal
pay, though in very small drains, upon either element, beginning with a
skeleton regiment, and then, when he became too hot for it, diving off
into a frigate as a recommended volunteer. Here he was more at home,
though he never ceased longing to be a general; and having the credit
of fighting well ashore, he was looked at with interes