ncovering it. The poor fellow had made long voyages abroad and saved
some money. He had loved his wife passionately--that was the only blot
on his character. He always dreamt of coming home, and settling down
in comfort for the rest of his life. He had come at last, and a fine
welcome had awaited him. His wife was as proud as Lucifer--the daughter
of some green-grocer, of course. She had been ashamed of her husband,
apparently, and settling down hadn't suited her. So she had nagged the
poor fellow out of all peace of mind and body, taken his money, and
turned him adrift.

Jenny's audacity carried her through, and Mrs. Quiggin, who was now wide
awake, listened eagerly. "Can it be possible that there are women like
that?" she said, in a hushed whisper.

"Indeed, yes," said Jenny; "and men are simple enough to prefer them to
better people."

"But, Jenny," said Mrs. Quiggin, with a far-away look, "we have only
heard one story, you know. If we were inside the Manxman's house--if we
knew all--might we not find that there are two sides to its troubles?"

"There are two sides to its street-door," said Jenny, "and the husband
is on the outside of it."

"She took his money, you say, Jenny?"

"Indeed she did, Nelly, and is living on it now."

"And then turned him out of doors?"

"Well, so to speak, she made it impossible for him to live with her."

"What a cat she must be!" said Mrs. Quiggin.

"She must," said Jenny. "And, would you believe it, though she has
treated him so shamefully yet he loves her still."

"Why do you think so, Jenny," said Mrs. Quiggin.

"Because," said Jenny, "though he is always sober when I see him I
suspect that he is drinking himself to death. He said as much."

"Poor fellow!" said Mrs. Quiggin. "But men should not take these things
so much to heart. Such women are not worth it."

"No, are they?" said Jenny.

"They have hardly a right to live," said Mrs. Quiggin.

"No, have they?" said Jenny.

"There should be a law to put down nagging wives the same as biting
dogs," said Mrs. Quiggin.

"Yes, shouldn't there?" said Jenny.

"Once on a time men took their wives like their horses on trial for a
year and a day, and really with some women there would be something to
say for the old custom."

"Yes, wouldn't there?" said Jenny.

"The woman who is nothing of herself apart from her husband, and has
no claim to his consideration, except on the score of his love, and yet
uses him only to