keeps everything indoors up to the mark, and gives you a chance to
attend to your own proper business. That's the way it was with mine.
I never knew what a lopsided, helpless creature a man was until I was
left alone. You and I were lucky in getting the women we did, but when
my partner left me, she took all the luck with her. That aint the
worst. She took what's more than luck and money and everything. I
seemed to lose with her my grit and interest in most things. It'll
seem foolishness to you, but I can't take comfort in anything much
except working that old farm that I've worked and played on ever since
I can remember anything. You're not one of those fools, Tom, that have
to learn from their own experience. Take a bit from mine, and be good
to your wife while you can. I'd give all I'm worth--I know that aint
much--if I could say some things to my wife and do some things for her
that I didn't do."

Holcroft spoke in the simplicity of a full and remorseful heart, but he
unconsciously propitiated Mrs. Watterly in no small degree. Indeed,
she felt that he had quite repaid her for his entertainment, and the
usually taciturn woman seconded his remarks with much emphasis.

"Well now, Angy," said Tom, "if you averaged up husbands in these parts
I guess you'd find you were faring rather better than most women folks.
I let you take the bit in your teeth and go your own jog mostly. Now,
own up, don't I?"

"That wasn't my meaning, exactly, Tom," resumed Holcroft. "You and I
could well afford to let our wives take their own jog, for they always
jogged steady and faithful and didn't need any urging and guiding. But
even a dumb critter likes a good word now and then and a little patting
on the back. It doesn't cost us anything and does them a sight of
good. But we kind of let the chances slip by and forget about it until
like enough it's too late."

"Well," replied Tom, with a deprecatory look at his wife, "Angy don't
take to pettin' very much. She thinks it's a kind of foolishness for
such middle-aged people as we're getting to be."

"A husband can show his consideration without blarneying," remarked
Mrs. Watterly coldly. "When a man takes on in that way, you may be sure
he wants something extra to pay for it."

After a little thought Holcroft said, "I guess it's a good way to pay
for it between husband and wife."

"Look here, Jim, since you're so well up on the matrimonial question,
why in thunder don't