"Pray, sir, be patient and do not blame the women for being no wiser
than you were yourself," said Mr. Goodwin.
"Tah! tah! tah! One act of folly is a contingency to which any man
may for once in his life be liable; but folly is the women's normal
condition! You shall hear! You shall hear! Hang it, sir, everybody
had to give way to Father Gray! Everything was for Father Gray!
Precious Father Gray! Excellent Father Gray! Saintly Father Gray! It
was Father Gray here and Father Gray there, and Father Gray
everywhere and always! He ate with us all day and slept with us all
night! The coolest cot in the dryest nook of the tent at night--the
shadiest seat at the table by day--were always for his reverence!
The nicest tit-bits of the choicest dishes--the middle slices of the
fish, the breast of the young ducks, and the wings of the chickens,
the mealiest potatoes, the juiciest tomatoes, the tenderest roasting
ear, the most delicate custard, and freshest fruit always for his
reverence! I had to put up with the necks of poultry, and the tails
of fishes, watery potatoes, specked apples and scorched custards--
and if I dared to touch anything better before his precious
reverence had eaten and was filled, Mrs. Condiment there--would look
as sour as if she had bitten an unripe lemon--and Cap would tread on
my gouty toe! Mrs.
Pages:
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49