Merrygaveadisdainfullittlesniffatthesavoryperfumeofhamwhichsalutedthem,andpausedwithherhandonthegate,asifshefounditpleasanterouttherethaninthehouse。Ralphseemedtoagreewithher,for,leaningonthegate,helingeredtosay,withrealsympathyinhistoneandsomethingelseinhisface,\"Yes,I
should;soyouwriteandtellmeallaboutit。Ididn\'tknowyouhadanyworries,foryoualwaysseemedlikeoneofthehappiestpeopleintheworld,withsomanytopetandcareforyou,andplentyofmoney,andnothingveryhardorhatefultodo。You\'dthinkyouwerewelloffifyouknewasmuchaboutpovertyandworkandnevergettingwhatyouwant,asIdo。\"
\"Youbearyourworriessowellthatnobodyknowsyouhavethem。
Ioughtnottocomplain,andIwon\'t,forIdohaveallIneed。I\'msogladyouaregoingtogetwhatyouwantatlast\";andMerryheldoutherhandtosaygood—night,withsomuchpleasureinherfacethatRalphcouldnotmakeuphismindtogojustyet。
\"IshallhavetoscratchroundinalivelywaybeforeIdogetit,forDavidsaysafellowcan\'tliveonlessthanfourorfivehundredayear,evenlivingaspoorartistshaveto,ingarretsandonCrusts。I