Whatcanyouwantwithacouchdownstairs？Ineverheardofsuchnonsense。Andyououghttobeinthedairy。’
’Iwon’tcry，brotherJohn，Iwon’t；becauseyouwanttomakemecry’——andallthetimeshewascrying——’youalwaysweresonasty，John，sometimes。Ah，youhavenonobilityofcharacter，likemyhusband。AndIhavenotseenyoufortwomonths，John；andnowyoucometoscoldme!’
’Youlittledarling，’Isaid，forAnnie’stearsalwaysconqueredme；’ifalltherestill-useme，Iwillnotquarrelwithyou，dear。Youhavealwaysbeentruetome；andIcanforgiveyourvanity。Yourthingsareverypretty，dear；andyoumaycouchtentimesaday，withoutmyinterference。Nodoubtyourhusbandhaspaidforallthis，withtheponieshestolefromExmoor。Nobilityofcharacterisathingbeyondmyunderstanding；butwhenmysisterlovesaman，andhedoeswellandflourishes，whoamItofindfaultwithhim？Motheroughttoseethesethings：theywouldturnherheadalmost：lookatthepimplesonthechairs!’
’Theyarenothing，’Annieanswered，afterkissingmeformykindness：’theyareonlyputinforthetimeindeed；andwearetohavemuchbetter，withgoldallroundthebindings，anddoubleplushatthecorners；sosoonasevertheKingrepaysthedebtheowestomypoorTom。’
IthoughttomyselfthatourpresentKinghadbeenmostunluckyinonething——debtsalloverthekingdom。NotamanwhohadstruckablowfortheKing，orforhispoorfather，orevensaidagoodwordforhim，inthetimeofhisadversity，butexpectedatleastabaronetcy，andagrantofestatestosupportit。ManyhavecalledKingCharlesungrateful：andhemayhavebeenso。Butsomeindulgenceisduetoaman，withentriesfewonthecreditside，andaterriblecolumnofdebits。