“Monday，thereweretheoddjobsaboutthehousetobebegun。Hewasbythistimejustsoberenoughtodohiswork，andjusttipsyenoughtotakeaspitefulpleasureinpersecutinghiswife。Hewentoutandgotthethingshewanted，andcamebackandcalledforme。Askilledworkmanlikehewashesaidwantedajourneymanunderhim。Therewerethingswhichitwasbeneathaskilledworkmantodoforhimself。Hewasnotgoingtocallinamanoraboy，andthenhavetopaythem。Hewasgoingtogetitdonefornothing，andhemeanttomakeajourneymanof_me。_Halftipsyandhalfsober，hewentontalkinglikethat，andlayingouthisthings，allquiteright，ashewantedthem。Whentheywerereadyhestraightenedhimselfup，andhegavemehisorderswhatIwastodo。
“Iobeyedhimtothebestofmyability。Whateverhesaid，andwhateverhedid，Iknewhewasgoingasstraightasmancouldgotohisowndeathbymyhands。
“Theratsandmicewerealloverthehouse，andtheplacegenerallywasoutofrepair。Heoughttohavebegunonthekitchen-floor；buthavingsentencepronouncedagainsthimhebeganintheemptyparlorsontheground-floor。
“Theseparlorswereseparatedbywhatiscalleda’lath-and-plasterwall。’Theratshaddamagedit。Atoneparttheyhadgnawedthroughandspoiledthepaper，atanotherparttheyhadnotgotsofar。Thelandlord’sordersweretosparethepaper，becausehehadsomebyhimtomatchit。Myhusbandbeganataplacewherethepaperwaswhole。UnderhisdirectionsI
mixedup——Iwon’tsaywhat。Withthehelpofithegotthepaperloosefromthewall，withoutinjuringitinanyway，inalonghangingstrip。Underitwastheplasterandthelaths，gnawedawayinplacesbytherats。Thoughstrictlyapaperhangerbytrade，hecouldbeplasterertoowhenheliked。Isawhowhecutawaytherottenlathsandrippedofftheplaster；andunderhisdirectionsagainImixedupthenewplasterhewanted，andhandedhimthenewlaths，andsawhowhesetthem。Iwon’tsayawordabouthowthiswasdoneeither。