Theyexaggerated，theyinventeddetails，and，asifproudoftheirbeatings，asifgloryingintheirhusbands’
mishandling，liedtoeachother，magnifyingtheirownmaltreatment。Theyhadlongandexcitedargumentsastowhichwerethemosteffectivemeansofpunishment，therope’sendsandcartwhipssuchasZerkowused，orthefistsandbacksofhair-brushesaffectedbyMcTeague。Mariacontendedthatthelashofthewhiphurtthemost；Trina，thatthebuttdidthemostinjury。
MariashowedTrinatheholesinthewallsandtheloosenedboardsintheflooringwhereZerkowhadbeensearchingforthegoldplate。Oflatehehadbeendigginginthebackyardandhadransackedthehayinhishorse-shedfortheconcealedleatherchestheimaginedhewouldfind。Buthewasbecomingimpatient，evidently。
“Thewayhegoeson，“MariatoldTrina，“issomethundreadful。He’sgettunregularlysickwithit——gotafevereverynight——don’tsleep，andwhenhedoes，talkstohimself。Says’More’nahundredpieces，an’everyoneof’emgold。More’nahundredpieces，an’everyoneof’emgold。’Thenhe’llwhalemewithhiswhip，andshout，’Youknowwhereitis。Tellme，tellme，youswine，orI’lldoforyou。’An’thenhe’llgetdownonhiskneesandwhimper，andbegmetotellumwhereI’vehidit。He’sjustgoneplumcrazy。Sometimeshehasregularfits，hegetssomad，androllsonthefloorandscratcheshimself。“
OnemorninginNovember，aboutteno’clock，Trinapasteda“MadeinFrance“labelonthebottomofaNoah’sark，andleanedbackinherchairwithalongsighofrelief。ShehadjustfinishedalargeChristmasorderforUncleOelbermann，andtherewasnothingelseshecoulddothatmorning。Thebedhadnotyetbeenmade，norhadthebreakfastthingsbeenwashed。Trinahesitatedforamoment，thenputherchinintheairindifferently。