“Allright，“saidMcTeague，anddidnotmakeanyfurtherprotest。Hiswifelookedathimsurprised。Shecouldnotunderstandthissuddenacquiescence。PerhapsMcTeaguewassomuchawayfromhomeoflatethathehadceasedtocarewhereorhowhelived。Butthissuddenchangetroubledheralittleforallthat。
ThenextdaytheMcTeaguesmovedforasecondtime。Itdidnottakethemlong。Theywereobligedtobuythebedfromthelandlady，acircumstancewhichnearlybrokeTrina’sheart；andthisbed，acoupleofchairs，Trina’strunk，anornamentortwo，theoilstove，andsomeplatesandkitchenwarewereallthattheycouldcalltheirownnow；andthisbackroominthatwretchedhousewithitsgrislymemories，theonewindowlookingoutintoagrimymazeofbackyardsandbrokensheds，waswhattheynowknewastheirhome。
TheMcTeaguesnowbegantosinkrapidlylowerandlower。
Theybecameaccustomedtotheirsurroundings。Worstofall，Trinalostherprettywaysandhergoodlooks。Thecombinedeffectsofhardwork，avarice，poorfood，andherhusband’sbrutalitiestoldonherswiftly。Hercharminglittlefiguregrewcoarse，stunted，anddumpy。Shewhohadoncebeenofacatlikeneatness，nowslovenedalldayabouttheroominadirtyflannelwrapper，herslippersclap-clappingafterherasshewalked。Atlastsheevenneglectedherhair，thewonderfulswarthytiara，thecoiffureofaqueen，thatshadedherlittlepaleforehead。Inthemorningshebraideditbeforeitwashalfcombed，andpiledandcoileditaboutherheadinhaphazardfashion。Itcamedownhalfadozentimesaday；byeveningitwasanunkempt，tangledmass，averitablerat’snest。
Ah，no，itwasnotverygay，thatlifeofhers，whenonehadtorustlefortwo，cookandworkandwash，tosaynothingofpayingtherent。Whatoddswasitifshewasslatternly，dirty，coarse？Wastheretimetomakeherselflookotherwise，andwhowastheretobepleasedwhenshewasallprinkedout？Surelynotagreatbruteofahusbandwhobityoulikeadog，andkickedandpoundedyouasthoughyouweremadeofiron。Ah，no，betterletthingsgo，andtakeitaseasyasyoucould。Humpyourback，anditwassoonestover。