Мидлмарч

           Butastomygettingplentyofworkfortwo,I’mprettysureofthat.I’vealwayshadmyhandsfullwithscatteredthings,andthere’salwayssomethingfreshturningup.Why,onlyyesterday—blessme,Idon’tthinkItoldyou!—itwasratheroddthattwomenshouldhavebeenatmeondifferentsidestodothesamebitofvaluing.Andwhodoyouthinktheywere?"saidCaleb,takingapinchofsnuffandholdingitupbetweenhisfingers,asifitwereapartofhisexposition.Hewasfondofapinchwhenitoccurredtohim,butheusuallyforgotthatthisindulgencewasathiscommand.

           Hiswifehelddownherknittingandlookedattentive.

           "Why,thatRigg,orRiggFeatherstone,wasone.ButBulstrodewasbeforehim,soI’mgoingtodoitforBulstrode.Whetherit’smortgageorpurchasethey’regoingfor,Ican’ttellyet."

           "Canthatmanbegoingtosellthelandjustlefthim—whichhehastakenthenamefor?"saidMrs.Garth.

           "Deuceknows,"saidCaleb,whoneverreferredtheknowledgeofdiscreditabledoingstoanyhigherpowerthanthedeuce."ButBulstrodehaslongbeenwantingtogetahandsomebitoflandunderhisfingers—thatIknow.Andit’sadifficultmattertoget,inthispartofthecountry."

           Calebscatteredhissnuffcarefullyinsteadoftakingit,andthenadded,"Theinsandoutsofthingsarecurious