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           NodoubtBerthaCouttsherselffirstputhimuptothem.Inanycase,itisamatteroftheirownpersonalsqualor,andnothingtodowithanybodyelse.

           However,everybodylistens:asIdomyself.Adozenyearsago,commondecencywouldhavehushedthething.Butcommondecencynolongerexists,andthecolliers’wivesareallupinarmsandunabashedinvoice.OnewouldthinkeverychildinTevershall,forthelastfiftyyears,hadbeenanimmaculateconception,andeveryoneofournonconformistfemaleswasashiningJoanofArc.Thatourestimablegame-keepershouldhaveabouthimatouchofRabelaisseemstomakehimmoremonstrousandshockingthanamurdererlikeCrippen.YetthesepeopleinTevershallarealooselot,ifoneistobelieveallaccounts.

           Thetroubleis,however,theexecrableBerthaCouttshasnotconfinedherselftoherownexperiencesandsufferings.Shehasdiscovered,atthetopofhervoice,thatherhusbandhasbeen’keeping’womendownatthecottage,andhasmadeafewrandomshotsatnamingthewomen.Thishasbroughtafewdecentnamestrailingthroughthemud,andthethinghasgonequiteconsiderablytoofar.Aninjunctionhasbeentakenoutagainstthewoman.

           IhavehadtointerviewMellorsaboutthebusiness,asitwasimpossibletokeepthewomanawayfromthewood.Hegoesaboutasusual,withhisMiller-of-the-Deeair,Icarefornobody,nonotI,ifnobodycareforme!Nevertheless,Ishrewdlysuspecthefeelslikeadogwithatincantiedtoitstail:thoughhemakesaverygoodshowofpretendingthetincanisn’tthere.