Chapter 8

           Hesaidnothing.Hetookopium.Thechildrensaidhehadstainedhisbeardyellowwithit.Perhaps.Whatwasobvioustoherwasthatthepoormanwasunhappy,cametothemeveryyearasanescape;andyeteveryyearshefeltthesamething;hedidnottrusther.Shesaid,"Iamgoingtothetown.ShallIgetyoustamps,paper,tobacco?"andshefelthimwince.Hedidnottrusther.Itwashiswife’sdoing.Sherememberedthatiniquityofhiswife’stowardshim,whichhadmadeherturntosteelandadamantthere,inthehorriblelittleroominStJohn’sWood,whenwithherowneyesshehadseenthatodiouswomanturnhimoutofthehouse.Hewasunkempt;hedroppedthingsonhiscoat;hehadthetiresomenessofanoldmanwithnothingintheworldtodo;andsheturnedhimoutoftheroom.Shesaid,inherodiousway,"Now,Mrs.RamsayandIwanttohavealittletalktogether,"andMrs.Ramsaycouldsee,asifbeforehereyes,theinnumerablemiseriesofhislife.Hadhemoneyenoughtobuytobacco?Didhehavetoaskherforit?halfacrown?eighteenpence?Oh,shecouldnotbeartothinkofthelittleindignitiesshemadehimsuffer.Andalwaysnow(why,shecouldnotguess,exceptthatitcameprobablyfromthatwomansomehow)heshrankfromher.Henevertoldheranything.Butwhatmorecouldshehavedone?Therewasasunnyroomgivenuptohim.Thechildrenweregoodtohim.Neverdidsheshowasignofnotwantinghim.Shewentoutofherwayindeedtobefriendly.Doyouwantstamps,doyouwanttobacco?Here’sabookyoumightlikeandsoon.