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feet were huddled up in his greasy threadbare clothes； his head and half
his sallow face muffled up in a red woollen nightcap； his beard was of
several days' growth； his mouth was wide open； and he was snoring
profoundly： on a more despicable little creature the sun never shone。 And
to this sordid wretch was Catherine united for ever。 What a pretty rascal
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history might be read in yonder greasy day…book； which never left the
miser！he never read in any other。 Of what a treasure were yonder keys
and purse the keepers！ not a shilling they guarded but was picked from the
pocket of necessity； plundered from needy wantonness； or pitilessly
squeezed from starvation。 〃A fool； a miser； and a coward！ Why was I
bound to this wretch？〃 thought Catherine： 〃I； who am high…spirited and
beautiful （did not HE tell me so？）； I who； born a beggar； have raised
myself to competence； and might have mountedwho knows whither？if
cursed Fortune had not baulked me！〃
As Mrs。 Cat did not utter these sentiments； but only thought them； we
have a right to clothe her thoughts in the genteelest possible language； and；
to the best of our power； have done so。 If the reader examines Mrs。
Hayes's train of reasoning； he will not； we should think； fail to perceive
how ingeniously she managed to fix all the wrong upon her husband； and
yet to twist out some consolatory arguments for her own vanity。 This
perverse argumentation we have all of us； no doubt； employed in our time。
How often have we；we poets； politicians； philosophers； family…men；
found charming excuses for our own rascalities in the monstrous
wickedness of the world about us； how loudly have we abused the times
and our neighbours！ All this devil's logic did Mrs。 Catherine； lying
wakeful in her bed on the night of the Marylebone fete； exert in gloomy
triumph。
It must； however； be confessed； that nothing could be more just than
Mrs。 Hayes's sense of her husband's scoundrelism and meanness； for if we
have not proved these in the course of this history； we have proved nothing。
Mrs。 Cat had a shrewd observing mind； and if she wanted for proofs
against Hayes； she had but to look before and about her to find them。 This
amiable pair were lying in a large walnut…bed； with faded silk furniture；
which had been taken from under a respectable old invalid widow； who
had become security for a prodigal son； the room was hung round with an
antique tapestry （representing Rebecca at the Well； Bathsheba Bathing；
Judith and Holofernes； and other subjects from Holy Writ）； which had
been many score times sold for fifty pounds； and bought back by Mr。
Hayes for two； in those accommodating bargains which he made with
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young gentlemen； who received fifty pounds of money and fifty of
tapestry in consideration of their hundred…pound bills。 Against this tapestry；
and just cutting off Holofernes's head； stood an enormous ominous black
clock； the spoil of some other usurious transaction。 Some chairs； and a
dismal old black cabinet； completed the furniture of this apartment： it
wanted but a ghost to render its gloom complete。
Mrs。 Hayes sat up in the bed sternly regarding her husband。 There is；
be sure； a strong magnetic influence in wakeful eyes so examining a
sleeping person （do not you； as a boy； remember waking of bright summer
mornings and finding your mother looking over you？ had not the gaze of
her tender eyes stolen into your senses long before you woke； and cast
over your slumbering spirit a sweet spell of peace； and love； and fresh
springing joy？） Some such influence had Catherine's looks upon her
husband： for； as he slept under them； the man began to writhe about
uneasily； and to burrow his head in the pillow； and to utter quick； strange
moans and cries； such as have often jarred one's ear while watching at the
bed of the feverish sleeper。 It was just upon six； and presently the clock
began to utter those dismal grinding sounds； which issue from clocks at
such periods； and which sound like the death…rattle of the departing hour。
Then the bell struck the knell of it； and with this Mr。 Hayes awoke； and
looked up； and saw Catherine gazing at him。
Their eyes met for an instant； and Catherine turned away； burning red；
and looking as if she had been caught in the commission of a crime。
A kind of blank terror seized upon old Hayes's soul： a horrible icy fear；
and presentiment of coming evil； and yet the woman had but looked at
him。 He thought rapidly over the occurrences of the last night； the quarrel；
and the end of it。 He had often struck her before when angry； and heaped
all kinds of bitter words upon her； but； in the morning； she bore no malice；
and the previous quarrel was forgotten； or； at least； passed over。 Why
should the last night's dispute not have the same end？ Hayes calculated all
this； and tried to smile。
〃I hope we're friends； Cat？〃 said he。 〃You know I was in liquor last
night； and sadly put out by the loss of that fifty pound。 They'll ruin me；
dearI know they will。〃
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Mrs。 Hayes did not answer。
〃I should like to see the country again； dear；〃 said he； in his most
wheedling way。 〃I've a mind； do you know； to call in all our money？ It's
you who've made every farthing of it； that's sure； and it's a matter of two
thousand pound by this time。 Suppose we go into Warwickshire； Cat； and
buy a farm； and live genteel。 Shouldn't you like to live a lady in your own
county again？ How they'd stare at Birmingham！ hey； Cat？〃
And with this Mr。 Hayes made a motion as if he would seize his wife's
hand； but she flung his back again。
〃Coward！〃 said she； 〃you want liquor to give you courage； and then
you've only heart enough to strike women。〃
〃It was only in self…defence； my dear；〃 said Hayes； whose courage had
all gone。 〃You tried； you know； toto〃
〃To STAB you； and I wish I had！〃 said Mrs。 Hayes； setting her teeth；
and glaring at him like a demon； and so saying she sprung out of bed。
There was a great stain of blood on her pillow。 〃Look at it；〃 said she。 〃That
blood's of your shedding！〃 and at this Hayes fairly began to weep； so
utterly downcast and frightened was the miserable man。 The wretch's tears
only inspired his wife with a still greater rage and loathing； she cared not
so much for the blow； but she hated the man： the man to whom she was
tied for everfor ever！ The bar between her and wealth； happiness； love；
rank perhaps。 〃If I were free；〃 thought Mrs。 Hayes （the thought had been
sitting at her pillow all night； and whispering ceaselessly into her ear）；〃If
I were free； Max would marry me； I know he would：he said so
yesterday！〃
* * *
As if by a kind of intuition； old Wood seemed to read all this woman's
thoughts； for he said that day with a sneer； that he would wager she was
thinking how much better it would be to be a Count's lady than a poor
miser's wife。 〃And faith；〃 said he； 〃a Count and a chariot…and…six is better
than an old skinflint with a cudgel。〃 And then he asked her if her head was
better； and supposed that she was used to beating； and cut sundry other
jokes； which made the poor wretch's wounds of mind and body feel a
thousand times sorer。
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Tom； too； was made acquainted with the dispute； and swore his
accustomed vengeance against his stepfather。 Such feelings； Wood； with a
dexterous malice； would never let rest； it was his joy； at first quite a
d