'You'll say you'll come?
It's as much your interest as mine, you know, that the
women should persuade each other that they're quiet
and contented and couldn't be better off. I know
their way. Whatever one woman says, another
woman is determined to clinch, always. There's that
spirit of emulation among 'em, sir, that if your wife
says to my wife, "I'm the happiest woman in the
world, and mine's the best husband in the world, and
I dote on him," my wife will say the same to yours,
or more, and half believe it.'
'Do you mean to say she don't, then?' asked the
Carrier.
'Don't!' cried Tackleton, with a short, sharp laugh.
'Don't what?'
The Carrier had some faint idea of adding, 'dote
upon you.' But, happening to meet the half-closed
eye, as it twinkled upon him over the turned-up collar
of the cape, which was within an ace of poking it out,
he felt it such an unlikely part and parcel of anything
to be doted on, that he substituted, 'that she don't
believe it?'
'Ah you dog! You're joking,' said Tackleton.
But the Carrier, though slow to understand the full
drift of his meaning, eyed him in such a serious man-
ner, that he was obliged to be a little more explana-
tory.
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