’Will you be quiet?’ said Taverner angrily. ’Get along with you into the kitchen and don’t stand gulping here like water out of a narrow-necked bottle.’
’So!—that be the wife you’ve chosen, master! It is ill screwing a big foot into a small shoe; best suit your shoe to the size of your foot.’
’You have received notice to leave. A month from to-day.’
’This is breaking the looking-glass because you don’t like your face,’ said the housekeeper. ’"Come help me on with the plough," said the ox to the gadfly. "With the greatest of pleasure," answered the fly, and stung the ox.’
’Gadfly!’ shouted Taverner. ’Sheathe your sting, please, or don’t practise on me.’
’You marry!’ scoffed Mrs. Veale ’"I’m partial to honey," said the fox, and upset the hive. "You must learn how to take it," answered the swarm, and surrounded him.’
’I’ll turn you out at once,’ said Langford, angrily.
’No, you will not,’ answered the housekeeper; ’or you will have to pay my wage and get nothing for it. I’ve served you faithfully all these years, and this is my reward. I am turned away. What has been my pay whilst here? What! compared with my services? And now I am to make room for the sister of a thief. What will become of your earnings when she comes? If her brother picked a stranger, he will skin a relative. And the rest of them! "I am tilling for you," said the farmer to the rabbits; "come into my field and nibble the turnips." Love in an old man is like a spark in a stackyard. It burns up everything, even common sense.’
He thrust her down the passage. She kept her white face towards him, and went along sliding her hands against the wall, against which she leaned her back.
’I did suppose you had more sense than this. I knew you were bit, but not that you were poisoned. I thought that you would be too wise to go on with your courting when you found that you had been robbed by Charles. Who that is not a fool will give the run of his house to the man who has plundered him? Can you keep him out when you have married his sister? What of the young ones? They will grow up like their brother. Roguery is like measles, it runs through a house. Have not I been faithful? Have I taken a thread out of your clothes, or a nail from your shoe? Have I relations to pester you for help? Mine might have begged, but would not have stolen; yours will have their hands in all your pockets. Now you are everything in the house, and we are all your slaves. All is yours, your voice rules, your will governs. Will it be so when you bring a mistress home—and that Honor Luxmore? Everyone knows her; she governs the house.’ Mrs. Veale laughed again. ’That will be a fine sight to see Master Taverner Langford under the slipper. "I’m seen in the half but lost in the full," said the man in the moon.’