`But it's all o' no use, you know, Bessy,' said Mrs Pullet, holding her head on one side and fixing her eyes pathetically on her sister, `if your husband makes away with his money.Not but what if you was sold up, and other folks bought your furniture, it's a comfort to think as you've kept it well rubbed.And there's the linen with your maiden mark on, might go all over the country.It 'ud be a sad pity for our family.' Mrs Pullet shook her head slowly.
`But what can I do, sister?' said Mrs Tulliver.`Mr Tulliver's not a man to be dictated to - not if I was to go to the parson and get by heart what I should tell my husband for the best.And I'm sure I don't pretend to know anything about putting out money and all that.I could never see into men's business as sister Glegg does.'
`Well, you're like me in that, Bessy,' said Mrs Pullet.`And I think it 'ud be a deal more becoming o' Jane if she'd have that pier-glass rubbed oftener - there was ever so many spots on it last week - instead o' dictating to folks as have more comings in than she ever had and telling 'em what they've to do with their money.But Jane and me were allays contrairy:
she would have striped things, and I like spots.You like a spot too, Bessy:
we allays hung together i'that.'
Mrs Pullet, affected by this last reminiscence, looked at her sister pathetically.
`Yes, Sophy,' said Mrs Tulliver, `I remember our having a blue ground with a white spot both alike - I've got a bit in a bed-quilt now - and if you would but go and see sister Glegg and persuade her to make it up with Tulliver, I should take it very kind of you.You was allays a good sister to me.'
`But the right thing 'ud be for Tulliver to go and make it up with her himself and say he was sorry for speaking so rash.If He's borrowed money of her, he shouldn't be above that,' said Mrs Pullet, whose partiality did not blind her to principles: she did not forget what was due to people of independent fortune.
`It's no use talking o' that,' said poor Mrs Tulliver, almost peevishly.
`If I was to go down on my bare knees on the gravel to Tulliver, he'd never humble himself.'
`Well, you can't expect me to persuade Jane to beg pardon,' said Mrs Pullet.`Her temper's beyond everything - it's well if it doesn't carry her off her mind - though there never was any of our family went to a madhouse.'
`I'm not thinking of her begging pardon,' said Mrs Tulliver.`But if she'd just take no notice and not call her money in - as it's not so much for one sister to ask of another - time 'ud mend things and Tulliver 'ud forget all about it, and they'd be friends again.'
Mrs Tulliver you perceive was not aware of her husband's irrevocable determination to pay in the five hundred pounds: at least, such a determination exceeded her powers of belief.
`Well, Bessy,' said Mrs Pullet, mournfully, `I don't want to help you on to ruin.I won't be behindhand i' doing you a good turn, if it is to be done.And I don't like it said among acquaintance as we've got quarrels in the family.I shall tell Jane that: and I don't mind driving to Jane's tomorrow, if Pullet doesn't mind.What do you say, Mr Pullet?'
`I've no objections,' said Mr Pullet, who was perfectly contented with any course the quarrel might take, so that Mr Tulliver did not apply to him for momey.Mr Pullet was nervous about his investments, and did not see how a man could have any security for his money unless he turned it into land.
After a little further discussion as to whether it would not be better for Mrs Tulliver to accompany them on the visit to sister Glegg, Mrs Pullet, observing that it was tea-time, turned to reach from a drawer a delicate damask napkin which she pinned before her in the fashion of an apron.The door did, in fact, soon open, but instead of the tea-tray, Sally introduced an object so startling that both Mrs Pullet and Mrs Tulliver gave a scream, causing uncle Pullet to swallow his lozenge - for the fifth time in his life, as he afterwards noted.