Хорошие жёны / Good wives. Уровень 3

“Twenty-five yards of silk seems a good deal to cover one small woman, but I’ve no doubt my wife will look fine,” said John dryly.

“I know you are angry, John, but I can’t do anything. I don’t mean to waste your money. I try to be contented, but it is hard, and I’m tired of being poor[17 - I’m tired of being poor – я устала быть бедной].”

The last words were spoken so low she thought he did not hear them, but he did. They wounded him deeply. He denied himself many pleasures for Meg’s sake.

She wanted to bite her tongue out the minute she said it. John pushed the books away and got up. He said with a little quiver in his voice,

“I was afraid of this. I do my best, Meg.”

If he scolds her, or even shakes her, it won’t break her heart like those few words. She ran to him and held him close, crying, with repentant tears,

“Oh, John, my dear, kind, hard-working boy! I didn’t mean it! It was so wicked, so untrue and ungrateful.

How could I say it! Oh, how could I say it!”

He was very kind. He forgave her readily, and did not utter one reproach. But Meg knew that she did and said. Such a thing won’t be forgotten soon. A week of remorse nearly made Meg sick. The discovery that John countermanded the order for his new greatcoat reduced her to a state of despair which was pathetic to behold. He said simply, in answer to her surprised inquiries as to the change,

“I can’t afford it, my dear.

”

Meg said no more, but a few minutes after he found her in the hall with her face buried in the old greatcoat. She was crying.

They had a long talk that night. Meg learned to love her husband better for his poverty. It has made a man of him, given him the strength and courage to fight his own way, and taught him a tender patience.

Next day she put her pride in her pocket, went to Sallie, told the truth, and asked her to buy the silk as a favor.

The good-natured Mrs. Moffat willingly did so, and had the delicacy not to make her a present of it immediately afterward. Then Meg ordered home the greatcoat. When John arrived, she put it on, and asked him how he liked her new silk gown. One can imagine what answer he made, how he received his present, and what a blissful state of things ensued.

* * *

Laurie came sneaking into the kitchen of the Dovecote one Saturday, with an excited face.