When I wanted to help
her she said, 'No thank you: I can manage them myself. I've got a pair of
bits that would break their jaws if I used them well,' and she laughed and
drove away. It's so unwomanly.
"Tell father my hire of the ground will not be out for six months, and
before that Em and I will be married. My pair of birds is breeding now,
but I haven't been down to see them for three days. I don't seem to care
about anything any more. I don't know what it is; I'm not well. If I go
into town on Saturday I will let the doctor examine me; but perhaps she'll
go in herself. It's a very strange thing, Jemima, but she never will send
her letters to post by me. If I ask her she has none, and the very next
day she goes in and posts them herself. You mustn't say anything about it,
Jemima, but twice I've brought her letters from the post in a gentleman's
hand, and I'm sure they were both from the same person, because I noticed
every little mark, even the dotting of the i's.
"Of course it's nothing to me; but for Em's sake I can't help feeling an
interest in her, however much I may dislike her myself; and I hope she's up
to nothing. I pity the man who marries her; I wouldn't be him for
anything. If I had a wife with pride I'd make her give it up, sharp. I
don't believe in a man who can't make a woman obey him.
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