They don't do yer no good. A man wants a
wife as 'e can respect--some one as is a cut above 'imself, as will raise
'im up a peg or two--some one as 'e can look up to and worship. A man's
wife orter be to 'im a gawddess--a hangel, a--'
"'You appear to have met the lady,' I remarked, interrupting him.
"He blushed scarlet, and became suddenly absorbed in the pattern of the
carpet. But the next moment he looked up again, and his face seemed
literally transformed.
"'Oh! Mr. MacShaughnassy,' he burst out, with a ring of genuine
manliness in his voice, 'you don't know 'ow good, 'ow beautiful she is. I
ain't fit to breathe 'er name in my thoughts. An' she's so clever. I
met 'er at that Toynbee 'All. There was a party of toffs there all
together. You would 'ave enjoyed it, Mr. MacShaughnassy, if you could
'ave 'eard 'er; she was makin' fun of the pictures and the people round
about to 'er pa--such wit, such learnin', such 'aughtiness. I follered
them out and opened the carriage door for 'er, and she just drew 'er
skirt aside and looked at me as if I was the dirt in the road. I wish I
was, for then perhaps one day I'd kiss 'er feet.'
"His emotion was so genuine that I did not feel inclined to laugh at him.
'Did you find out who she was?' I asked.
"'Yes,' he answered; 'I 'eard the old gentleman say "'Ome" to the
coachman, and I ran after the carriage all the way to 'Arley Street.
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