stop a moment said mr excessively red in the face i told you the last time you were here with a grievance that you had better turn about and come out of that and i also told you if you remember that i was up to the gold spoon look out i were not up to t sir i do assure yo now it s clear to me said mr that you are one of those who have always got a grievance and you go about it and raising crops that s the business of your life my friend hard times shook his head protesting that indeed he had other business to do for his life you are such a ill chap you see said mr that even your own union the men who know you best will have nothing to do with you i never thought those fellows could be right in anything but i tell you what i so far go along with them for a novelty that ill have nothing to do with you either raised his eyes quickly to his face you can finish off what you re at said mr with a meaning nod and then go elsewhere sir yo know said that if i get work wi yo i get it the reply was what i know i know and what you know you know i have no more to say about it glanced at again but her eyes were raised to his no more therefore with a sigh and saying barely above his breath heaven help us aw in this world he departed hard times chapter vi fading away it was falling dark when came out of mr s house the shadows of night had gathered so fast that he did not look about him when he closed the door but straight along the street nothing was further from his thoughts than the curious old woman he had encountered on his previous visit to the same house when he heard a step behind him that he knew and turning saw her in s company he saw first as he had heard her only ah my dear thou wi her well and now you are surprised to be sure and with reason i must say the old woman returned here i am again you see but how wi said falling into their step walking between them and looking from the one to the other why i come to be with this good pretty much as i came to be with you said the old woman cheerfully taking the reply upon herself my visiting time is later this year than usual for i have been rather troubled with of breath and so put it off till the weather was fine and warm for the same reason i don t make all my journey in one day but divide it into two days and get a bed to night at the travellers coffee house down by the railroad a nice clean house times and go back at six in the morning well but what has this to do with this good says yon fm going to tell you i have heard of mr being married i read it in the paper where it looked grand � oh it looked fine the old woman dwelt on it with strange enthusiasm and i want to see his wife i have never seen her yet now if you ll believe me she hasn t come out of that house since noon to day so not to give her up too easily i was waiting about a little last bit more when i passed close to this good two or three times and her face being so friendly i spoke to her and she spoke to me there said the old woman to you can make all the rest out for yourself now a deal shorter than i can i dare say once again had to conquer an instinctive to dislike this old woman though her manner was as honest and simple as a manner possibly could be with a gentleness that was as natural to him as he knew it to be to he pursued the subject that interested her in her old age well said he i ha seen the lady and she were and wi fine dark eyes and a still way as i ha never seen the like on young and handsome yes cried the old woman quite delighted as as a rose and what a happy wife aye i suppose she be said but with a doubtful glance at suppose she be she must be she s your master s wife returned the old woman nodded assent though as to my master said he glancing again at not master more that s aw him and me hard times have you left his work asked anxiously and quickly why he replied whether i ha his work or whether his work ha n me f th same his work and me are parted tis as so � better i were when yo up me it would ha brought n trouble upon trouble if i had stayed tis a kindness to that i go tis a kindness to it be done i turn my face fro fur th time and seek a fort n dear by fresh where will you go i t night said he lifting off his hat and his thin hair with the flat of his hand but i m not goin t night nor yet t morrow tan t easy t know t turn but a good heart will to me too the sense of even thinking aided him before he had so much as closed mr s door he had reflected that at least his being obliged to go away was good for her as it would save her from the chance of being brought into question for not withdrawing from him though 