Victor is short-tempered and completely lacking in patience and tolerance.
This doesn't tend to endear him to anyone on the receiving end of his diatribes. Margaret is a relatively calm, easy-going individual who has somehow managed to cope with Victor's mood changes and frequent outbursts over many years of marriage. Other people tend to pity her and think that she has a lot to put up with. While this may be true, she wouldn't really want to be with anyone other than Victor. Patrick was the Meldrew's next door neighbour for several years.