“She gets the wildest horses in that buggy, and a horrid snappish little cur belonging to the German sitting in front, and then she drives out alone. I don’t think it’s at all proper for a woman to drive out alone; I wouldn’t allow it if she was my sister. The other morning, I don’t know how it happened, I was going in the way from which she was coming, and that little beast — they call him Doss — began to bark when he saw me — he always does, the little wretch — and the horses began to spring, and kicked the splash-board all to pieces. It was a sight to see, Jemima! She has got the littlest hands I ever saw — I could hold them both in one of mine, and not know that I’d got anything except that they were so soft; but she held those horses in as though they were made of iron. 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 t’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. Now Em — I’m very fond of her, as you know — but if I tell her to put on a certain dress, that dress she puts on; and if I tell her to sit on a certain seat, on that seat she sits; and if I tell her not to speak to a certain individual, she does not speak to them. If a man lets a woman do what he doesn’t like he’s a muff.