I made more mistakes with him
than I did with all the rest of them put together. He used to swear--oh,
didn't he use to swear! When he left off swearing at me he married me.
There was others wanted me besides him. Bless you, I had my pick. Why
not? When you have a trifle of money left you that you didn't expect, if
that don't make a lady of you, what does? Isn't a lady to have her pick?
I had my trifle of money, and I had my pick, and I picked the captain--I
did. He was the smartest and the shortest of them all. He took care of
me and my money. I'm here, the money's gone. Don't you put that towel
down on the table--he won't have that! Don't move his razors--don't,
please, or I shall forget which is which. I've got to remember which is
which to-morrow morning. Bless you, the captain don't shave himself!
He had me taught. I shave him. I do his hair, and cut his nails--he's
awfully particular about his nails. So he is about his trousers. And
his shoes. And his newspaper in the morning. And his breakfasts, and
lunches, and dinners, and teas--" She stopped, struck by a sudden
recollection, looked about her, observed the tattered old book on the
floor, and clasped her hands in despair.
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