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Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863

"Catherine: a Story"

I have looked at the world,
for my part, and come to the conclusion that I know not which is
which.
Well, then, on the night when Mrs Hayes, as recorded by us, had been
to the Marylebone Gardens, Mr. Wood had found the sincerest
enjoyment in plying her husband with drink; so that, when Catherine
arrived at home, Mr. Hayes came forward to meet her in a manner
which showed he was not only surly, but drunk. Tom stepped out of
the coach first; and Hayes asked him, with an oath, where he had
been? The oath Mr. Billings sternly flung back again (with another
in its company), and at the same time refused to give his stepfather
any sort of answer to his query.
"The old man is drunk, mother," said he to Mrs. Hayes, as he handed
that lady out of the coach (before leaving which she had to withdraw
her hand rather violently from the grasp of the Count, who was
inside). Hayes instantly showed the correctness of his surmise by
slamming the door courageously in Tom's face, when he attempted to
enter the house with his mother. And when Mrs. Catherine
remonstrated, according to her wont, in a very angry and
supercilious tone, Mr. Hayes replied with equal haughtiness, and a
regular quarrel ensued.


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