People were accustomed in those days to use much more simple and
expressive terms of language than are now thought polite; and it
would be dangerous to give, in this present year 1840, the exact
words of reproach which passed between Hayes and his wife in 1726.
Mr. Wood sat near, laughing his sides out. Mr. Hayes swore that his
wife should not go abroad to tea-gardens in search of vile Popish
noblemen; to which Mrs. Hayes replied, that Mr. Hayes was a pitiful,
lying, sneaking cur, and that she would go where she pleased. Mr.
Hayes rejoined that if she said much more he would take a stick to
her. Mr. Wood whispered, "And serve her right." Mrs. Hayes
thereupon swore she had stood his cowardly blows once or twice
before, but that if ever he did so again, as sure as she was born,
she would stab him. Mr. Wood said, "Curse me, but I like her
spirit."
Mr. Hayes took another line of argument, and said, "The neighbours
would talk, madam."
"Ay, that they will, no doubt," said Mr. Wood.
"Then let them," said Catherine. "What do we care about the
neighbours? Didn't the neighbours talk when you sent Widow Wilkins
to gaol? Didn't the neighbours talk when you levied on poor old
Thomson? You didn't mind THEN, Mr, Hayes.
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