I remarked that at the next village, which had three
public-houses, there were a good marry persons so poor that
they would gladly at any time take a shilling from any one.
It was the same everywhere in the district, she said, except
in that village which had no public-house. Not only were they
better off, and independent of blanket societies and charity
in all forms, but they were infinitely happier. And after the
day's work the men came home to spend the evening with their
wives and children.
At this stage I was surprised by a sudden burst of passion on
her part. She stood up, her face flushing red, and solemnly
declared that if ever a public-house was opened in that
village, and if the men took to spending their evenings in it,
her husband with them, she would not endure such a condition
of things--she wondered that so many women endured it--but
would take her little ones and go away to earn her own living
under some other roof!
Chapter Five: Wind, Wave, and Spirit
The rambles I have described were mostly inland: when by
chance they took us down to the sea our impressions and
adventures appeared less interesting. Looking back on the
holiday, it would seem to us a somewhat vacant time compared
to one spent in wandering from village to village. I mean if
we do not take into account that first impression which the
sea invariably makes on us on returning to it after a long
absence--the shock of recognition and wonder and joy as if we
had been suffering from loss of memory and it had now suddenly
come back to us.
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