Page 483 - middlemarch

uine, though his tone could not help being sly. ‘Peter was a
bad liver, and almshouses won’t cover it, when he’s had the
impudence to show it at the last.’
‘And all the while had got his own lawful family—broth-
ers and sisters and nephews and nieces—and has sat in
church with ‘em whenever he thought well to come,’ said
Mrs. Waule. ‘And might have left his property so respectable,
to them that’s never been used to extravagance or unsteadi-
ness in no manner of way—and not so poor but what they
could have saved every penny and made more of it. And
me—the trouble I’ve been at, times and times, to come here
and be sisterly—and him with things on his mind all the
while that might make anybody’s flesh creep. But if the Al-
mighty’s allowed it, he means to punish him for it. Brother
Solomon, I shall be going, if you’ll drive me.’
‘I’ve no desire to put my foot on the premises again,’ said
Solomon. ‘I’ve got land of my own and property of my own
to will away.’
‘It’s a poor tale how luck goes in the world,’ said Jonah. ‘It
never answers to have a bit of spirit in you. You’d better be
a dog in the manger. But those above ground might learn a
lesson. One fool’s will is enough in a family.’
‘There’s more ways than one of being a fool,’ said Solomon.
‘I shan’t leave my money to be poured down the sink, and
I shan’t leave it to foundlings from Africay. I like Feather,
stones that were brewed such, and not turned Featherstones
with sticking the name on ‘em.’
Solomon addressed these remarks in a loud aside to Mrs.
Waule as he rose to accompany her. Brother Jonah felt him-

Middlemarch