"’Tis just the sort of thing that happens every day," declared Charles Moses, mournfully. "But, please God, with the Bowden pair, they are both too sensible to drift apart. ’Tis a terrible sad thing to see husband and wife lost, as it were--each feeling along alone, trying to find the man or the woman they loved and married, and not finding ’em. For why? Because each have gone back to themselves, and put off all that hoodwinking toggery they was hidden in during the courting time. We talk about being disguised in drink, Reuben Shillabeer, but we ought to talk about being disguised in love also. There’s nought makes a man act further from his true self than wanting to win a woman." "’Tis supposed to bring out the best of us; but I’m with you there; I don’t know that it does," said Bartley. Mr. Snell stared. "For my part, though you might say such a man as me hasn’t the right to lift his voice afore such a learned person like you, Mr. Moses, yet I do believe in love. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I’ve felt it more than here and there--back and forward, like rheumatism, according to the state of the blood and the season of the year; but when it comes, it makes me more valiant without a doubt; and that’s to the good." Mr. Crocker looked at his rival. Then he opened his mouth to speak; and then he shut it again and kept silence. Elsewhere Mattacott, Maunder, and William Screech debated a great matter. They argued now as to whether Mr. Shillabeer should hear the secret, and the policeman advised against it. "An honest and an upright man, outside prize-fighting," he said; "but in this you can’t expect him to take sides. We are all his customers--Bart Stanbury just as much as Mattacott here; therefore I say, ’keep the thing from him.’" "And from everybody," added Mattacott. "If it get’s out, all’s marred. The fewer hear of it, the better; and I hope you won’t tell your wife, Billy." Mr. Screech laughed. "That shows how little you know of the world, Timothy. Why, ’twas my wife had the brilliant thought! She knowed Mattacott wanted for to marry Jane West, and I told her how another man was after Jane also, and that she couldn’t decide between ’em. Then says Dorcas--quick as a needle, that woman--’Jane believes in all that rummage about Crazywell. So what Mattacott have got to do is to plan to get her that way come next Christmas Eve; and he’ve got to lie hid; and when he sees her, he’ve got to shout out the name of t’other chap; and Jane will think ’tis the spirits; and she’ll fancy t’other chap is bound to die afore the year’s out; so he’ll be no good to her whether she likes him or not. Then, of course, she’ll take Mattacott.’ Those were her very words, as near as I can call ’em home. And when did you hear a cleverer thing?"