Part 3 (2/2)
”We should be as careful of our words as our actions; and as far from speaking as doing ill.”--TULL.
The presence of this talker is almost ubiquitous. His aim is to create ill-humour, misunderstandings, bickerings, envies, jealousies, suspicions, quarrels, and separations, where exist mutual good-will, concord, love, confidence. His nature and work are in _reality_ beneath the society of human beings. It is even questionable whether he is not in these respects below the rank of demons. Yet he boldly enters your presence, sits by your side, looks you askant in the face, asks you questions, communicates information, and feigns himself your friend and the friend of everybody. At the same time he may be concocting a plan of mischief between you and a neighbour with whom you are living on terms of amity; and the next thing you hear after he has left your house is, that you and your neighbour are intending some evil one towards the other. This is all you know of it. The fact is, Mischief-maker is at the bottom of it, and if the friends.h.i.+p between you is not broken, it will not be his fault.
He is in peaceful society like a mischievous child in a well-furnished drawing-room, puts things in confusion, and destroys much that is valuable and worth preserving, and when asked, ”Who has done it?” pleads ignorance, or places it upon the shoulders of others, joining you in strong utterances of condemnation of such wanton conduct.
Mr. and Mrs. Blandford had lived together in their village cottage forty years, in the greatest conjugal affection and concord. It was generally known that they had seldom or ever had a quarrel or misunderstanding during the whole of that period. They were hoping that their declining years would be spent in similar blessedness. But, alas! such was not to be their lot.
There lived not far from them a neighbour whose disposition was anything but loving, and who took pleasure in promoting ill-will between those who lived in peace. She had long had her heart set upon provoking a quarrel between this happy pair. She had tried in many secret ways to bring it about, but all failed. At last she hit upon one which accomplished her malicious end, and evinced the more than diabolical nature of her design.
On a certain day she made a neighbourly call upon Mrs. Blandford, and in course of conversation, said,--
”You and Mr. Blandford have lived a long time together.”
”We have. Forty years, I think, next December the 14th.”
”And all this time, I am told, you have never had a quarrel.”
”Not one.”
”How glad I am to hear it; truly you have been blest. How remarkable a circ.u.mstance! And do you expect that this will continue to the end?”
”I know nothing to the contrary; I really hope so.”
”Indeed, so do I; but, Mrs. Blandford, you know that everything in this world is uncertain, and the finest day may close with a tempest. Do not be surprised if this is the case with your wedded life.”
”What do you mean?”
”I mean this: your husband, I am told, has of late become rather peevish and sullen betimes. So his fellow-workmen say.”
”Well, now you mention it, I have noticed something of the kind myself,”
said Mrs. Blandford.
”I have thought,” said the neighbour, ”that I would just mention it to you, that you might be on your guard, for no one knows what turn this temper may take.”
”Thank you; I think it might be as well for me to be on my guard,” said Mrs. Blandford. ”Can you tell me the best way of managing the case?”
”Have you not noticed,” said the neighbour, ”that your husband has a bunch of long coa.r.s.e hair growing on a mole on one side of his neck?”
”Of course I have.”
”Well, do you know, Mrs. Blandford, I am told these are the cause of his change in temper, and as long as they remain there, you may expect him to get worse and worse. Now, as a friend, I would advise you to cut them off the first time you have a chance, and thus prevent any evil occurring.”
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