Catherick if a better had married him. I don’t like to speak ill of anyone, sir, but she was a heartless woman, with a terrible will of her own⁠—fond of foolish admiration and fine clothes, and not caring to show so much as decent outward respect to Catherick, kindly as he always treated her. My husband said he thought things would turn out badly when they first came to live near us, and his words proved true. Before they had been quite four months in our neighbourhood there was a dreadful scandal and a miserable breakup in their household. Both of them were in fault⁠—I am afraid both of them were equally in fault.”

“You mean both husband and wife?”

“Oh, no, sir! I don’t mean Catherick⁠—he was only to be pitied. I meant his wife and the person⁠—”

“And the person who caused the scandal?”

“Yes, sir. A gentleman born and brought up, who ought to have set a better example. You know him, sir⁠—and my poor dear Anne knew him only too well.”