Mrs Moss was in too much agitation to resist Mrs Tulliver's movement as she drew her into the parlour, automatically, without reflecting that it was hardly kind to take her among so many persons in the first painful moment of arrival.The tall, worn, dark-haired woman was a strong contrast to the Dodson sisters as she entered in her shabby dress, with her shawl and bonnet looking as if they had been hastily huddled on, and with that entire absence of self-consciousness which belongs to keenly felt trouble.
Maggie was clinging to her arm, and Mrs Moss seemed to notice no one else except Tom, whom she went straight up to and took by the hand.
`O my dear children,' she burst out, `you've no call to think well o'
me; I'm a poor aunt to you, for I'm one o' them as take all and give nothing.
How's my poor brother?'
`Mr Turnbull thinks he'll get better,' said Maggie.`Sit down, aunt Gritty.Don't fret.'
`O my sweet child, I feel torn i' two,' said Mrs Moss, allowing Maggie to lead her to the sofa but still not seeming to notice the presence of the rest.`We've three hundred pounds o' my brother's money, and now he wants it, and you all want it, poor things - and yet we must be sold up to pay it, and there's my poor children - eight of 'em, and the little un of all can't speak plain.And I feel as if I was a robber.But I'm sure I'd no thought as my brother...'
The poor woman was interrupted by a rising sob.
`Three hundred pound! O dear, dear,' said Mrs Tulliver, who, when she had said that her husband had done unknown things for his sister, had not had any particular sum in her mind, and felt a wife's irritation at having been kept in the dark.
`What madness, to be sure!' said Mrs Glegg.`A man with a family! He'd no right to lend his money i' that way: and without security, I'll be bound, if the truth was known.'
Mrs Glegg's voice had arrested Mrs Moss's attention, and, looking up, she said, `Yes, there was security: my husband gave a note for it.We're not that sort o' people, neither of us, as 'ud rob my brother's children, and we looked to paying back the money, when the times got a bit better.'
`Well, but now,' said Mr Glegg, gently, `hasn't your husband no way o' raising this money? Because it 'ud be a little fortin, like, for these folks, if we can do without Tulliver's being made a bankrupt.Your husband's got stock: it is but right he should raise the money, as it seems to me - not but what I'm sorry for you, Mrs Moss.'
`O sir, you don't know what bad luck my husband's had with his stock - the farm's suffering so as never was for want o' stock, and we've sold all the wheat, and we're behind with our rent...not but what we'd like to do what's right, and I'd sit up and work half the night, if it 'ud be any good...but there's them poor children...four of 'em such little uns...
'
`Don't cry so, aunt - don't fret,' whispered Maggie, who had kept hold of Mrs Moss's hand.
`Did Mr Tulliver, let you have the money all at once?' said Mrs Tulliver, still lost in the conception of things which had been `going on' without her knowledge.
`No, at twice,' said Mrs Moss, rubbing her eyes, and making an effort to restrain her tears.`The last was after my bad illness, four years ago, as everything went wrong, and there was a new note made then.What with illness and bad luck, I've been nothing but cumber all my life.'
`Yes, Mrs Moss,' said Mrs Glegg, with decision.`Yours is a very unlucky family:- the more's the pity for my sister.'
`I set off in the cart as soon as ever I heard o' what had happened,'
said Mrs Moss, looking at Mrs Tulliver.`I should never ha' staid away all this while, if you'd thought well to let me know.And it isn't as I'm thinking all about ourselves and nothing about my brother - only the money was so on my mind, I couldn't help speaking about it.And my husband and me desire to do the right thing, sir,' she added, looking at Mr Glegg, `and we'll make shift and pay the money, come what will, if that's all my brother's got to trust to.We've been used to trouble, and don't look for much else.It's only the thought o' my poor children pulls me i' two.'
`Why, there's this to be thought on, Mrs Moss,' said Mr Glegg, `and it's right to warn you.If Tulliver's made a bankrupt, and he's got a note-of-hand of your husband's for three hundred pounds, you'll be obliged to pay it:
th'assignees 'ull come on you for it.'
`O dear, O dear!' said Mrs Tulliver, thinking of the bankruptcy, and not of Mrs Moss's concern in it.Poor Mrs Moss herself listened in trembling submission, while Maggie looked with bewildered distress at Tom to see if he showed any signs of understanding this trouble, and caring about poor aunt Moss.Tom was only looking thoughtful with his eyes on the table-cloth.
