would seek for confidants elsewhere. For want of a female
companion, she was compelled to bestow her sympathies upon Mr.
Brock; who, as the Count's corporal, was much in his lodgings, and
who did manage to survive the disappointment which he had
experienced by Mrs. Catherine's refusal of him.

About two months after the infant's birth, the Captain, who was
annoyed by its squalling, put it abroad to nurse, and dismissed its
attendant. Mrs. Catherine now resumed her household duties, and
was, as before, at once mistress and servant of the establishment.
As such, she had the keys of the beer, and was pretty sure of the
attentions of the Corporal; who became, as we have said, in the
Count's absence, his lady's chief friend and companion. After the
manner of ladies, she very speedily confided to him all her domestic
secrets; the causes of her former discontent; the Count's ill-
treatment of her; the wicked names he called her; the prices that
all her gowns had cost her; how he beat her; how much money he won
and lost at play; how she had once pawned a coat for him; how he had
four new ones, laced, and paid for; what was the best way of
cleaning and keeping gold-lace, of making cherry-brandy, pickling
salmon, etc., etc. Her confidences upon all these subjects used to
follow each other in rapid succession; and Mr. Brock became, ere
long, quite as well acquainted with the Captain's history for the
last year as the Count himself:--for he was careless, and forgot
things; women never do. They chronicle all the lover's small
actions, his words, his headaches, the dresses he has worn, the
things he has liked for dinner on certain days;--all which
circumstances commonly are expunged from the male brain immediately
after they have occurred, but remain fixed with the female.