"She looks after her husband's interests as mine did for me, and she don't
talk him to death."

This thought, in the main, summed up Mrs. Watterly's best traits.

She was a commonplace, narrow, selfish woman, whose character is not worth
sketching. Tom stood a little in fear of her, and was usually careful not to
impose extra tasks, but since she helped him to save and get ahead, he
regarded her as a model wife.

Holcroft shared in his opinion and sighed deeply as he sat down to supper.
"Ah, Tom!" he said, "you're a lucky man. You've got a wife that keeps
everything indoors up to the mark, and gives you a chance to attend to your
own proper business. That's the way it was with mine. I never knew what a
lopsided, helpless creature a man was until I was left alone. You and I were
lucky in getting the women we did, but when my partner left me, she took all
the luck with her. That aint the worst. She took what's more than luck and
money and everything. I seemed to lose with her my grit and interest in most
things. It'll seem foolishness to you, but I can't take comfort in anything
much except working that old farm that I've worked and played on ever since I
can remember anything. You're not one of those fools, Tom, that have to learn
from their own experience. Take a bit from mine, and be good to your wife
while you can. I'd give all I'm worth--I know that aint much--if I could say
some things to my wife and do some things for her that I didn't do."

Holcroft spoke in the simplicity of a full and remorseful heart, but he
unconsciously propitiated Mrs. Watterly in no small degree. Indeed, she felt
that he had quite repaid her for his entertainment, and the usually taciturn
woman seconded his remarks with much emphasis.