alous of mankind in general where Jenny was
concerned, and though there weren't no shadow of reason for it, he kept
her mighty close and didn't like to think of her gossiping with the
neighbours when he was away to work. At first she was rather pleased with
this side of her husband, thinking jealousy a good advertisement, because
it showed how properly he loved her; and there's no doubt no ugly little
man ever had a more faithful and adoring wife. She thought the world of
him and always said he was wonderful clever and much undervalued and good
for far more important work and bigger money than ever he'd reached to.
But that was her love blinding the woman, because in truth Spider had
terrible poor thinking parts, and to cut peat, or cut fern, or lend a hand
with a dry-built wall, or such-like heavy work was pretty much all as he
could be trusted to do. And none the worse for that, of course. There's
lots of work for good fools in the world; and there's lots of good fools
to do it, if only the knaves would let 'em alone.

Well, all went proper enough with the Whites till Solomon Chuff came to
Vitifer Mine as foreman, and he got to know 'em, and Jenny liked the man
because he put her in mind of her dead father. He was ten years older than
Spider--a big, handsome, clever chap with no vices in him; but there's no
doubt he did like Jenny and found her suit him amazing well; and such was
his innocence of all evil that once or twice he offered Spider a chance to
growl. Once, for example, he over-got Jenny in the road by night and gave
her a lift home in his trap. An innocent deed in all conscience, but Nicky
didn't think so; for jealousy working in a silly man soon unseats his
wits.

I pointed out to Spider, who was soon rampaging about him behind Chuff's
back, that he had nought to fear. Because if the miner had been crooked,
he'd have took care to give Jenny's husband no call for alarm.

"'Tis granted," I said, "that any wife can hoodwink any husband if she
wants to do so. No woman's such a fool but she's equal to that. In your
case, however, you've got a partner that would sooner die and drop into
her coffin than do anything to bring a frown to her husband's face, or a
pang to his heart; while as for Solomon Chuff, he's far ways off the sort
of man you think him, a more decent and God-fearing chapel member you'll
not find."

But wisdom couldn't live with Spider. He was made to flout it and go his
own sheep-headed way. He