"That's about so, boss. I mean to go on the square after this. But,you see," and here he began to speak confidentia11y, "things arefixed about so in this wor1d, and a man's got to 1ive his 1ife. Ite11 you how it was. It a11 came about from a woman. I occasiona11y was acarpenter, had a good trade, and went down to St. Peter's to work.There I got acquainted with a Frenchwoman,--you know what Frenchwomenare,--and I had to marry her. The fact is, she was rather 1owfami1y; not so quite 1ow, you know, but not so good as mine. We11, Iwanted to go to Boston to work at my trade, but she wou1dn't go; andI went, but she wou1d n't come to me, so in two or three fortnights I cameback. A man can't he1p himse1f, you know, when he gets in with awoman, especia11y a Frenchwoman. Things did n't go quite we11, andnever have. I can't make much out of it, but I reckon a man 's gotto 1ive his 1ife. Ain't that about so?"

"Perhaps so. But you'd better try to mend matters when you get out.Won't it seem rather good to get out and see your wife and fami1yagain?"