Thedentisttookoffhiscoat，hiscollarandnecktie，unbuttonedhisvest，andslippedhisheavy-soledbootsfromhisbigfeet。Thenhestretchedhimselfuponthebedandrolledovertowardsthewall。Inafewminutesthesoundofhissnoringfilledtheroom。
　　Trinacranedherneckandlookedatherhusbandoverthefootboardofthebed。Shesawhisred，congestedface；
　　thehugemouthwideopen；hisuncleanshirt，withitsfrayedwristbands；andhishugefeetencasedinthickwoollensocks。Thenhergriefandthesenseofherunhappinessreturnedmorepoignantthanever。Shestretchedherarmsoutinfrontofheronherwork-table，and，buryingherfaceinthem，criedandsobbedasthoughherheartwouldbreak。
　　Theraincontinued。Thepanesofthesinglewindowranwithsheetsofwater；theeavesdrippedincessantly。Itgrewdarker。Thetiny，grimyroom，fullofthesmellsofcookingandof“non-poisonous“paint，tookonanaspectofdesolationandcheerlessnesslamentablebeyondwords。Thecanaryinitslittlegiltprisonchitteredfeeblyfromtimetotime。Sprawledatfulllengthuponthebed，thedentistsnoredandsnored，stupefied，inert，hislegswideapart，hishandslyingpalmupwardathissides。
　　AtlastTrinaraisedherhead，withalong，tremblingbreath。Sherose，andgoingovertothewashstand，pouredsomewaterfromthepitcherintothebasin，andwashedherfaceandswolleneyelids，andrearrangedherhair。
　　Suddenly，asshewasabouttoreturntoherwork，shewasstruckwithanidea。
　　“Iwonder，“shesaidtoherself，“Iwonderwherehegotthemoneytobuyhiswhiskey。“Shesearchedthepocketsofhiscoat，whichhehadflungintoacorneroftheroom，andevencameuptohimashelayuponthebedandwentthroughthepocketsofhisvestandtrousers。Shefoundnothing。
　　“Iwonder，“shemurmured，“Iwonderifhe’sgotanymoneyhedon’ttellmeabout。I’llhavetolookoutforthat。“
　　CHAPTER16
　　Aweekpassed，thenafortnight，thenamonth。ItwasamonthofthegreatestanxietyandunquietudeforTrina。
　　McTeaguewasoutofajob，couldfindnothingtodo；andTrina，whosawtheimpossibilityofsavingasmuchmoneyasusualoutofherearningsunderthepresentconditions，wasonthelookoutforcheaperquarters。InspiteofhisoutcriesandsulkyresistanceTrinahadinducedherhusbandtoconsenttosuchamove，bewilderinghimwithatorrentofphrasesandmarvellouscolumnsoffiguresbywhichsheprovedconclusivelythattheywereinaconditionbutoneremovefromdownrightdestitution。
　　Thedentistcontinuedidle。Sincehisillsuccesswiththemanufacturersofsurgicalinstrumentshehadmadebuttwoattemptstosecureajob。TrinahadgonetoseeUncleOelbermannandhadobtainedforMcTeagueapositionintheshippingdepartmentofthewholesaletoystore。However，itwasapositionthatinvolvedacertainamountofciphering，andMcTeaguehadbeenobligedtothrowitupintwodays。
　　ThenforatimetheyhadentertainedawildideathataplaceonthepoliceforcecouldbesecuredforMcTeague。Hecouldpassthephysicalexaminationwithflyingcolors，andRyer，whohadbecomethesecretaryofthePolkStreetImprovementClub，promisedtherequisitepolitical“pull。“
　　IfMcTeaguehadshownacertainenergyinthemattertheattemptmighthavebeensuccessful；buthewastoostupid，oroflatehadbecometoolistlesstoexerthimselfgreatly，andtheaffairresultedonlyinaviolentquarrelwithRyer。
　　McTeaguehadlosthisambition。Hedidnotcaretobetterhissituation。Allhewantedwasawarmplacetosleepandthreegoodmealsaday。Atthefirst——attheveryfirst——hehadchafedathisidlenessandhadspentthedayswithhiswifeintheironenarrowroom，walkingbackandforthwiththerestlessnessofacagedbrute，orsittingmotionlessforhours，watchingTrinaatherwork，feelingadullglowofshameattheideathatshewassupportinghim。Thisfeelinghadwornoffquickly，however。Trina’sworkwasonlyhardwhenshechosetomakeitso，andasaruleshesupportedtheirmisfortuneswithasilentfortitude。
　　Then，weariedathisinactionandfeelingtheneedofmovementandexercise，McTeaguewouldlighthispipeandtakeaturnuponthegreatavenueoneblockabovePolkStreet。Agangoflaborerswerediggingthefoundationsforalargebrownstonehouse，andMcTeaguefoundinterestandamusementinleaningoverthebarrierthatsurroundedtheexcavationsandwatchingtheprogressofthework。Hecametoseeiteveryafternoon；byandbyheevengottoknowtheforemanwhosuperintendedthejob，andthetwohadlongtalkstogether。ThenMcTeaguewouldreturntoPolkStreetandfindHeiseinthebackroomoftheharnessshop，andoccasionallythedayendedwithsomehalfdozendrinksofwhiskeyatJoeFrenna’ssaloon。
　　Itwascurioustonotetheeffectofthealcoholuponthedentist。Itdidnotmakehimdrunk，itmadehimvicious。
　　Sofarfrombeingstupefied，hebecame，afterthefourthglass，active，alert，quick-witted，eventalkative；acertainwickednessstirredinhimthen；hewasintractable，mean；andwhenhehaddrunkalittlemoreheavilythanusual，hefoundacertainpleasureinannoyingandexasperatingTrina，eveninabusingandhurtingher。
　　IthadbegunontheeveningofThanksgivingDay，whenHeisehadtakenMcTeagueouttodinnerwithhim。Thedentistonthisoccasionhaddrunkveryfreely。HeandHeisehadreturnedtoPolkStreettowardsteno’clock，andHeiseatoncesuggestedacoupleofdrinksatFrenna’s。
　　“Allright，allright，“saidMcTeague。“Drinks，that’stheword。I’llgohomeandgetsomemoneyandmeetyouatJoe’s。“
　　Trinawasawakenedbyherhusbandpinchingherarm。
　　“Oh，Mac，“shecried，jumpingupinbedwithalittlescream，“howyouhurt！Oh，thathurtmedreadfully。“
　　“Givemealittlemoney，“answeredthedentist，grinning，andpinchingheragain。
　　“Ihaven’tacent。There’snota——oh，MAC，willyoustop？Iwon’thaveyoupinchmethatway。“
　　“Hurryup，“answeredherhusband，calmly，nippingthefleshofhershoulderbetweenhisthumbandfinger。“Heise’swaitingforme。“Trinawrenchedfromhimwithasharpintakeofbreath，frowningwithpain，andcaressinghershoulder。
　　“Mac，you’venoideahowthathurts。Mac，STOP！“
　　“Givemesomemoney，then。“
　　IntheendTrinahadtocomply。Shegavehimhalfadollarfromherdresspocket，protestingthatitwastheonlypieceofmoneyshehad。
　　“Onemore，justforluck，“saidMcTeague，pinchingheragain；“andanother。“
　　“Howcanyou——howCANyouhurtawomanso！“exclaimedTrina，beginningtocrywiththepain。
　　“Ah，now，CRY，“retortedthedentist。“That’sright，CRY。Ineversawsuchalittlefool。“Hewentout，slammingthedoorindisgust。
　　ButMcTeagueneverbecameadrunkardinthegenerallyreceivedsenseoftheterm。Hedidnotdrinktoexcessmorethantwoorthreetimesinamonth，andneveruponanyoccasiondidhebecomemaudlinorstaggering。Perhapshisnerveswerenaturallytoodulltoadmitofanyexcitation；
　　perhapshedidnotreallycareforthewhiskey，andonlydrankbecauseHeiseandtheothermenatFrenna’sdid。
　　Trinacouldoftenreproachhimwithdrinkingtoomuch；shenevercouldsaythathewasdrunk。Thealcoholhaditseffectforallthat。Itrousedtheman，orratherthebruteintheman，andnownotonlyrousedit，butgoadedittoevil。McTeague’snaturechanged。Itwasnotonlythealcohol，itwasidlenessandageneralthrowingoffofthegoodinfluencehiswifehadhadoverhiminthedaysoftheirprosperity。McTeaguedislikedTrina。Shewasaperpetualirritationtohim。Sheannoyedhimbecauseshewassosmall，soprettilymade，soinvariablycorrectandprecise。Heravariceincessantlyharassedhim。Herindustrywasaconstantreproachtohim。Sheseemedtoflauntherworkdefiantlyinhisface。Itwastheredflagintheeyesofthebull。OnetimewhenhehadjustcomebackfromFrenna’sandhadbeensittinginthechairnearher，silentlywatchingheratherwork，heexclaimedallofasudden：
　　“Stopworking。Stopit，Itellyou。Put’emaway。Put’emallaway，orI’llpinchyou。“
　　“Butwhy——why？“Trinaprotested。
　　Thedentistcuffedherears。“Iwon’thaveyouwork。“Hetookherknifeandherpaint-potsaway，andmadehersitidlyinthewindowtherestoftheafternoon。
　　Itwas，however，onlywhenhiswitshadbeenstirredwithalcoholthatthedentistwasbrutaltohiswife。Atothertimes，saythreeweeksofeverymonth，shewasmerelyanincumbrancetohim。TheyoftenquarrelledaboutTrina’smoney，hersavings。Thedentistwasbentuponhavingatleastapartofthem。Whathewoulddowiththemoneyoncehehadit，hedidnotpreciselyknow。Hewouldspenditinroyalfashion，nodoubt，feastingcontinually，buyinghimselfwonderfulclothes。Theminer’sideaofmoneyquicklygainedandlavishlysquandered，persistedinhismind。AsforTrina，themoreherhusbandstormed，thetightershedrewthestringsofthelittlechamois-skinbagthatshehidatthebottomofhertrunkunderneathherbridaldress。HerfivethousanddollarsinvestedinUncleOelbermann’sbusinesswasaglittering，splendiddreamwhichcametoheralmosteveryhourofthedayasasolaceandacompensationforallherunhappiness。
　　Attimes，whensheknewthatMcTeaguewasfarfromhome，shewouldlockherdoor，openhertrunk，andpileallherlittlehoardonhertable。Bynowitwasfourhundredandsevendollarsandfiftycents。Trinawouldplaywiththismoneybythehour，pilingit，andrepilingit，orgatheringitallintooneheap，anddrawingbacktothefarthestcorneroftheroomtonotetheeffect，herheadononeside。Shepolishedthegoldpieceswithamixtureofsoapandashesuntiltheyshone，wipingthemcarefullyonherapron。Or，again，shewoulddrawtheheaplovinglytowardherandburyherfaceinit，delightedatthesmellofitandthefeelofthesmooth，coolmetalonhercheeks。
　　Sheevenputthesmallergoldpiecesinhermouth，andjingledthemthere。Shelovedhermoneywithanintensitythatshecouldhardlyexpress。Shewouldplungehersmallfingersintothepilewithlittlemurmursofaffection，herlong，narroweyeshalfclosedandshining，herbreathcominginlongsighs。
　　“Ah，thedearmoney，thedearmoney，“shewouldwhisper。“I
　　loveyouso！Allmine，everypennyofit。Nooneshallever，evergetyou。HowI’veworkedforyou！HowI’veslavedandsavedforyou！AndI’mgoingtogetmore；I’mgoingtogetmore，more，more；alittleeveryday。“
　　Shewasstilllookingforcheaperquarters。Whenevershecouldspareamomentfromherwork，shewouldputonherhatandrangeupanddowntheentireneighborhoodfromSuttertoSacramentoStreets，goingintoallthealleysandbystreets，herheadintheair，lookingforthe“Rooms-to-let“sign。
　　Butshewasindespair。Allthecheapertenementswereoccupied。Shecouldfindnoroommorereasonablethantheonesheandthedentistnowoccupied。
　　Astimewenton，McTeague’sidlenessbecamehabitual。Hedranknomorewhiskeythanatfirst，buthisdislikeforTrinaincreasedwitheverydayoftheirpoverty，witheverydayofTrina’spersistentstinginess。Attimes——fortunatelyrarehewasmorethaneverbrutaltoher。Hewouldboxherearsorhitheragreatblowwiththebackofahair-brush，orevenwithhisclosedfist。Hisold-timeaffectionforhis“littlewoman，“unabletostandthetestofprivation，hadlapsedbydegrees，andwhatlittleofitwasleftwaschanged，distorted，andmademonstrousbythealcohol。
　　ThepeopleaboutthehouseandtheclerksattheprovisionstoresoftenremarkedthatTrina’sfingertipswereswollenandthenailspurpleasthoughtheyhadbeenshutinadoor。
　　Indeed，thiswastheexplanationshegave。ThefactofthematterwasthatMcTeague，whenhehadbeendrinking，usedtobitethem，crunchingandgrindingthemwithhisimmenseteeth，alwaysingeniousenoughtorememberwhichwerethesorest。Sometimesheextortedmoneyfromherbythismeans，butasoftenasnothediditforhisownsatisfaction。
　　Andinsomestrange，inexplicablewaythisbrutalitymadeTrinaallthemoreaffectionate；arousedinheramorbid，unwholesomeloveofsubmission，astrange，unnaturalpleasureinyielding，insurrenderingherselftothewillofanirresistible，virilepower。
　　Trina’semotionshadnarrowedwiththenarrowingofherdailylife。Theyreducedthemselvesatlasttobuttwo，herpassionforhermoneyandherpervertedloveforherhusbandwhenhewasbrutal。Shewasastrangewomanduringthesedays。
　　TrinahadcometobeonveryintimatetermswithMariaMacapa，andintheendthedentist’swifeandthemaidofallworkbecamegreatfriends。MariawasconstantlyinandoutofTrina’sroom，and，whenevershecould，TrinathrewashawloverherheadandreturnedMaria’scalls。TrinacouldreachZerkow’sdirtyhousewithoutgoingintothestreet。
　　ThebackyardoftheflathadagatethatopenedintoalittleinclosurewhereZerkowkepthisdecrepithorseandramshacklewagon，andfromthenceTrinacouldenterdirectlyintoMaria’skitchen。TrinamadelongvisitstoMariaduringthemorninginherdressing-gownandcurlpapers，andthetwotalkedatgreatlengthoveracupofteaservedontheedgeofthesinkoracornerofthelaundrytable。Thetalkwasalloftheirhusbandsandofwhattodowhentheycamehomeinaggressivemoods。
　　“Youneveroughttofightum，“advisedMaria。“Itonlymakesumworse。Justhumpyourback，andit’ssoonestover。“
　　Theytoldeachotheroftheirhusbands’brutalities，takingastrangesortofprideinrecountingsomeparticularlysavageblow，eachtryingtomakeoutthatherownhusbandwasthemostcruel。Theycriticallycomparedeachother’sbruises，eachonegladwhenshecouldexhibittheworst。