"'I want for us to let bygones be bygones,' says he.

"'That's quite my own idea,' says she, 'and if you don't allude to the
past, I shan't.'

"'You're an angel, Susan,' says he.

"'I've told you once,' answers she, 'that my name's Mrs. Wrench. I'm
Susan to my friends, not to every broken-down tramp looking for a job.'

"'Ain't I your husband?' says he, trying a bit of dignity.

"She got up and took a glance through the glass-door to see that nobody
was there to overhear her.

"'For the first and last time,' says she, 'let you and me understand one
another. I've been eleven years without a husband, and I've got used to
it. I don't feel now as I want one of any kind, and if I did it wouldn't
be your sort. Eleven years ago I wasn't good enough for you, and now
you're not good enough for me.'

"'I want to reform,' says he.

"'I want to see you do it,' says she.

"'Give me a chance,' says he.

"'I'm going to,' says she; 'but it's going to be my experiment this time,
not yours. Eleven years ago I didn't give you satisfaction, so you
turned me out of doors.'