show her face before him? This address speedily frightened the poor
thing out of her fainting fit--there is nothing so good for female
hysterics as a little conjugal sternness, nay, brutality, as many
husbands can aver who are in the habit of employing the remedy.

"My extravagance, Howard?" said she, in a faint way; and quite put
off her purpose of swooning by the sudden attack made upon her--
"Surely, my love, you have nothing to complain of--"

"To complain of, ma'am?" roared the excellent Walker. "Is two
hundred guineas to a music-master nothing to complain of? Did you
bring me such a fortune as to authorise your taking guinea lessons?
Haven't I raised you out of your sphere of life and introduced you
to the best of the land? Haven't I dressed you like a duchess?
Haven't I been for you such a husband as very few women in the world
ever had, madam?--answer me that."

"Indeed, Howard, you were always very kind," sobbed the lady.

"Haven't I toiled and slaved for you--been out all day working for
you? Haven't I allowed your vulgar old mother to come to your
house--to my house, I say? Haven't I done all this?"

She could not deny it, and Walker, who was in a rage (and when a man
is in a rage, for what on earth is a wife made but that he should
vent his rage on her?), continued for some time in this strain, and
so abused, frightened, and overcame poor Morgiana that she left her
husband fully convinced that she was the most guilty of beings, and
bemoaning his double bad fortune, that her Howard was ruined and she
the cause of his misfortunes.