'I cannot think, Louis, how you can want such a promise from me.'

'I think it right to ask it; I do indeed.'

'Can you imagine that I shall ever willingly see this gentleman again
after what has occurred? It will be for you to tell the servant.
I do not know how I can do that. But, as a matter of course, I will
encourage no person to come to your house of whom you disapprove.
It would be exactly the same of any man or of any woman.' 'That is
all that I ask.'

'I am surprised that you should have thought it necessary to make
any formal request in the matter. Your word was quite sufficient.
That you should find cause of complaint in Colonel Osborne's coming
here is of course a different thing.'

Quite a different thing,' said he.

I cannot pretend to understand either your motives or your fears.
I do not understand them. My own self-respect prevents me from
supposing it to be possible that you have attributed an evil thought
to me.'

Indeed, indeed, I never have,' said the husband.

'That I can assure you I regard as a matter of course,' said the
wife.

'But you know, Emily, the way in which the world talks.'