"I suppose you'll say next I made you invite Miss Prettyman? Oh yes;
don't tell me that her brother brought her without you knowing it.
What?

"DIDN'T I HEAR HIM SAY SO?

"Of course I did; but do you suppose I'm quite a fool? Do you think
I don't know that that was all settled between you? And she must be
a nice person to come unasked to a woman's house? But I know why she
came. Oh yes; she came to look about her.

"Oh, the meaning's plain enough.--She came to see how she should like
the rooms--how she should like my seat at the fireplace; how she--and
if it isn't enough to break a mother's heart to be treated so!--how
she should like my dear children.

"Now, it's no use your bouncing about at--but of course that's it; I
can't mention Miss Prettyman but you fling about as if you were in a
fit. Of course that shows there's something in it. Otherwise, why
should you disturb yourself? Do you think I didn't see her looking
at the ciphers on the spoons as if she already saw mine scratched out
and hers there? No, I sha'n't drive you mad, Mr. Caudle; and if I do
it's your own fault. No other man would treat the wife of his bosom
in--What do you say?

"YOU MIGHT AS WELL HAVE MARRIED A HEDGEHOG?

"Well, now it's come to something! But it's always the case!
Whenever you've seen that Miss Prettyman, I'm sure to be abused. A