"O you'll catch me, Mr. Caudle, telling you anything again. Now, I
don't want to have any noise: I don't wish you to put yourself in a
passion. All I say is this; never again do I open my lips to you
about anybody. No: if man and wife can't be one, why there's an end
of everything. Oh, you know well what I mean, Mr. Caudle: you've
broken my confidence in the most shameful, the most heartless way,
and I repeat it--I can never be again to you as I have been. No:
the little charm--it wasn't much--that remained about married life,
is gone for ever. Yes; the bloom's quite wiped off the plum now.

"Don't be such a hypocrite, Caudle; don't ask me what I mean! Mrs.
Badgerly has been here--more like a fiend, I'm sure, than a quiet
woman. I haven't done trembling yet! You know the state of my
nerves, too; you know--yes, sir, I HAD nerves when you married me;
and I haven't just found 'em out. Well, you've something to answer
for, I think. The Badgerlys are going to separate: she takes the
girls, and he the boys, and all through you. How you can lay your
head upon that pillow and think of going to sleep, I can't tell.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

"Well, you have a face to ask the question. Done? You've broken my
confidence, Mr. Caudle: you've taken advantage of my tenderness, my
trust in you as a wife--the more fool I for my pains!--and you've
separated a happy couple for ever. No; I'm not talking in the
clouds; I'm talking in your bed, the more my misfortune.

"Now, Caudle--yes, I shall sit up in the bed if I choose; I'm not
going to sleep till I have this properly explained; for Mrs. Badgerly
sha'n't lay her separation at my door. You won't deny that you were