call selfishness after death. Mean to a degree! It's like taking
his wife into the grave with him. Eh?

"YOU NEVER WANT TO DO THAT?

"No, I'm sure of that, love: you're not the man to tie a woman up in
that mean manner. A man who'd do that would have his widow burnt
with him, if he could--just as those monsters, that call themselves
men, do in the Indies.

"However, it's no matter to me how you've made your will; but it may
be to your second wife. What?

"I SHALL NEVER GIVE YOU A CHANCE?

"Ha! you don't know my constitution after all, Caudle. I'm not at
all the woman I was. I say nothing about 'em, but very often you
don't know my feelings. And as we're on the subject, dearest, I have
only one favour to ask. When you marry again--now it's no use your
saying that. After the comforts you've known of marriage--what are
you sighing at, dear?--after the comforts, you must marry again--now
don't forswear yourself in that violent way, taking an oath that you
know you must break--you couldn't help it, I'm sure of it; and I know
you better than you know yourself. Well, all I ask is, love, because
it's only for your sake, and it would make no difference to me then--
how should it?--but all I ask is, don't marry Miss Pret--There!
there! I've done: I won't say another word about it; but all I ask
is, don't. After the way you've been thought of, and after the
comforts you've been used to, Caudle, she wouldn't be the wife for
you. Of course I could then have no interest in the matter--you