might marry the Queen of England, for what it would be to me then--
I'm only anxious about you. Mind, Caudle, I'm not saying anything
against her; not at all; but there's a flightiness in her manner--I
dare say, poor thing, she means no harm, and it may be, as the saying
is, only her manner after all--still, there is a flightiness about
her that, after what you've been used to, would make you very
wretched. Now, if I may boast of anything, Caudle, it is my
propriety of manner the whole of my life. I know that wives who're
very particular aren't thought as well of as those who're not--still,
it's next to nothing to be virtuous, if people don't seem so. And
virtue, Caudle--no, I'm not going to preach about virtue, for I never
do. No; and I don't go about with my virtue, like a child with a
drum, making all sorts of noises with it. But I know your
principles. I shall never forget what I once heard you say to
Prettyman: and it's no excuse that you'd taken so much wine you
didn't know what you were saying at the time; for wine brings out
man's wickedness, just as fire brings out spots of grease.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?

"Why, you said this: --'Virtue's a beautiful thing in women, when
they don't make so much noise about it: but there's some women who
think virtue was given 'em, as claws were given to cats'--yes, cats
was the word--'to do nothing but scratch with.' That's what you
said.

"YOU DON'T RECOLLECT A SYLLABLE OF IT?

"No, that's it; when you're in that dreadful state, you recollect
nothing: but it's a good thing I do.