"But we won't talk of that, love--that's all over: I dare say you
meant nothing. But I'm glad you agree with me, that the man who'd
tie up his widow not to marry again, is a mean man. It makes me
happy that you've the confidence in me to say that.

"YOU NEVER SAID IT?

"That's nothing to do with it--you've just as good as said it. No:
when a man leaves all his property to his wife, without binding her
hands from marrying again, he shows what a dependence he has upon her
love. He proves to all the world what a wife she's been to him; and
how, after his death, he knows she'll grieve for him. And then, of
course, a second marriage never enters her head. But when she only
keeps his money so long as she keeps a widow, why, she's aggravated
to take another husband. I'm sure of it; many a poor woman has been
driven into wedlock again, only because she was spited into it by her
husband's will. It's only natural to suppose it. If I thought,
Caudle, you could do such a thing, though it would break my heart to
do it,--yet, though you were dead and gone, I'd show you I'd a
spirit, and marry again directly. Not but what it's ridiculous my
talking in such a way, as I shall go long before you; still, mark my
words, and don't provoke me with any will of that sort, or I'd do it-
-as I'm a living woman in this bed to-night, I'd do it."


"I did not contradict her," says Caudle, "but suffered her to slumber
in such assurance."