"I only want to make 'em respectable and--what do you say?

"YOU'LL GIVE FIFTEEN POUNDS?

"No, Caudle, no--not a penny will I take under twenty; if I did, it
would seem as if I wanted to waste your money: and I'm sure, when I
come to think of it, twenty pounds will hardly do. Still, if you'll
give me twenty--no, it's no use your offering fifteen, and wanting to
go to sleep. You sha'n't close an eye until you promise me twenty.
Come, Caudle, love!--twenty, and then you may go to sleep. Twenty--
twenty--twenty--"


"My impression is," writes Caudle, "that I fell asleep sticking
firmly to the fifteen; but in the morning Mrs. Caudle assured me, as
a woman of honour, that she wouldn't let me wink an eye before I
promised the twenty: and man is frail--and woman is strong--she had
the money."



LECTURE XV--MR. CAUDLE HAS AGAIN STAYED OUT LATE. MRS. CAUDLE, AT
FIRST INJURED AND VIOLENT, MELTS



"Perhaps, Mr. Caudle, you'll tell me where this is to end? Though,
goodness knows, I needn't ask THAT. The end is plain enough. Out--
out--out! Every night--every night! I'm sure, men who can't come
home at reasonable hours have no business with wives: they have no