found it out! Oh, I don't mind your swearing, Mr. Caudle! It's I,
if I wasn't a woman, who ought to swear. But it's like you men.
Lords of the creation, as you call yourselves! Lords, indeed! And
pretty slaves you make of the poor creatures who're tied to you. But
I'll be separated, Caudle; I will; and then I'll take care and let
all the world know how you've used me. What do you say?

"I MAY SAY MY WORST?

"Ha! don't you tempt any woman in that way--don't, Caudle; for I
wouldn't answer for what I said.

"Miss Prettyman, indeed, and--oh yes! now I see! Now the whole light
breaks in upon me! Now I know why you wished me to ask her with Mr.
and Mrs. Prettyman to tea! And I, like a poor blind fool, was nearly
doing it. But now, as I say, my eyes are open! And you'd have
brought her under my own roof--now it's no use your bouncing about in
that fashion--you'd have brought her into the very house, where--"


"Here," says Caudle, "I could endure it no longer. So I jumped out
of bed, and went and slept somehow with the children."



LECTURE XIX--MRS. CAUDLE THINKS "IT WOULD LOOK WELL TO KEEP THEIR
WEDDING-DAY."