"The children, too, are so fond of her! And she'd be such a help to me with 'em! I'm sure, with dear mother in the house, I shouldn't care a fig for measles, or anything of the sort. As a nurse, she's such a treasure! "And at her time of life, what a needle-woman! And the darning and mending for the children, it really gets quite beyond me now, Caudle. Now with mother at my hand, there wouldn't be a stitch wanted in the house. "And then, when you're out late, Caudle--for I know you must be out late sometimes: I can't expect you, of course, to be always at home- -why then dear mother could sit up for you, and nothing would delight the dear soul half so much. "And so, Caudle, love, I think dear mother had better come, don't you? Eh, Caudle? Now, you're not asleep, darling; don't you think she'd better come? You say NO? "You say NO again? YOU WON'T HAVE HER, you say? "YOU WON'T, THAT'S FLAT? "Caudle--Cau-Cau-dle--Cau--dle--" "Here Mrs. Caudle," says her husband, "suddenly went into tears; and I went to sleep." LECTURE XII--MR. CAUDLE HAVING COME HOME A LITTLE LATE, DECLARES THAT HENCEFORTH "HE WILL HAVE A KEY." "'Pon my word, Mr. Caudle, I think it a waste of time to come to bed at all now! The cocks will be crowing in a minute. Keeping people up till past twelve. Oh yes! you're thought a man of very fine feelings out of doors, I dare say! It's a pity you haven't a little feeling for those belonging to you at home. A nice hour to keep people out of their beds! "WHY DID I SIT UP, THEN? "Because I chose to sit up--but that's my thanks. No, it's no use your talking, Caudle; I never WILL let the girl sit up for you, and there's an end. What do you say? "WHY DOES SHE SIT UP WITH ME, THEN? "That's quite a different matter: you don't suppose I'm going to sit up alone, do you? What do you say? "WHAT'S THE USE OF TWO SITTING UP? "That's my business. No, Caudle, it's no such thing. I DON'T sit up because I may have the pleasure of talking about it; and you're an ungrateful, unfeeling creature to say so. I sit up because I choose it; and if you don't come home all the night long--and 'twill soon come to that, I've no doubt--still, I'll never go to bed, so don't think it. "Oh, yes! the time runs away very pleasantly with you men at your clubs--selfish creatures! You can laugh and sing, and tell stories, and never think of the clock; never think there's such a person as a wife belonging to you. It's nothing to you that a poor woman's sitting up, and telling the minutes, and seeing all sorts of things in the fire--and sometimes thinking something dreadful has happened to you--more fool she to care a straw about you!--This is all nothing. Oh no; when a woman's once married she's a slave--worse than a slave--and must bear it all!