"No, Caudle, don't say that. I'm not always trying to find fault-- not I. It's you. I never speak but when there's occasion; and what in my time I've put up with there isn't anybody in the world that knows. "WILL I HEAR YOUR STORY? "Oh, you may tell it if you please; go on: only mind, I sha'n't believe a word of it. I'm not such a fool as other women are, I can tell you. "There, now--don't begin to swear--but go on--" - "--And that's your story, is it? That's your excuse for the hours you keep! That's your apology for undermining my health and ruining your family! What do you think your children will say of you when they grow up--going and throwing away your money upon good-for- nothing pot-house acquaintance? "HE'S NOT A POT-HOUSE ACQUAINTANCE? "Who is he, then? Come, you haven't told me that; but I know--it's that Prettyman! Yes, to be sure it is! Upon my life! Well, if I've hardly patience to lie in the bed! I've wanted a silver teapot these five years, and you must go and throw away as much money as--what? "YOU HAVEN'T THROWN IT AWAY? "Haven't you? Then my name's not Margaret, that's all I know! "A man gets arrested, and because he's taken from his wife and family, and locked up, you must go and trouble your head with it! And you must be mixing yourself up with nasty sheriff's officers-- pah! I'm sure you're not fit to enter a decent house--and go running from lawyer to lawyer to get bail, and settle the business, as you call it! A pretty settlement you'll make of it--mark my words! Yes- -and to mend the matter, to finish it quite, you must be one of the bail! That any man who isn't a born fool should do such a thing for another! Do you think anybody would do as much for you? "YES? "You say yes? Well, I only wish--just to show that I'm right--I only wish you were in a condition to try 'em. I should only like to see you arrested. You'd find the difference--that you would. "What's other people's affairs to you? If you were locked up, depend upon it, there's not a soul would come near you. No; it's all very fine now, when people think there isn't a chance of your being in trouble--but I should only like to see what they'd say to you if YOU were in a sponging-house. Yes--I should enjoy THAT, just to show you that I'm always right. What do you say? "YOU THINK BETTER OF THE WORLD? "Ha! that would be all very well if you could afford it; but you're not in means, I know, to think so well of people as all that. And of course they only laugh at you. 'Caudle's an easy fool,' they cry--I know it as well as if I heard 'em--'Caudle's an easy fool; anybody may lead him.' Yes anybody but his own wife;--and she--of course--is nobody.