"What! Don't tell me to let you have ONE night's rest! I wonder at your impudence! It's mighty fine, I never can go out with you and-- goodness knows!--it's seldom enough without having my feelings torn to pieces by people of all sorts. A set of bold minxes! "WHAT AM I RAVING ABOUT? "Oh, you know very well--very well, indeed, Mr. Caudle. A pretty person she must be to nod to a man walking with his own wife! Don't tell me that it's Miss Prettyman--what's Miss Prettyman to me? Oh! "YOU'VE MET HER ONCE OR TWICE AT HER BROTHER'S HOUSE? "Yes, I dare say you have--no doubt of it. I always thought there was something very tempting about that house--and now I know it all. Now, it's no use, Mr. Caudle, your beginning to talk loud, and twist and toss your arms about as if you were as innocent as a born babe-- I'm not to be deceived by such tricks now. No; there was a time when I was a fool and believed anything; but--I thank my stars!--I've got over that. "A bold minx! You suppose I didn't see her laugh, too, when she nodded to you! Oh yes, I knew what she thought me--a poor miserable creature, of course. I could see that. No--don't say so, Caudle. I DON'T always see more than anybody else--but I can't and won't be blind, however agreeable it might be to you; I must have the use of my senses. I'm sure, if a woman wants attention and respect from a man, she'd better be anything than his wife. I've always thought so; and to-day's decided it. "No; I'm not ashamed of myself to talk so--certainly not. "A GOOD, AMIABLE YOUNG CREATURE INDEED! "Yes; I dare say; very amiable, no doubt. Of course, you think her so. You suppose I didn't see what sort of a bonnet she had on? Oh, a very good creature! And you think I didn't see the smudges of court plaster about her face? "YOU DIDN'T SEE 'EM? "Very likely; but I did. Very amiable, to be sure! What do you say? "I MADE HER BLUSH AT MY ILL MANNERS? "I should have liked to have seen her blush! 'Twould have been rather difficult, Mr. Caudle, for a blush to come through all that paint. No--I'm not a censorious woman, Mr. Caudle; quite the reverse. No; and you may threaten to get up, if you like--I will speak. I know what colour is, and I say it WAS paint. I believe, Mr. Caudle, _I_ once had a complexion--though of course you've quite forgotten that: I think I once had a colour--before your conduct destroyed it. Before I knew you, people used to call me the Lily and Rose; but--what are you laughing at? I see nothing to laugh at. But as I say, anybody before your own wife. "And I can't walk out with you but you're bowed to by every woman you meet! "WHAT DO I MEAN BY EVERY WOMAN, WHEN IT'S ONLY MISS PRETTYMAN?