Mrs. Caudle's Curtain LecturesJerrold, Douglas William
General
Mrs. Caudle's Curtain Lectures
Jerrold, Douglas William
English wit and humor; Marriage -- Humor
"I know that. I only wish other people were half as punctual:
'twould save other people's money and other people's peace of mind.
You know I hate a black-beetle! No: I don't hate so many things.
But I do hate black-beetles, as I hate ill-treatment, Mr. Caudle.
And now I have enough of both, goodness knows!
"Last night they came into the parlour. Of course, in a night or
two, they'll walk up into the bedroom. They'll be here--regiments of
'em--on the quilt. But what do you care? Nothing of the sort ever
touches you: but you know how they come to me; and that's why you're
so quiet. A pleasant thing to have black-beetles in one's bed!
"WHY DON'T I POISON 'EM?
"A pretty matter, indeed, to have poison in the house! Much you must
think of the dear children. A nice place, too, to be called the
Turtle Dovery!
"DIDN'T I CHRISTEN IT MYSELF?
"I know that,--but then, I knew nothing of the black-beetles.
Besides, names of houses are for the world outside; not that anybody
passes to see ours. Didn't Mrs. Digby insist on calling their new
house 'Love-in-Idleness,' though everybody knew that that wretch
Digby was always beating her? Still, when folks read 'Rose Cottage'
on the wall, they seldom think of the lots of thorns that are inside.
In this world, Mr. Caudle, names are sometimes quite as good as
things.
"That cough again! You've got a cold, and you'll always be getting
one--for you'll always be missing the omnibus as you did on Tuesday,-
-and always be getting wet. No constitution can stand it, Caudle.
You don't know what I felt when I heard it rain on Tuesday, and
thought you might be in it. What?
"I'M VERY GOOD?
"Yes, I trust so: I try to be so, Caudle. And so, dear, I've been
thinking that we'd better keep a chaise.
"YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT, AND YOU WON'T?
"Don't tell me: I know you'd save money by it. I've been reckoning
what you lay out in omnibuses; and if you'd a chaise of your own--
besides the gentility of the thing--you'd be money in pocket. And
then, again, how often I could go with you to town,--and how, again,
I could call for you when you liked to be a little late at the club,
dear! Now you're obliged to be hurried away, I know it, when, if
you'd only a carriage of your own, you could stay and enjoy yourself.
And after your work you want enjoyment. Of course, I can't expect
you always to run home directly to me: and I don't, Caudle; and you
know it.
"A nice, neat, elegant little chaise. What?
"YOU'LL THINK OF IT?
"There's a love! You are a good creature, Caudle; and 'twill make me
so happy to think you don't depend upon an omnibus. A sweet little
carriage, with our own arms beautifully painted on the panels. What?
"ARMS ARE RUBBISH; AND YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ANY?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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