“You didn’t!” interposed his wife, “you married me, because you saw that I was a wonderful medium, and because you were always crying after your beloved Leonora, and hoped, through me, to have daily intercourse with her! Why don’t you tell the truth, whilst you’re about it?” “Well! then, that was the truth, since you will have it,” replied the Professor, “but I wish now that I had died before I ever met you. You refuse to give me séances--you even say that Leonora is tired of coming to see me--you are not commonly grateful for the benefits I have bestowed upon you.” “Where are they?” cried Hannah, insolently. “I should like to see them. Do you call it a _benefit_, for a young, hearty girl to be married to an old dotard, who makes about enough money to keep himself in victuals and drink, and no more? “Do you think it is any pleasure to me to be shut up in this little hole, whilst you’re at work, without money, or amusements, or friends, and when some one is good enough to take pity on me and ask me to a pleasant party, you declare that it shall be the last time, and you will never let me go out again.” “And I repeat it,” said Ricardo, “you are not fit for such gatherings. They only make you insolent and over-bearing at home. I told you when we were married, that you would have to perform the household duties, as I could not afford to keep a servant. You persuaded me to go against my own word, but it is over. I shall dismiss the girl this evening, and for the future you shall do your own work. “No more parties, nor dresses for you, Madame Ricardo! You are not fitted for them. One might as well bring a cow into a drawing-room! I have burned the dress you wore last night, and no money will you ever get out of me to buy another!” “That will be no obstacle!” exclaimed Hannah, triumphantly. “I have money of my own--more than you are ever likely to have to give me.” “Where did you get it?” said Ricardo, curiously. “Who gave it to you?” “That’s my business, and not yours,” cried the woman, “if you are such a beggar, that you cannot afford to give your wife a new dress, she must get it how she can!” “My God!” he cried, “what do you insinuate? What do you mean me to understand?” “What you like! You can prevent my leaving the house, p’r’aps, but you can’t make me open my mouth, if I choose to keep it closed.” “You are a devil! You are not fit to live!” exclaimed the Professor, as he rose from his chair, as if to advance towards her. But Hannah was already round the other side of the table. “You’d like to kill me, wouldn’t you?” she cried; “as you killed Leonora, but you would find that I wouldn’t take it quite as quietly as she did!” At that name, and the announcement that Hannah knew how his first wife had left the world, Ricardo sank down into the chair, from which he had risen, trembling like an aspen leaf.