_Mrs. F._ It was my topic To-day; and every day, and all day long, I still am chiding with her. "Child," I said, And said it pretty roundly--it may be I was too peremptory--we elder school-fellows, Presuming on the advantage of a year Or two, which, in that tender time, seem'd much, In after years, much like to elder sisters, Are prone to keep the authoritative style, When time has made the difference most ridiculous-- _Selby_. The observation's shrewd. _Mrs. F._ "Child," I was saying, "If some wives had obtain'd a lot like yours," And then perhaps I sigh'd, "they would not sit In corners moping, like to sullen moppets, That want their will, but dry their eyes, and look Their cheerful husbands in the face," perhaps I said, their Selbys, "with proportion'd looks Of honest joy." _Selby_. You do suspect no jealousy? _Mrs. F._ What is his import? Whereto tends his Speech? [_Aside_. Of whom, or what, should she be jealous, sir? _Selby_. I do not know, but women have their fancies; And underneath a cold indifference, Or show of some distaste, husbands have mask'd A growing fondness for a female friend, Which the wife's eye was sharp enough to see, Before the friend had wit to find it out. You do not quit us soon? _Mrs. F._ 'Tis as I find; Your Katherine profits by my lessons, sir.-- Means this man honest? Is there no deceit? [_Aside._ _Selby_. She cannot choose.--Well, well, I have been thinking, And if the matter were to do again-- _Mrs. F._ What matter, sir? _Selby._ This idle bond of wedlock; These sour-sweet briars, fetters of harsh silk; I might have made, I do not say a better, But a more fit choice in a wife. _Mrs. F._ The parch'd ground, In hottest Julys, drinks not in the showers More greedily than I his words! [_Aside_. _Selby_. My humor Is to be frank and jovial; and that man Affects me best, who most reflects me in My most free temper. _Mrs. F._ Were you free to choose, As jestingly I'll put the supposition, Without a thought reflecting on your Katherine, What sort of Woman would you make your choice? _Selby_. I like your humor and will meet your jest. She should be one about my Katherine's age; But not so old, by some ten years, in gravity, One that would meet my mirth, sometimes outrun it: No muling, pining moppet, as you said, Nor moping maid that I must still be teaching The freedoms of a wife all her life after: But one that, having worn the chain before, (And worn it lightly, as report gave out,) Enfranchised from it by her poor fool's death, Took it not so to heart that I need dread To die myself, for fear a second time To wet a widow's eye.