"Oh!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands with a start, and then standing as motionless as if she had been shot. Theodore glared at her with a pale face, set lips, and flashing eyes. She said, with quivering lip, "I shall die, if you are going to look at me that way long! Oh, dear! I'm so miserable! I'm always getting my own head snapt off to accommodate other people."
"You have not injured yourself by accommodating me!" responded a deep, ferocious voice.
"It wasn't for my own gratification that I went, Theodore."
"For whose gratification was it, madam?"--There was a shade less of ferocity in the tone.
"Why didn't you tell me _why_ you wanted to go, madam?"
"It was a secret between Alice and me; and I rather thought you liked me, and I might impose on you, as I used to do on the girls at school that liked me. I don't mean _impose_,"--(Mr. Grenly fairly banged at the fire,)--"I mean--"
"I thought I could do just as I wished, and you'd make up just as the girls used to do."
"You thought your husband was like a girl, did you--_did_ you?"
"Well, madam, you will soon find out that you are married to a man who is not to be trifled with in this way."
"Oh, gracious Peter! what'll you do with me?"
"I'll send you back to your father's--to your pinafores--to your nursery--and I'll leave the country for two or three years, until a divorce can be obtained for separation. You may obtain the divorce, madam. I shall never want to hold one of your perfidious sex in my arms again. Women are one vast bundle of folly."
"I am a vast bundle of folly," sobbed Nellie, spasmodically, "but all of them are not--they're not--I can prove it."
"I desire no proof from a woman of your--of your--of your calibre."
"I never was so sorry for anything in my life, Theodore. If you'll forgive me this time, I'll try and make you such a good wife. I won't disregard your advice, nor anything--nor--"
Mrs. Grenly wiped her tears on the corner of her shawl, and took occasion to look at her husband as she did so.
Madam went, knowing the victory was won; her tears were dry in a moment.
"Nellie Grenly, look me right in the eyes!"
And she concentrated her glorious laughing eyes upon him, trying very hard not to make a display of rebellious dimples. He began to doubt whether he had made a judicious request.