Such, indeed, was the case; but the evils which resulted
from her wanton and indefensible aggressions upon private character
almost uniformly recoiled upon her own head; for, as far as her name
was known, she was not only unpopular, but odious. Her husband was a man
naturally fond of peace and quietness in his own house and family and,
rather than occasion anything in the shape of domestic disturbance,
he continued to treat her intemperate authority sometimes with
indifference, sometimes with some sarcastic observation or other, and
occasionally with open and undisguised contempt. In some instances,
however, he departed from this apathetic line of conduct, and turned
upon her with a degree of asperity and violence that was as impetuous as
it was decisive. His reproaches were then general, broad, fearful; but
these were seldom resorted to unless when her temper had gone beyond
all reasonable limits of endurance, or in defence of the absent or
inoffensive. It mattered not, however, what the reason may have been,
they never failed to gain their object at the time; for the woman,
though mischievous and wicked, ultimately quailed, yet not without
resistance, before the exasperated resentment of her husband.
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