"
"As how, madam?" asked her husband.
"Are you aware of one fact, Lindsay?"
"I am aware of one melancholy fact," he replied, sarcastically.
"And, pray, what is it?" she inquired.
"Faith," he replied, "that I am your husband."
"O, yes--just so--that is the way I am treated, children; you see it
and you hear it. But, now, listen to me; you know, Lindsay, that the
property I brought you, as your unfortunate wife, was property in my own
right; you know, too, that by our marriage settlement that property was
settled on me, with the right of devising it to any of my children whom
I may select for that purpose. Now, I tell you, that if you press this
marriage between Charles and Alice Goodwin, I shall take this property
into my own hands, shall make my will in favor of Harry, and you and
your children may seek a shelter where you can find one."
"Me and my children! Why, I believe you think you have no children but
Harry here. Well, you may do as you like with your property; I am not so
poor but I and my children can live upon my own. This house and place,
I grant you, are yours, and, as for myself, I am willing to leave it
to-day; a life of exclusion and solitude will be better than that which
I lead with you.
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