arried! I should like to know
where were your buttons then?

4. Yes, it is worth talking of! But that's how you always try to put me
down. You fly into a rage, and then if I only try to speak, you won't hear
me. That's how you men always will have all the talk to yourselves: a poor
woman is n't allowed to get a word in. A nice notion you have of a wife,
to suppose she's nothing to think of but her husband's buttons. A pretty
notion, indeed, you have of marriage. Ha! if poor women only knew what
they had to go through!--what with buttons, and one thing and
another,--they'd never tie themselves up,--no, not to the best man in the
world, I'm sure. What would they do, Mr. Caudle?--Why, do much better
without you, I'm certain.

5. And it's my belief, after all, that the button was n't off the shirt;
it's my belief that you pulled it off that you might have something to
talk about. Oh, you're aggravating enough, when you like, for anything!
All I know is, it's very odd that the button should be off the shirt; for
I'm sure no woman's a greater slave to her husband's buttons than I am. I
only say it's very odd.

6. However, there's one comfort; it can't last long. I'm worn to death
with your temper, and sha'n't trouble you a great while. Ha! you may
laugh! And I dare say you would laugh! I've no doubt of it! That's your
love; that's your feeling! I know that I'm sinking every day, though I say
nothing about it. And when I'm gone we shall see how your second wife will
look after your buttons! You'll find out the difference then. Yes, Caudle,
you'll think of me then; for then, I hope, you'll never have a blessed
button to your back.

7. No, I'm not a vindictive woman, Mr. Caudle: nobody ever called me that
but you. What do you say? Nobody ever knew so much of me? That's nothing
at all to do with it. Ha! I would n't have your aggravating temper,
Caudle, for mines of gold. It's a good thing I'm not as worrying as you
are, or a nice house there'd be between us. I only wish you'd had a wife
that would have talked to you! Then you'd have known the difference. But
you impose upon me because, like a poor fool, I say nothing. I should be
ashamed of myself, Caudle.

8. And a pretty example you set as a father! You'll make your boys as bad
as yourself. Talking as you did all breakfast time about your buttons! and
of a Sunday morning, too! And you call yourself a Christian! I should like
to know what your boys will say of you when they