thinking,
he was not disposed to allow the lady to recede from her troth to
him, simply because in her anger she expressed a wish to do so.
Therefore he had wisely been silent, and had shaken his head in
reproach. But unfortunately the terms of their compact had not been
finally settled with reference to another heading. Mrs. Prime had
promised to be his wife, but she had burdened her promise with
certain pecuniary conditions which were distasteful to him,--which
were much opposed to that absolute headship and perfect mastery,
which, as he thought, should belong to the husband as husband. His
views on this subject were very strong, and he was by no means
inclined to abate one jot of his demand. Better remain single in
his work than accept the name of husband without its privileges!
But he had hoped that by mingled firmness and gentle words he might
bring his Dorothea round to a more womanly way of thinking. He had
flattered himself that there was a power of eloquence in him which
would have prevailed over her. Once or twice he thought that he was
on the brink of success. He knew well that there were many points in
his favour. A woman who has spoken of herself, and been spoken of,
as being on the point of marriage, does not like to recede; and his
Dorothea, though not specially womanly among women, was still a
woman. Moreover he had the law on his side,--the old law as coming
from the Scriptures. He could say that such a pecuniary arrangement
as that proposed by his Dorothea was sinful. He had said so,--as he
had then thought not without effect; but now she retaliated upon him
with accusation of another sin! It was manifestly in her power to
break away from him on that money detail. It seemed now to be her
wish to break away from him; but she preferred doing so on that other
matter. He began to fear that he must lose his wife, seeing that he
was resolved never to yield on the money question; but he did not
choose to be entrapped into an instant resignation of his engagement
by Dorothea's indignation on a point of abstruse Scripturo-political
morality. His Dorothea had assumed her indignation as a cloak for her
pecuniary obstinacy. It might be that he must yield; but he would not
surrender thus at the sound of a false summons. So he closed his eyes
very pertinaciously and shook his head.

"I think upon the whole," said she again, "that we had better make up
our minds to part." Then she stood up, feeling that she should t