lf to think that you will
be so cruel."

"Look here, Hermy, if you take to calling names, I won't stand it."

"And I won't stand it, either. What am I to do? Am I to be here in this
dreadful barrack of a house all alone? How would you like it? Would you
bear it for one month, let alone four or five? I won't remain here; I
tell you that fairly."

"Where do you want to go?"

"I don't want to go anywhere, but I'll go away somewhere and die; I
will indeed. I'll destroy myself or something."

"Pshaw!"

"Yes; of course it's a joke to you. What have I done to deserve this?
Have I ever done anything that you told me not? It's all because of
Hughy--my darling--so it is; and it's cruel of you, and not like a
husband; and it's not manly. It's very cruel. I didn't think anybody
would have been so cruel as you are to me." Then she broke down and
burst into tears.

"Have you done, Hermy?" said her husband.

"No; I've not done."

"Then go on again," said he.

But in truth she had done, and could only repeat her last accusation.
"You're very, very cruel."

"You said that before."

"And I'll say it again. I'll tell everybody; so I will. I'll tell your
uncle at the rectory, and he shall speak to you."

"Look here, Hermy, I can bear a deal of nonsense from you because some
women are given to talk nonsense; but if I find you telling tales about
me out of this house, and especially to my uncle, or indeed, to anybody
I'll let you know what it is to be cruel."

"You can't be worse than you are."

"Don't try me; that's all. And as I suppose you have now said all that
you've got to say, if you please we will regard that subject as
finished." The poor woman had said all that she could say, and had no
further means of carrying on the war. In her thoughts she could do so;
in her thoughts she could wander forth out of the gloomy house in the
night, and perish in the damp and cold, leaving a paper behind her to
tell the world that her husband's cruelty had brought her to that pass.
Or she would go to Julia and leave him forever. Julia, she thought,
would still receive her. But as to one thing she had certainly made up
her mind; she would go with her complaint to Mrs. Clavering at the
rectory, let her lord and master show his anger in whatever form he
might please.

The next day Sir Hugh himself made her a proposition which somewhat
softened the aspect of affairs. This he did in his usual voice, with
something of a smile on his