"Why not?"
"I never did. I never could. If my anger were at the hottest I would not confess to a human being that you were not perfect,—except to yourself."
"Oh, thank you! If you were to scold me vicariously I should feel it less."
"Do not joke with me now, for I am so much in earnest! And if I could not consent that your conduct should be called in question even by a friend, do you suppose it possible that I could contrive an escape from public censure by laying the blame publicly on you?"
"Stick to the truth;—that's what you always say."
"I certainly shall stick to the truth. A man and his wife are one. For what she does he is responsible."
"They couldn't hang you, you know, because I committed a murder."
"I should be willing that they should do so. No;—if I pay this money I shall take the consequences. I shall not do it in any way under the rose. But I wish you would remember—"
"Remember what? I know I shall never forget all this trouble about that dirty little town, which I never will enter again as long as I live."
"I wish you would think that in all that you do you are dealing with my feelings, with my heartstrings, with my reputation. You cannot divide yourself from me; nor, for the value of it all, would I wish that such division were possible. You say that I am thin-skinned."