LECTURE XII - MR. CAUDLE HAVING COME HOME A LITTLE LATE, DECLARES THAT HENCEFORTH “HE WILL HAVE A KEY.”
“’Pon my word, Mr. Caudle, I think it a waste of time to come to bed at all now! The cocks will be crowing in a minute. Keeping people up till past twelve. Oh yes! you’re thought a man of very fine feelings out of doors, I dare say! It’s a pity you haven’t a little feeling for those belonging to you at home. A nice hour to keep people out of their beds!
“Why did I sit up, then?
“Because I chose to sit up - but that’s my thanks. No, it’s no use your talking, Caudle; I never will let the girl sit up for you, and there’s an end. What do you say?
“Why does she sit up with me, then?
“That’s quite a different matter: you don’t suppose I’m going to sit up alone, do you? What do you say?
“What’s the use of two sitting up?
“That’s my business. No, Caudle, it’s no such thing. I don’t sit up because I may have the pleasure of talking about it; and you’re an ungrateful, unfeeling creature to say so. I sit up because I choose it; and if you don’t come home all the night long - and ’twill soon come to that, I’ve no doubt - still, I’ll never go to bed, so don’t think it.
“Oh, yes! the time runs away very pleasantly with you men at your clubs - selfish creatures! You can laugh and sing, and tell stories, and never think of the clock; never think there’s such a person as a wife belonging to you. It’s nothing to you that a poor woman’s sitting up, and telling the minutes, and seeing all sorts of things in the fire - and sometimes thinking something dreadful has happened to you - more fool she to care a straw about you! - This is all nothing. Oh no; when a woman’s once married she’s a slave - worse than a slave - and must bear it all!
“And what you men can find to talk about I can’t think! Instead of a man sitting every night at home with his wife, and going to bed at a Christian hour, - going to a club, to meet a set of people who don’t care a button for him - it’s monstrous! What do you say?