Her husband continued, looking steadily at her—
"A rotten temper," said he, "she gives back answers."
"Never," was Mrs. O'Reilly's wild exclamation.
"She scratches like a cat," said her husband.
"It's a falsehood," cried the lady, almost in tears.
"She is obstinate, sulky, stubborn and cantankerous."
"A tissue," said his wife. "An absolute tissue," she repeated with the firmness which masks hysteria.
Her husband continued inexorably—
"She's a gad-about, a pavement-hopper, and when she has the toothache she curses like a carman. Now, young man, marry her if you like."
These extraordinary accusations were powerless against love and etiquette—the young man stood up: his voice rang—