“No, have they?” said Jenny.
“There should be a law to put down nagging wives the same as biting dogs,” said Mrs. Quiggin.
“Yes, shouldn’t there?” said Jenny.
“Once on a time men took their wives like their horses on trial for a year and a day, and really with some women there would be something to say for the old custom.”
“Yes, wouldn’t there?” said Jenny.
“The woman who is nothing of herself apart from her husband, and has no claim to his consideration, except on the score of his love, and yet uses him only to abuse him, and takes his very ‘money, having none of her own, and still——”
“Did I say she took his money, Nelly?” said Jenny. “Well of course—not to be unfair—some men are such generous fools, you know—he may have given it to her.”
“No matter; taken or given, she has got it, I suppose, and is living on it now.”
“Oh, yes, certainly, that’s very sure,” said Jenny; “but then she’s his wife, you see, and naturally her maintenance——”
“Maintenance!” cried Mrs. Quig-gin. “How many children has she got?”