Ah! my dear, I am glad you’ve come, I’ve been so lonesome without you. Oh! Sarah, I don’t know what I should do if the Lord should take you home to heaven. I don’t think that I should be able to live without you.
Mrs. G. Dr. Gaines, you ought to be ashamed to sit there and talk in that way. You know very well that if the Lord should call me home to glory to-night, you’d jump for joy. But you need not think that I am going to leave this world before you. No; with the help of the Lord, I’ll stay here to foil you in your meanness. I’ve been on your track, and a dirty track it is, too. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. See what promises you made me before we were married; and this is the way you keep your word. When I married you, every body said that it was a pity that a woman of my sweet temper should be linked to such a man as you.
[She weeps and wrings her hands.
Dr. G. Come, my dear, don’t make a fool of yourself. Come, let’s go to supper, and a strong cup of tea will help your head.
Mrs. G. Tea help my head! tea won’t help my head. You’re a brute of a man; I always knew I was a fool for marrying you. There was Mr. Comstock, he wanted me, and he loved me, and he said I was an angel, so he did; and he loved me, and he was rich; and mother always said that he loved me more than you, for when he used to kiss me, he always squeezed my hand. You never did such a thing in your life.
[She weeps and wrings her hands.
Dr. G. Come, my dear, don’t act so foolish.
Mrs. G. Yes; every thing I do is foolish. You’re a brute of a man; I won’t live with you any longer. I’ll leave you—that I will. I’ll go and see a lawyer, and get a divorce from you—so I will.
Dr. G. Well, Sarah, if you want a divorce, you had better engage Mr. Barker. He’s the best lawyer in town; and if you want some money to facilitate the business, I’ll draw a check for you.
Mrs. G. So you want me to get a divorce, do you? Well, I won’t have a divorce; no, I’ll never leave you, as long as the Lord spares me.