His wife, who had sat impenetrably fanning herself up to this time, began to be alarmed, and attempted, quite uselessly, to quiet him.

I had, throughout this distressing interview, felt more than one inward call to interfere with a few earnest words, and had controlled myself under a dread of the possible results, very unworthy of a Christian Englishwoman who looks, not to what is meanly prudent, but to what is morally right.

At the point at which matters had now arrived, I rose superior to all considerations of mere expediency.

If I had contemplated interposing any remonstrance of my own humble devising, I might possibly have still hesitated.

But the distressing domestic emergency which now confronted me, was most marvellously and beautifully provided for in the Correspondence of Miss Jane Ann Stamper--Letter one thousand and one, on "Peace in Families." I rose in my modest corner, and I opened my precious book.
"Dear Mr.Ablewhite," I said, "one word!" When I first attracted the attention of the company by rising, I could see that he was on the point of saying something rude to me.