Now, if she had desired it, she could not close her eyes to the terrible truth.
For many weeks she bore with the regular daily occurrence of what has just been alluded to.

By that time, her feelings became so excited, that she could keep silence no longer.
"I wouldn't drink any more brandy, Edward," said she, one day at the dinner table; "it does you no good." "How do you know that it does not ?" was the prompt reply, made in a tone that expressed very clearly a rebuke for interfering in a matter that as he thought, did not concern her.
"I cannot think that it does you any good, and it may do you harm," the wife said, hesitatingly, while her eyes grew dim with tears.
"Do me harm! What do you mean, Alice ?" "It does harm, sometimes, you know, Edward ?" "That is, it makes drunkards sometimes.

And you are afraid that your husband will become a drunkard! Quite a compliment to him, truly!" "O, no, no, no, Edward! I am sure you will never be one.
But--but--but--" "But what ?" "There is always danger, you know, Edward." "Oh yes, of course! And I am going to be a drunken vagabond, if I keep on drinking a glass of brandy at dinner time!" "Don't talk so, Edward!" said Mrs.Lee, giving way to tears.

"You never spoke to me in this way before." "I know I never did.

Nor did my wife ever insinuate before that she thought me in danger of becoming that debased, despised thing, a drunkard!" "Say no more, Edward, in mercy!" Mrs.Lee responded--"I did not mean to offend you.