He uttered a suppressed exclamation of consternation and dismay, and muttering, 'I shall catch it now!' set down his candle on the nearest chair, and rearing his back against the wall, stood confronting me with folded arms.
'Well, what then ?' said he, with the calm insolence of mingled shamelessness and desperation.
'Only this,' returned I; 'will you let me take our child and what remains of my fortune, and go ?' 'Go where ?' 'Anywhere, where he will be safe from your contaminating influence, and I shall be delivered from your presence, and you from mine.' 'No.' 'Will you let me have the child then, without the money ?' 'No, nor yourself without the child.

Do you think I'm going to be made the talk of the country for your fastidious caprices ?' 'Then I must stay here, to be hated and despised.

But henceforth we are husband and wife only in the name.' 'Very good.' 'I am your child's mother, and your housekeeper, nothing more.

So you need not trouble yourself any longer to feign the love you cannot feel: I will exact no more heartless caresses from you, nor offer nor endure them either.

I will not be mocked with the empty husk of conjugal endearments, when you have given the substance to another!' 'Very good, if you please.