"The grand lady's part, maybe?
The deuce, you believe you've got talent then! Why, such a part would utterly do for you, my girl! You're meant for comic business--there's no denying it!" She was dreadfully wounded.

All that evening he kept chaffing her, calling her Mlle Mars.

But the harder he hit the more bravely she suffered, for she derived a certain bitter satisfaction from this heroic devotion of hers, which rendered her very great and very loving in her own eyes.

Ever since she had gone with other men in order to supply his wants her love for him had increased, and the fatigues and disgusts encountered outside only added to the flame.

He was fast becoming a sort of pet vice for which she paid, a necessity of existence it was impossible to do without, seeing that blows only stimulated her desires.
He, on his part, seeing what a good tame thing she had become, ended by abusing his privileges.