I'm standing between you and a complete bust-up.
I'm doing it for Miriam's sake, not yours; and I want you to bear this in mind: that if ever I hear of your treating her badly--oh, you needn't look so virtuously indignant; I know your sort; you'd treat her badly enough presently, if you hadn't a check on you.

And I'm going to be that check.

Let me hear even a whisper of your acting on the cross with her, and I'll come back, if it's from the other end of the world, to denounce you.

I've proofs enough.

Oh, I'm not such a fool as you think; and, if you don't treat Miriam fairly, I'll show you up, and probably give you, into the bargain, the thrashing that's owing to you." "You needn't talk about Miriam like that," said her husband, sullenly, and with an affectation of righteous resentment.