Husband and Wife

           Mr.Bounderby’sfirstdisquietudeonhearingofhishappiness,wasoccasionedbythenecessityofimpartingittoMrs.Sparsit.Hecouldnotmakeuphismindhowtodothat,orwhattheconsequencesofthestepmightbe.Whethershewouldinstantlydepart,bagandbaggage,toLadyScadgers,orwouldpositivelyrefusetobudgefromthepremises;whethershewouldbeplaintiveorabusive,tearfulortearing;whethershewouldbreakherheart,orbreakthelooking-glass;Mr.Bounderbycouldnotallforesee.However,asitmustbedone,hehadnochoicebuttodoit;so,afterattemptingseveralletters,andfailinginthemall,heresolvedtodoitbywordofmouth.

           Onhiswayhome,ontheeveninghesetasideforthismomentouspurpose,hetooktheprecautionofsteppingintoachemist’sshopandbuyingabottleoftheverystrongestsmelling-salts.‘ByGeorge!’saidMr.Bounderby,‘ifshetakesitinthefaintingway,I’llhavetheskinoffhernose,atallevents!’But,inspiteofbeingthusforearmed,heenteredhisownhousewithanythingbutacourageousair;andappearedbeforetheobjectofhismisgivings,likeadogwhowasconsciousofcomingdirectfromthepantry.

           ‘Goodevening,Mr.Bounderby!’

           ‘Goodevening,ma’am,goodevening.’Hedrewuphischair,andMrs.Sparsitdrewbackhers,aswhoshouldsay,‘Yourfireside,sir.Ifreelyadmitit.Itisforyoutooccupyitall,ifyouthinkproper.’

           ‘Don’tgototheNorthPole,ma’am!’saidMr.Bounderby.

           ‘Thankyou,sir,’saidMrs.