He has commenced an action against her.

He will rue it.

But she...

you understand this of women at least;--they are not cowards in all things!--but the horror of facing a public scandal: my poor girl writes of the hatefulness of having to act the complacent--put on her accustomed self! She would have to go about, a mark for the talkers, and behave as if nothing were in the air-full of darts! Oh, that general whisper!--it makes a coup de massue--a gale to sink the bravest vessel: and a woman must preserve her smoothest front; chat, smile--or else!--Well, she shrinks from it.

I should too.