Probably the wife had been enjoined to keep silence; for the Blachingtons, Fannings and others were, it could be sworn, blank and unscratched folio sheets on the subject:--as yet; unless Mrs.Burman had dropped venom.
'One pities the little woman, eh, Fenellan ?' 'Dartrey won't be back for a week or so; and they're off to Switzerland, after the dinner they give.

I heard from him this morning; one of the Clanconans is ill.
'Lucky.

But wherever Blathenoy takes her, he must be the same "arid bore," as old Colney says.' 'A domestic simoom,' said Fenellan, booming it: and Victor had a shudder.
'Awful thing, marriage, to some women! We chain them to that domestic round; most of them haven't the means of independence or a chance of winning it; and all that's open to them, if they've made a bad cast for a mate--and good Lord! how are they to know before it's too late!--they haven't a choice except to play tricks or jump to the deuce or sit and "drape in blight," as Colney has it; though his notion of the optional marriages, broken or renewed every seven years!--if he means it.

You never know, with him.

It sounds like another squirt of savage irony.
It's donkey nonsense, eh ?' 'The very hee-haw of nonsense,' Fenellan acquiesced.
'Come, come; read your Scriptures; donkeys have shown wisdom,' Victor said, rather leaning to the theme of a fretfulness of women in the legal yoke.