But words spoken cannot be recalled, and many a man and many a woman who has spoken a word at once regretted, are far too proud to express that regret.

So it was with Louis Trevelyan when he told his wife that he did not wish Colonel Osborne to come so often to his house.
He had said it with a flashing eye and an angry tone; and though she had seen the eye flash before, and was familiar with the angry tone, she had never before felt herself to be insulted by her husband.

As soon as the word had been spoken Trevelyan had left the room, and had gone down among his books.

But when he was alone, he knew that he had insulted his wife.

He was quite aware that he should have spoken to her gently, and have explained to her, with his arm round her waist, that it would be better for both of them that this friend's friendship should be limited.