But how was he to proceed when she refused to obey the plainest and most necessary command which he laid upon her?
Let a man be ever so much his wife's master, he cannot maintain his masterdom by any power which the law places in his hands.

He had asked his wife for a promise of obedience, and she would not give it to him! What was he to do next?
He could, no doubt,--at least he thought so,--keep the man from her presence.

He could order the servant not to admit the man, and the servant would doubtless obey him.

But to what a condition would he then have been brought! Would not the world then be over for him,--over for him as the husband of a wife whom he could not love unless he respected her?
Better that there should be no such world, than call in the aid of a servant to guard the conduct of his wife! As he thought of it all it seemed to him that if she would not obey him, and give him this promise, they must be separated.

He would not live with her, he would not give her the privileges of his wife, if she refused to render to him the obedience which was his privilege.
The more he thought of it, the more convinced he was that he ought not to yield to her.