Added to all these reasons, one not less strong occurred to Mr.Morton himself--the uncommon and merciless rigidity of his wife would render all the other women in the town very glad of any topic that would humble her own sense of immaculate propriety.

Moreover, he saw that if Catherine did remain, it would be a perpetual source of irritation in his own home; he was a man who liked an easy life, and avoided, as far as possible, all food for domestic worry.

And thus, when at length the wedded pair turned back to back, and composed themselves to sleep, the conditions of peace were settled, and the weaker party, as usual in diplomacy, sacrificed to the interests of the united powers.

After breakfast the next morning, Mrs.Morton sallied out on her husband's arm.

Mr.Morton was rather a handsome man, with an air and look grave, composed, severe, that had tended much to raise his character in the town.
Mrs.Morton was short, wiry, and bony.