They were more brutal, without refinement, without ornament; but they were short, and generally followed by periods of irritation without cause, irritation fed by the most trivial pretexts.

We had spats about the coffee, the table-cloth, the carriage, games of cards,--trifles, in short, which could not be of the least importance to either of us.

As for me, a terrible execration was continually boiling up within me.

I watched her pour the tea, swing her foot, lift her spoon to her mouth, and blow upon hot liquids or sip them, and I detested her as if these had been so many crimes.
"I did not notice that these periods of irritation depended very regularly upon the periods of love.

Each of the latter was followed by one of the former.