'I do not ask the cause.' 'You know it then, and you can be so calm!' said he, surveying me with profound astonishment, not unmingled with a kind of resentful bitterness, as it appeared to me.
'I have so long been aware of--' I paused in time, and added, 'of my husband's character, that nothing shocks me.' 'But this--how long have you been aware of this ?' demanded he, laying his clenched hand on the table beside him, and looking me keenly and fixedly in the face.
I felt like a criminal.
'Not long,' I answered.
'You knew it!' cried he, with bitter vehemence--'and you did not tell me! You helped to deceive me!' 'My lord, I did not help to deceive you.' 'Then why did you not tell me ?' 'Because I knew it would be painful to you.

I hoped she would return to her duty, and then there would be no need to harrow your feelings with such--' 'O God! how long has this been going on?
How long has it been, Mrs.
Huntingdon ?--Tell me--I must know!' exclaimed, with intense and fearful eagerness.
'Two years, I believe.' 'Great heaven! and she has duped me all this time!' He turned away with a suppressed groan of agony, and paced the room again in a paroxysm of renewed agitation.

My heart smote me; but I would try to console him, though I knew not how to attempt it.
'She is a wicked woman,' I said.

'She has basely deceived and betrayed you.

She is as little worthy of your regret as she was of your affection.