Now, Mrs.Bell, you answer me yes or no to this.

Has Captain Bertram a wife concealed in this house, or has he not?
In short, is my throat naked for no rhyme or reason!" Mrs.Bell, who could not quite see what Mrs.Butler's throat had to say to a clandestine wife of Captain Bertram's, stared at her friend with her usual round and stolid eyes.
"I think your brain must be wandering, Martha Butler," she said.

"I don't know anything about your throat, except that it is very indelicate to wear it exposed, and as to Captain Bertram having a wife here, do you want to insult me after all these years, Martha ?" "I want to do nothing of the kind, Tilly Bell.

I only want to get at the naked truth." "It was your naked throat a minute ago." "Well, they hang together, my throat and the truth.

Has that young man got a wife in this house, or has he not ?" "He has not, Mrs.Butler, and you forfeit my friendship from this minute." "Oh, I forfeit it, do I?
(Come, Maria, we'll be going.) Very well, Mrs.
Bell, I have forfeited your friendship, very well.