If you prick him he will bleed, if you tickle him he will laugh, if you poison him he will die." In the true marriage, he is the wife's other self--one lobe of her brain--one ventricle of her heart--the right hand to her left.

This is the marriage the Lord hath made.
The occasional clash of opinions, the passing heat of temper, are but surface-gusts that do not stir the brooding love of hearts at rest in one another.
While John remains loyal to his wedded wife, forsaking all others and cleaving to her alone, the inventory of his faults should be a sealed book to her closest confidante, the carping discussion of his failings be prohibited by pride, affection and right taste.

This leads me to offer one last tribute to our patient (and maybe bored) subject.

He has as a rule, a nicer sense of honor in the matter of comment upon his wife's shortcomings and foibles than she exhibits with regard to his.
Set it down to gallantry, chivalry, pride--custom--what you will--but the truth sheds a lustre upon our John of which I mean he shall have the full advantage.

Perhaps the noblest reticence belongs to the Silent Side of him.