But he would not allow a word coming from her in such a way to disturb arrangements made for the happiness of their joint lives.

As a loving husband would treat a wife, who, in some exceptionable moment of a melancholy malady, should declare herself unable to remain longer in her home, so would he treat her.

As for accepting what she might say as his dismissal, he would as soon think of taking the fruit-trees from the southern wall because the sun sometimes shines from the north.

He could not treat either his interests or hers so lightly as that.
"But what if he granted no such pardon, Alice?
I will grant none such.

You are my wife, my own, my dearest, my chosen one.