I hoped to have found you at the tea-table; but I see that is not at all thought of--it is just as desolate and deserted there as if the plague were in the house.

Don't give yourself any trouble, I shall drink my tea at the club!" and thus saying he banged the door and went away.
Elise seated herself--she really could not stand--and hid her face in her trembling hands.

"Good heavens! is it come to this?
Ernst, Ernst! What words! what looks! And I, wretched being, what have I said ?" Such were Elise's broken and only half-defined thoughts, whilst tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Words, words, words!" says Hamlet, disparagingly.

But God preserve us from the destructive power of words! There are words which can separate hearts sooner than sharp swords--there are words whose sting can remain in the heart through a whole life! Elise wept long and violently; her whole soul was in excitement.
In moments of violent struggle, bad and good spirits are at hand; they surrounded Elise and spoke to her thus: Bad Spirits.--"Think on that which thou hast given up! think on thy own merits! Recollect the many little acts of injustice which thou hast had to bear, the bitter moments which the severity of thy husband has occasioned thee! Why shouldst thou humbly crawl in the dust?
Raise thyself, depressed one! raise thyself, offended wife! think of thy own worth, of thy own rights! Do not allow thyself to be subjected; show some character.

Requite that which thou hast endured.