This will never do. When I catch the scoundrel, I’ll make an example of him; I’ll whip him to death. Ah! here comes my wife. I wonder what she comes now for? I must put on a sober face, for she looks angry.
Ah! my dear, I am glad you’ve come, I’ve been so lonesome without you. Oh! Sarah, I don’t know what I should do if the Lord should take you home to heaven. I don’t think that I should be able to live without you.
_Mrs. G._ Dr. Gaines, you ought to be ashamed to sit there and talk in that way. You know very well that if the Lord should call me home to glory to-night, you’d jump for joy. But you need not think that I am going to leave this world before you. No; with the help of the Lord, I’ll stay here to foil you in your meanness. I’ve been on your track, and a dirty track it is, too. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. See what promises you made me before we were married; and this is the way you keep your word. When I married you, every body said that it was a pity that a woman of my sweet temper should be linked to such a man as you.
_Dr. G._ Come, my dear, don’t make a fool of yourself. Come, let’s go to supper, and a strong cup of tea will help your head.
_Mrs. G._ Tea help my head! tea won’t help my head. You’re a brute of a man; I always knew I was a fool for marrying you. There was Mr. Comstock, he wanted me, and he loved me, and he said I was an angel, so he did; and he loved me, and he was rich; and mother always said that he loved me more than you, for when he used to kiss me, he always squeezed my hand. You never did such a thing in your life.
_Dr. G._ Come, my dear, don’t act so foolish.
_Mrs. G._ Yes; every thing I do is foolish. You’re a brute of a man; I won’t live with you any longer. I’ll leave you—that I will. I’ll go and see a lawyer, and get a divorce from you—so I will.
_Dr. G._ Well, Sarah, if you want a divorce, you had better engage Mr. Barker. He’s the best lawyer in town; and if you want some money to facilitate the business, I’ll draw a check for you.
_Mrs. G._ So you want me to get a divorce, do you? Well, I won’t have a divorce; no, I’ll never leave you, as long as the Lord spares me.
_Melinda._ This is indeed a dark night to be out and alone on this road. But I must find my husband, I must. Poor Glen! if he only knew that I was here, and could get to me, he would. What a curse slavery is! It separates husbands from their wives, and tears mothers from their helpless offspring, and blights all our hopes for this world. I must try to reach Muddy Creek before daylight, and seek out my husband. What’s that I hear?—footsteps? I’ll get behind this tree.