Weaker than a Woman — page 206: what you’re looking at

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WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. gee: your house,” he told him, “and then presume to insult them by behaving in the most brutal fashion to your wife. Do not repeat the experiment, Sir Owen. I have broken bread with you for the last time.” And no further word would the sturdy old sportsman ex- change with him. CHAPTER XXXVI, “Tl DESERVE IT ALL.” Sir Owen was alarmed—he found that, although he was a baronet, he could not do as he liked with impunity. Society had certain laws that must be kept—and one was that a man must, if he wished to be considered a gentle- man, treat his wife with respect. Sir Owen found that he must alter, for people were beginning to give up his ac- quaintance; some of the best families in the county, who had formerly welcomed him with open arms, now did not even invite him to their formal parties. He was losing caste as fast as he could lose it, and he said to himself that something must be done; he must alter, or every house in the county would be closed against him. Withal there was something good in him—he was not without some redeeming qualities. On the day after the discreditable scene in his own house he rode over to Captain Hill’s,tand asked to see that gentleman. The captain looked. very black when he saw who his visitor was, but Sir Owen held out his hand. “T disgraced myself yesterday, captain,” he said, “and I am come to beg your pardon—to say how sorry I am. I deserved every word that you said to me, and now I make you the most ample apology. Will you shake hands?” It was impossible to refuse,*but Captain Hill assented with an ill grace. “ Have you apologized to your wife?” he asked. ‘“ That is the chief thing.” “Yes; I have made it all right with her. Upon my word, lam quite ashamed of myself. It shall not happen again. : For some days he did not give way to any excess, and in a shametfaced kind of way he tried to make up to his wife for his recent outburst of violence—he always did when he had offended her almost beyond forgiveness. He lavished ~ new dresses, new jewels, new ornaments of all kinds upon her, for in his heart he loved her better than anything else on earth, though he insulted and ill treated her, €o cComicbooks