Page:Blanchard on L. E. L.pdf/207

Rh survive you? Never believe it, nor take any thought about my fate, for I'm sure I should not live a day after you.' And yet this is she who had written but a few days before, that her existence was insupportable on account of my 'cruelty and indifference!'"

Secondly, in relation to letters, complaining of hardships and of her husband, in terms which he himself knew of, saw and sanctioned.

"I believe I saw all her letters to Mrs.and others. At least, when I was able to read or listen, she used to bring them to me for the purpose; and I recollect her saying to me (laughingly) 'I promised to tell Mrs.—— all my grievances, and depend upon it I'll keep my word.' I answered in the same tone, 'Do so, by all means, for then I shall be sure to hear of them.' . . . . The letters which I recollect having seen, contained such expressions as these. 'His habits are the most out-of-the-way you can imagine.' 'He is the most unliveable-with person I ever saw.' 'I am terribly at a loss in household matters, and he is so particular.' 'We have splendid plate, and beautiful crystal, but not a thing to clean either with.' 'He is always worrying me to attend to household matters, and not to mind writing nonsense-verses, as he calls them;' with fifty more expressions of the same kind. In fact, I myself made up and sealed the very letters containing these complaints and details of hardships. But little did I, or the writer dream that they were destined to be understood literally—and even in an infinitely worse sense than the words themselves warrant—little did either dream that they were to be made a handle for taxing me with the blackest ingratitude, and cruelty, and indifference, towards her, for whom, God knows, I would gladly have sacrificed my life. ..