Page:The Present State of Peru.djvu/281

Rh which he does not attend; and at the same time he dins the house with his cries, if I venture half a real in the lottery. From morning till night he has the cigarre in his mouth, and a pinch of snuff in his fingers; insomuch that his lips and nostrils- are constantly begrimed; and, notwithstanding, he dares to tax me with being guilty of a scandalous indecency, when he sees me with a few jasmines on the head, or a small bunch of mixed flowers in the bosom.

He has given into the mania of wishing to see me dressed according to his ridiculous taste. A bright yellow, a deep flesh colour, and a pea green, are his favourite colours, and he is desirous that I should not depart from them in the choice of my faldellins. He says that it affords him great delight when he sees me with a Turkey-blue petticoat. Permit me to ask you, gentlemen, what a husband can have to do with the colour of his wife's dress? Ought it not to suffice that we are clad modestly, and with economy? The carriage-mules are not paired; the calash creaks like an overloaded cart; and the coachman has a splendid livery, but occasionally goes barefoot. The fore-court is unpaved; the parlour stools are crazy and falling in pieces; and whenever I touch on the reform of these absurdities, he assails me with a thousand impertinences, calling me a prodigal and an ideot; and concludes with this threat: "go to; I will have thee published in the Mercury."

I should never have done, if I were to enter into a detailed explanation of all the simplicities of my husband, without speaking of the suspicions he has given me; for I am told he has purchased several articles of old furniture, nearly sufficient to furnish a small house. I am surprized that you, men,