Page:Mrs Caudle's curtain lectures.djvu/42

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LECTURE II.

MR. CAUDLE HAS BEEN AT A TAVERN WITH A FRIEND, AND IS "ENOUGH TO POISON A WOMAN" WITH TOBACCO-SMOKE.
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OOR me! Ha! I'm sure I don't know who'd be a poor woman! I don't know who'd tie themselves up to a man, if they knew only half they'd have to bear. A wife must stay at home, and be a drudge, whilst a man can go anywhere. It's enough for a wife to sit like Cinderella by the ashes, whilst her husband can go drinking and singing at a tavern. You never sing? How do I know you never sing? It's very well for you to say so; but if I could hear you, I daresay you're among the worst of 'em.

"And now, I suppose, it will be the tavern every night? If you think I'm going to sit up for you, Mr. Caudle, you're very much mistaken. No: and I'm not going to get out of my warm bed to let you in, either. No: nor Susan