登陆注册
5227900000031

第31章 CHAPTER 9(2)

At first it was to prevent bills being noted, to the injury of his credit; then to bail him; and afterwards to prevent an execution from entering the house. I began at last to conclude, that he would have made more exertions of his own to extricate himself, had he not relied on mine, cruel as was the task he imposed on me; and I firmly determined that I would make use of no more pretexts.

"From the moment I pronounced this determination, indifference on his part was changed into rudeness, or something worse.

"He now seldom dined at home, and continually returned at a late hour, drunk, to bed. I retired to another apartment; I was glad, I own, to escape from his; for personal intimacy without affection, seemed, to me the most degrading, as well as the most painful state in which a woman of any taste, not to speak of the peculiar delicacy of fostered sensibility, could be placed. But my husband's fondness for women was of the grossest kind, and imagination was so wholly out of the question, as to render his indulgences of this sort entirely promiscuous, and of the most brutal nature. My health suffered, before my heart was entirely estranged by the loathsome information; could I then have returned to his sullied arms, but as a victim to the prejudices of mankind, who have made women the property of their husbands? I discovered even, by his conversation, when intoxicated that his favourites were wantons of the lowest class, who could by their vulgar, indecent mirth, which he called nature, rouse his sluggish spirits.

Meretricious ornaments and manners were necessary to attract his attention. He seldom looked twice at a modest woman, and sat silent in their company; and the charms of youth and beauty had not the slightest effect on his senses, unless the possessors were initiated in vice. His intimacy with profligate women, and his habits of thinking, gave him a contempt for female endowments; and he would repeat, when wine had loosed his tongue, most of the common-place sarcasms levelled at them, by men who do not allow them to have minds, because mind would be an impediment to gross enjoyment.

Men who are inferior to their fellow men, are always most anxious to establish their superiority over women. But where are these reflections leading me?

"Women who have lost their husband's affection, are justly reproved for neglecting their persons, and not taking the same pains to keep, as to gain a heart; but who thinks of giving the same advice to men, though women are continually stigmatized for being attached to fops; and from the nature of their education, are more susceptible of disgust? Yet why a woman should be expected to endure a sloven, with more patience than a man, and magnanimously to govern herself, I cannot conceive; unless it be supposed arrogant in her to look for respect as well as a maintenance. It is not easy to be pleased, because, after promising to love, in different circumstances, we are told that it is our duty. I cannot, I am sure (though, when attending the sick, I never felt disgust) forget my own sensations, when rising with health and spirit, and after scenting the sweet morning, I have met my husband at the breakfast table. The active attention I had been giving to domestic regulations, which were generally settled before he rose, or a walk, gave a glow to my countenance, that contrasted with his squallid appearance. The squeamishness of stomach alone, produced by the last night's intemperance, which he took no pains to conceal, destroyed my appetite. I think I now see him lolling in an arm-chair, in a dirty powdering gown, soiled linen, ungartered stockings, and tangled hair, yawning and stretching himself. The newspaper was immediately called for, if not brought in on the tea-board, from which he would scarcely lift his eyes while I poured out the tea, excepting to ask for some brandy to put into it, or to declare that he could not eat. In answer to any question, in his best humour, it was a drawling 'What do you say, child?' But if I demanded money for the house expences, which I put off till the last moment, his customary reply, often prefaced with an oath, was, 'Do you think me, madam, made of money?'--The butcher, the baker, must wait; and, what was worse, I was often obliged to witness his surly dismission of tradesmen, who were in want of their money, and whom I sometimes paid with the presents my uncle gave me for my own use.

At this juncture my father's mistress, by terrifying his conscience, prevailed on him to marry her; he was already become a methodist; and my brother, who now practised for himself, had discovered a flaw in the settlement made on my mother's children, which set it aside, and he allowed my father, whose distress made him submit to any thing, a tithe of his own, or rather our fortune.

同类推荐
  • 云卧纪谭

    云卧纪谭

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说老母经

    佛说老母经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Adventures of Jimmie Dale

    The Adventures of Jimmie Dale

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说梵摩难国王经

    佛说梵摩难国王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 维摩经义疏

    维摩经义疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 大法师

    大法师

    有一个美丽的女孩儿告诉洪蒙,只要他能够在《创世》中混出名堂,那么女孩儿就成为他的女朋友。洪蒙最终被女孩儿的诺言给征服了,于是,毫无顾忌的进入了《创世》,意外的获得了隐藏职业冰霜法师,于是,菜鸟开始蜕变...鸿蒙,公众微信号:hongmeng0316作品最新资讯会在这里告诉大家
  • 凤御天下:谋取帝心

    凤御天下:谋取帝心

    祸国妖女,人人得而诛之。她为报国恨家仇,掀起满城风雨,将帝王玩弄于股掌之中。他贵为西斐太子,以统一天下为抱负,却将她收入囊中,百般宠溺。一曲上邪,她与他北齐茶谷里沉沦。世人皆斥她为祸害,他毅然替她挡去所有诽谤,护在身后。时光缱绻如画,一切如过往云烟,情谊悄然流逝。流年一纸,她披上一袭火红嫁衣,转身投入他人怀里。运筹帷幄,他终是坐拥了天下,却渐渐地遗失了自己的心。究竟是谁为了谁负了年华逆了乾坤,又是谁为了谁蹉跎了岁月抛弃了天下。
  • 海贼之疾风剑豪

    海贼之疾风剑豪

    夏诺这辈子最讨厌的就是匹配时秒选亚索的憨批,甚至当基友说出那句“开黑吗,我玩亚索,你玩石头人”时,直接一拳打飞了这货的医保卡。然而他却从未想过,自己会有继承亚索传承系统的一天,并莫名穿越到了海贼世界。从此,疾风剑豪之名,开始响彻这波澜壮阔的大海贼时代!【书友群:634887847】
  • 帝凰傲凤:废柴神医惊天下

    帝凰傲凤:废柴神医惊天下

    她是前世有名的军医,一朝穿越成了凤家的废柴小姐!婚礼前夕,未婚夫上门退婚,不但如此还要娶她庶妹?更更更过分的是极品继母说她被人退婚难再出嫁,做主把她许给家里挑粪的旺财!!尼玛,还当我是小白菜呢,任你们烹炒油煎?家有奇葩一朵朵,凤锦珞,只奉行三个字,斗斗斗!他是大华朝最尊贵的寒王,不近女色,却唯独对她另眼相看!说她是废柴不配嫁他?哼!我偏要与他披肩,共掌天下!
  • 有关于你的秘密

    有关于你的秘密

    写刈戈的时候,我不知道会把她写成什么样,只是我想大概,每个女孩的青春都应该被温柔对待。
  • 盟主夫人不好当

    盟主夫人不好当

    张沫楚的人生中有两个男人,养父教会了她杀人,男友教会了她如何过普通人的生活,其余的一切张沫楚就像是一张白纸一般。然后,曾经是杀手的张沫楚在没有一丝防备之下就被男友推到了马路上,然后,被车撞死了。张沫楚想着男友明明说过杀人是不可以的,但是,为什么男友要杀她呢?在张沫楚思考着的时候,张沫楚就穿越了,她成了魔教少主。洞房花烛,她居然成亲了,成了万仙盟盟主的夫人。这些她都接受了!可为什么万仙盟盟主都成亲了,还有一大推的小姑娘在山庄下面喊着要和万仙盟盟主成亲啊!有情敌就算了,这个盟主大人也不是什么安分的主子!张沫楚真的很想过一天安生日子啊!这个盟主夫人太不好当了,她可以不要吗?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 古神纪:山海奇缘

    古神纪:山海奇缘

    云端之境,半步之巅,长问亭,不归居……这里居住着六界九天最后一位古神,荼夭掌管异兽之力,见过异兽与外界的爱恨别离。一生中,总有那么一个重要的人,是你无法忘记。不论你是高高在上的权威,还是轮回百载的常人……闻羲:“荼夭,我乃三司上神之司命,掌命格,执天命。却唯独,解不开你的心,看不透你的命……”夙白:“为你成妖,为你化魔。为你生,为你死。荼夭,早在你将我拾回不归居那日起,我此生所背负,只因你。”
  • 绝地求生之平底锅警告

    绝地求生之平底锅警告

    自闭是不可能自闭的,这辈子都不会自闭的。别的游戏也不会,就只有玩玩吃鸡,才能勉强维持得了生活这样子。玩吃鸡感觉就像回家一样,里面各个都是人才,说话又好听,我超喜欢这里的!
  • 全面小康社会多元化全民健身服务体系的研究

    全面小康社会多元化全民健身服务体系的研究

    “全民健身体系”是一项宏伟的跨世纪国民健康促进工程。《全国小康社会多元化全民健身服务体系的研究》主要是从“全民健身体系”的视角,对“全民健身”这一社会文化现象进行了初步地探索。内容包括:从“全民健康体系”到“多元化全民健身服务体系”研究,“全面小康社会多元化全民健身服务体系”的构建环境分析,社会体育发展趋势简论等。本书内容丰富,讲解通俗易懂,具有很强的可读性。
  • 倒霉天使的恋爱物语

    倒霉天使的恋爱物语

    最甜美的都市童话。宇宙无敌倒霉丫头苏小钻从来都是迟到大王,清早起床常常会袜子少了一只,出卧室会被拖鞋拌倒,刷牙时牙膏会从后面出来,洗脸的时候水龙头会突然坏掉,出门时就算没迟到也会因为公交车坏掉而迟到,偶尔还会连续一星期被来路不明的大狗追着咬……谁知道这只害她天天做噩梦的动物竟然是她暗恋的桑墨帮忙照顾的……桑墨喜欢穿白色衬衫,拥有世界上最英俊的侧脸以及最温柔的性情和最好的头脑。bt的学校每年都要举行地区联盟年度排行,十个学校分别选出最优秀的学生参加比赛并排名,而桑墨就是这个学校内定的最佳人选。本来完美如桑墨,一切都很平静顺利按部就班。直到……那个总是出状况的苏小钻将满满一盆水浇到他的身上……