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266 THE HONEYMOON. 
withdrawn his voice, and was sitting a silent spec- 
tator of what was going forward during this part 
of the conversation, was justly indignant at the 
excesses of his guests, and longed for an opportu- 
nity not only to change the tenor of their unbe- 
coming observations, but to administer, at the same 
time, without involving any breach of hospitality, 
some suitable and effectual rebuke. They, however, 
continued their bitter remarks : finally, noticing 
Mr. Mayland's silence, one of them approached, 
and tapping him upon the shoulder, said, 
" Well, Mayland, here you sit as quiet as a 
mouse. What do you think of the matter the 
advantages and disadvantages? What would 
you do if you were not married ? " 
His (Mayland's) sweetheart wife was sitting a 
little distance from him when this question was 
propounded. . She had been highly delighted that 
her dear iiusband had abstained from the reckless 
flow of words which had been passing ; but now, 
seeing that he was directly appealed to, her heart 
leaped, and she riveted her eyes upon him with 
mingled emotions of hope and fear. It was not 
at that moment a matter of much difficulty to 
read he?r countenance. It seemed to ask, " And 
am I, too, to be compromised by my husband, as 
my friends have been by theirs ? " But her sus- 
pense was of short duration. 
" What would I do ? " slowly repeated the lover 
husband ; and then, turning to meet the glance of 
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