human
Luke, my dear, replied Mrs. Sharp, with some of her tightenings not done up,
gpt
Of course not; how could you expect it? Slippery, slippery--hard it is to lay fast hold of anything; and the worst of all to bind is woman. I do not mean you, my dear; you need not look like that; you are as firm as this tag of your stays--corset, corset--I beg pardon; how can a man tell the fashionable words?
human
But, Luke, you surely would not think of proceeding to extremities?
gpt
Any extremity; if it only were the last. For the good of my family, I have worked hard; and there never should have been all this worry with it. Miranda, I may have strayed outside the truth, and outside the law--which is so much larger--but one thing I beg you to bear in mind. Not a thing have I done, except for you and Kit. Money to me is the last thing I think of; pure affection is the very first. And no one can meddle with your settlement.
human
Oh, my darling, Mrs. Sharp exclaimed, as she fell back from looking at the looking-glass,
gpt
I have thought so, Miranda; I must try to do it. Petty little sentiments must be dropped. We must rise and face the state of things which it has pleased Providence to bring about. I am responsible for a great deal of it; and with your assistance, I will see it through. We must take Kit in hand at once. My dear wife, can I rely upon you?
human
Luke, you may rely upon me for anything short of perjury; and if it comes to that, I must think first.
gpt
No man ever had a better any more than he could have a truer wife, or one so perpetually young. With these words Mr. Sharp performed some little operations, which, even in the