"Do you think it right," she asked, "to leave the mother of your
children alone at home with them, while you spend your time at a
public house?"
"I don't believe you missed me," he answered by way of a preliminary.
"Missed you? If the husband spends the housekeeping money on drink,
the wife will miss a great many things in the house."
"To start with I don't drink, for I merely have a mouthful of food and
drink a cup of coffee; secondly, I don't spend the housekeeping money
on drink, for you keep it locked up: I have other funds which I spend
'on drink.'"
Unfortunately women cannot stand satire, and the noose, made in fun,
was at once thrown round his neck.
"You do admit, then, that you drink?"
"No, I don't, I used your expression in fun."
"In fun? You are making fun of your wife? You never used to do that!"
"You wanted the marriage ceremony. Why are things so different now?"
"Because we are married, of course."
"Partly because of that, and partly because intoxication has the
quality of passing off."
"It was only intoxication in your case, then?"
"Not only in my case; in your case, too, and in all others as well. It
passes off more or less quickly."
"And so love is nothing but intoxication as far as a man is
concerned!"
"As far as a woman is concerned too!"
"Nothing but intoxication!"
"Quite so! But there is no reason why one shouldn't remain friends.
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