Ihadnotspokenhitherto，andIwouldmuchrathernothavespokennow。
ButtheexpressionofdistressinLaura’sfacewhensheturnedittowardsme，andtheinsolentinjusticeofherhusband’sconduct，leftmenootheralternativethantogivemyopinion，forhersake，assoonasIwasaskedforit。
`Excuseme，SirPercival，’Isaid——`butasoneofthewitnessestothesignature，IventuretothinkthatIhavesomethingtodowiththematter。Laura’sobjectionseemstomeaperfectlyfairone，andspeakingformyselfonly，Icannotassumetheresponsibilityofwitnessinghersignature，unlessshefirstunderstandswhatthewritingiswhichyouwishhertosign。’
`Acooldeclaration，uponmysoul！’criedSirPercival。`Thenexttimeyouinviteyourselftoaman’shouse，MissHalcombe，Irecommendyounottorepayhishospitalitybytakinghiswife’ssideagainsthiminamatterthatdoesn’tconcernyou。’
Istartedtomyfeetassuddenlyasifhehadstruckme。IfIhadbeenaman，Iwouldhaveknockedhimdownonthethresholdofhisowndoor，andhavelefthishouse，neveronanyearthlyconsiderationtoenteritagain。ButIwasonlyawoman——andIlovedhiswifesodearly！