\"Thewife——Imetheronce：shewasthemostbeautifulwomanIhaveeverseen，andthemostwicked—looking；whichissayingagooddealforbothstatements。Iremember，duringawalkingtouroneyear，comingacrossalovelylittlecottage。Itwasthesweetestplaceimaginable。Ineednotdescribeit。Itwasthecottageoneseesinpictures，andreadsofinsentimentalpoetry。Iwasleaningovertheneatly—croppedhedge，drinkinginitsbeauty，whenatoneofthetinycasementsIsaw，lookingoutatme，aface。Itstayedthereonlyamoment，butinthatmomentthecottagehadbecomeugly，andI
hurriedawaywithashudder。
\"Thatwoman’sfaceremindedmeoftheincident。Itwasanangel’sface，untilthewomanherselflookedoutofit：thenyouwerestruckbythestrangeincongruitybetweentenementandtenant。
\"Thatatonetimeshehadlovedherhusband，Ihavelittledoubt。
Viciouswomenhavefewvices，andsordidnessisnotusuallyoneofthem。Shehadprobablymarriedhim，bornetowardshimbyoneofthosewavesofpassionuponwhichthesoulsofanimalnaturesarecontinuallyrisingandfalling。Onpossession，however，hadquicklyfollowedsatiety，andfromsatietyhadgrownthedesireforanewsensation。