Pepys had
not used his wife well; he had wearied her with jealousies,
even while himself unfaithful; he had grudged her clothes and
pleasures, while lavishing both upon himself; he had abused
her in words; he had bent his fist at her in anger; he had
once blacked her eye; and it is one of the oddest particulars
in that odd Diary of his, that, while the injury is referred
to once in passing, there is no hint as to the occasion or
the manner of the blow. But now, when he is in the wrong,
nothing can exceed the long-suffering affection of this
impatient husband. While he was still sinning and still
undiscovered, he seems not to have known a touch of penitence
stronger than what might lead him to take his wife to the
theatre, or for an airing, or to give her a new dress, by way
of compensation. Once found out, however, and he seems to
himself to have lost all claim to decent usage. It is
perhaps the strongest instance of his externality. His wife
may do what she pleases, and though he may groan, it will
never occur to him to blame her; he has no weapon left but
tears and the most abject submission. We should perhaps have
respected him more had he not given way so utterly - above
all, had he refused to write, under his wife's dictation, an
insulting letter to his unhappy fellow-culprit, Miss Willet;
but somehow I believe we like him better as he was.
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