Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-12-03
THE HENPEcKED HUSBAND

suggests an idea of its subject which is the
reverse of the reality. A "henpecked hus-
band" generally calls up the appearance of
a rather feeble-minded if not foolish person,
crouching submissively to the tyranny of some
thing like yirago, and furnishing materials
for comedy or farce. Mark Chetwode, the hus-
band in the novel before us, is not person of
this stamp; nor can the character of the tale
be accounted comic, but something better. It
points the moral of hasty and unequal matches
In carrying out the idea, or rather perhaps in
carrying on the story, exaggerations and faults
of detail occur, with general rcpetitons from
the common sources of novelsts; the staple of
the tale may be deficient in that breadth which
is necessary for fiction, and overloaded with
subordinate and insignificant incidents, while
some of the persons are too equiyocal to be
pleasing but leading idea is seized and en-
bodied, and steadily adhered to. Such as ma
ture and circumstances have made the hus-
band and wife, such they continue. There is
no violation of the probability of character to
please readers who like persons to "turn out
HOuui NJ summing hphi bhN NOh-
sequences to make all end happily. The cle-
ments are sad-socially tragic; and they are
allowed their course. 1t is this distinct pre-
sentation of leading principle that gives a
stamp to The Henpecked Husband, despite of
matterssslight in proportion to the length of the
book, and an Indifferent moral tone, not in the
writer, but in most of the scenes and persons.
The leading story runs thus. Mark Chet-
wode, lawyer of retired habits, has quietly
lived with his mother till he is turned Of thirty.
From the isolation of his pursuits and his ig-
norance of the female world he gets entrapped
into q marriage with Theresa Dering whose
mother friend of Mrs. Chetwode in early life,
is an adventurous match-hunter of the worst
kind-poor, unprincipled, and needy, but keep
ing up appearances, and contracting debts
which she expects the future husbands of hei
daughters to pay. Trained under such a per-
son, Theresa is very badly educated but even
the example of mother cannot altogether de-
stroy natural pride and woman's heart
She is attached to Edward Sydenhem; but
circumstances forbade marriage, and an acci-
dent causes their separation just at n time
when the lover inherits q fortune. Theresa
ignorant of this change, consents to marry
Chetwode, though her affections are still en-
gagged to her first love- The marriage is un
happy in the extreme; Theresas PRIDE self
will, loose notions, and love of society, leading
| to conduct Numerically opposed to all Chet
wode's ideas of -propriety and comfort. Eu
though love, yielding disposition, and th
superior strength of his wfes will, induce hin
to give way to her arts or her demands, it cal
hardly be said that he is henpeckedi and whel
opportunity and her old affection have place,
her in questionable position as regards sgd
enham, Mark Chetwode is firm as adamant
After half candestine intercourse, Sydenlar
addresses a letter to Theresa, suggesting n
elopement from party the signal of consen
being that Mrs. Chetwode should wear par
ticular ornament. By necessary though nc
very natural contrivance, Theresa drops tn
letter, without reading it; Chetwode picks
IN, passes at once to his wife's dressing-roon
and seeing the ornament, determines on ser
aration. A duel ensues Sydeuham is wound
ed; and though the wound is not immediatcl,
it is eventually fatal. Theresa, accompanie
by her mother, wanders listlessy about frol
place to place; sees her first love, by accidcn
when he is evidently dying; and some montl
afterwards she dies too.
We have indicated faults in the hook, bl
the two principal are want of matter and
tone. The studies of tile writer would see
to have lain amongst the better novels of Il
circulating library, or the class of socie
which they depict The persons of 1Ae He
pecked Husband are either singular or question
able wanting the solidity of the respectful
classes, and the breeding and finish of fashio
able life. Hence the book flags unless
scenes where there is direct interest in Il
story. because there is direct interest in 4
manners.
A scene of the deeper kind will best eXhil
!, the writer's powers. We take the one whe
Mrs. Daring has come over from Paris TO 9
her daughter to pay budget of bills.
When they were shut up together in cabin
y council, Theresa rather impaticntly inquir
h what could have brought her to England il
: as she and Mr.. Chetwode We're leaving town
j ssYou shall see,n was all Mrs. Dering sal
$ but from the volumnous folds of her dress,
every gigantic plait of which there appear
y to be pocket for the reception of articles
" every degree of magnitude, she soon produf
= reply as satisfactory as any words could b
a A handful of papers, some small, but mos
o long narrow, and dclcately lined with bl
lie emerged from the depths and, laying til
ID down one by one in file on the table, she
claimed-aNow you will guess what brou
~ me overr'
The very sight of these papers, which 7
TX resa saw in a moment were every one of I'll
le bills, hardened her heart; and, leaning b
m in her chair with that face of desperate de-
r mination which she knew so well how to
d. sumo, she said in the coldest of fvoiccs-''Ih'
en- Heaven, nothing in which have any conce
NJ for did not leave single bill in Paris"
ed ssNo, my dear-not in Paris, allow u
little accounts have nothing whatever TO
i'll with Paris-they are small debts contrac
IS by you in England