cussion was terminated by the Court’s putting on its notes whatever Mrs. Barber wished, by an easy transition we passed to various acts of sævitia, or cruelty perpetrated by Mr. Barber on his wife in consequence, as he alleged, of her extravagance in dress, but as it did not appear that the lady had ever spent above 200l. per annum on this object, and as she had brought 800l. per annum to the connubial chest, this surely was not much. It was beautiful to see the paternal interest which the Court now displayed in all Mrs. Barber’s little comforts. There were some interlocutory proceedings, not recorded upon the Judge’s notes, but as they were entirely conducted between the Court and Mrs. B., no one had a right to interfere.
By the Court. “Only 30l. a-year for gloves! Surely Mr. Barber could never have objected to that?”
Mrs. B. “Eight bonnets; two for winter, two for spring, chapeaux à l’hirondelle, or bonnets of passage; four for summer.”
By the Court. “It might have been held that one per mensem was not an over estimate for a lady of Mrs. Barber’s position and fortune.”
Mrs. B. “And I’m sure, my lord, my bill at Hayward’s, for cuffs and collars never exceeded 40l.; and then, a lady has so many little expenses that you gentlemen know nothing about.”
Of course they have, poor things! The Court passed Hayward’s bill without a shadow of objection; but then, remembering the sterner requirements of justice, let fall an intimation to Dr. Dodge, that it would perhaps be more regular if such points were spoken to by an Expert. Dr. D. bowed deferentially, and jumped at the suggestion; for, in point of fact, he had secured the attendance of Madame Léocadie Lareine, should the course of the proceedings render it desirable to produce her.
Dr. D. “And now, my Lords—and Gentlemen of the Jury, in conclusion, I will only question Mrs. Barber on one other instance of sævitia which was opened by my learned friend. Was there, Madam, any agreement or understanding between you and Mr. Barber, previous to your marriage, on the subject of the stockings you were to wear during coverture?”
Mrs. B. “There was.”
Dr. Lobb objected that the agreement should have been in writing, and under seal. The Court glanced at Mrs. B., and put an end to Lobb.
Dr. D. “What was the agreement—in substance, I mean?”
Mrs. B. “I was always to wear silk stockings—and to pay for them myself.”
Dr. D. “Did Mr. Barber perform his part—a negative one, I admit,—in the contract?”
Mrs. B. “He did not.”
Dr. D. “Tell the Jury how he violated it. Quote the breaches, madam.”
Dr. Dodge was speaking so triumphantly;—with each question and answer he was so getting upon a higher rung, 
that expectation now waited upon his every word. He was fumbling with his right hand under his gown.
Mrs. B. “He insisted that I should wear those odious Cotton-tops, and give him the difference.”
Dr. D. “Are these the Cotton-tops?”
With these words the learned counsel pulled out a pair of lady’s hose, and held them up emphatically in presence of the Court. I must say that, although the material might have been objectionable, the form was exceedingly pretty, and suggestive of the secret symmetry of the fair limbs they were intended to protect from the inclemency of the weather.
Mrs. B. “They are!”
Dr. Lobb was on his feet in a moment, and urged that the sample-stockings were void for want of identity. Mrs. Barber, however, admitted that they were “her size;” the Court was fascinated, and every eye-glass was directed to the shapely articles which Dr. D. continued to hold up in the public sight. All Dr. Lobb’s objections were shattered like waves against a cliff in the presence of these pleasing articles of lady’s attire.
Dr. Dodge sat down with—“Gentlemen of the Jury, that is my case, as far as Mrs. Barber is concerned,” and he handed the stockings to Mr. Lamb, who folded them as reverentially as though they had been a sacred relic in silver paper, and deposited them in his breast pocket.
The Court adjourned to its chop and glass of sherry—and then Dr. Lobb was to do his part in the shambles. Gamma.
