(Strip Number 4269, Original Publication Date, 4 January 1983)
Panel 1: Elly's continuing to not freaking talk about what's bothering her causes John to point out that she's being ridiculous and carrying this thing too far.
Panel 2: John then compounds his folly by telling her that he refuses to apologize one more time for something that's over and done with.
Panel 3: Elly gives him the close-eyed frown of smug, unreasonable hostility.
Panel 4: John then apologizes one more time.
Summary: That's because it's just dawned on him that he's married to a pathetic idiot who thinks that if she were to let bygones be bygones, she'd be a weakling who wasn't worth taking seriously.