’Yes，sir，’saidI，’IbelieveImayventure
　　totrustyouwithmyself，foryouhaveawife，yousay，andI
　　don’twantahusband；besides，Idaretrustyouwithmymoney，
　　whichisallIhaveintheworld，andifthatweregone，Imay
　　trustmyselfanywhere。’
　　Hesaidsomethingsinjestthatwereveryhandsomeand
　　mannerly，andwouldhavepleasedmeverywelliftheyhad
　　beeninearnest；butthatpassedover，Itookthedirections，
　　andappointedtoattendhimathishouseatseveno’clockthe
　　sameevening。
　　WhenIcamehemadeseveralproposalsformyplacingmy
　　moneyinthebank，inordertomyhavinginterestforit；but
　　stillsomedifficultorothercameintheway，whichheobjected
　　asnotsafe；andIfoundsuchasinceredisinterestedhonesty
　　inhim，thatIbegantomusewithmyself，thatIhadcertainly
　　foundthehonestmanIwanted，andthatIcouldneverput
　　myselfintobetterhands；soItoldhimwithagreatdealof
　　franknessthatIhadnevermetwithamanorwomanyetthat
　　Icouldtrust，orinwhomIcouldthinkmyselfsafe，butthatI
　　sawhewassodisinterestedlyconcernedformysafety，thatI
　　saidIwouldfreelytrusthimwiththemanagementofthatlittle
　　Ihad，ifhewouldaccepttobestewardforapoorwidowthat
　　couldgivehimnosalary。
　　Hesmiledand，standingup，withgreatrespectsalutedme。
　　HetoldmehecouldnotbuttakeitverykindlythatIhadso
　　goodanopinionofhim；thathewouldnotdeceiveme，that
　　hewoulddoanythinginhispowertoserveme，andexpect
　　nosalary；butthathecouldnotbyanymeansacceptofatrust，
　　thatitmightbringhimtobesuspectedofself-interest，andthat
　　ifIshoulddiehemighthavedisputeswithmyexecutors，which
　　heshouldbeverylothtoencumberhimselfwith。
　　ItoldhimifthosewereallhisobjectionsIwouldsoonremove
　　them，andconvincehimthattherewasnottheleastroomfor
　　anydifficulty；forthat，first，asforsuspectinghim，ifeverI
　　shoulddoit，nowisthetimetosuspecthim，andnotputthe
　　trustintohishands，andwheneverIdidsuspecthim，hecould
　　butthrowitupthenandrefusetogoanyfurther。
　　Then，asto
　　executors，IassuredhimIhadnoheirs，noranyrelationsin
　　England，andIshouldaltermyconditionbeforeIdied，and
　　thenhistrustandtroubleshouldceasetogether，which，
　　however，Ihadnoprospectofyet；butItoldhimifIdiedas
　　Iwas，itshouldbeallhisown，andhewoulddeserveitby
　　beingsofaithfultomeasIwassatisfiedhewouldbe。
　　Hechangedhiscountenanceatthisdiscourse，andaskedme
　　howIcametohavesomuchgood-willforhim；and，looking
　　verymuchpleased，saidhemightverylawfullywishhewas
　　asinglemanformysake。
　　Ismiled，andtoldhimashewas
　　not，myoffercouldhavenodesignuponhiminit，andtowish，
　　ashedid，wasnottobeallowed，’twascriminaltohiswife。
　　HetoldmeIwaswrong。
　　’For，’sayshe，’madam，asIsaid
　　before，Ihaveawifeandnowife，and’twouldbenosintome
　　towishherhanged，ifthatwereall。’
　　’Iknownothingofyour
　　circumstancesthatway，sir，’saidI；’butitcannotbeinnocent
　　towishyourwifedead。’
　　’Itellyou，’saysheagain，’sheisa
　　wifeandnowife；youdon’tknowwhatIam，orwhatsheis。’
　　’That’strue，’saidI；’sir，Idonotknowwhatyouare，butI
　　believeyoutobeanhonestman，andthat’sthecauseofall
　　myconfidenceinyou。’
　　’Well，well，’sayshe，’andsoIam，Ihope，too。
　　butIam
　　somethingelsetoo，madam；for，’sayshe，’tobeplainwithyou，
　　Iamacuckold，andsheisawhore。’
　　Hespokeitinakindof
　　jest，butitwaswithsuchanawkwardsmile，thatIperceived
　　itwaswhatstruckveryclosetohim，andhelookeddismally
　　whenhesaidit。
　　’Thataltersthecaseindeed，sir，’saidI，’astothatpartyou
　　werespeakingof；butacuckold，youknow，maybeanhonest
　　man；itdoesnotalterthatcaseatall。
　　Besides，Ithink，’said
　　I，’sinceyourwifeissodishonesttoyou，youaretoohonest
　　tohertoownherforyourwife；butthat，’saidI，’iswhatI
　　havenothingtodowith。’
　　’Nay，’sayshe，’Idonotthinktoclearmyhandsofher；for，
　　tobeplainwithyou，madam，’addedhe，’Iamnocontended
　　cuckoldneither:
　　ontheotherhand，Iassureyouitprovokes
　　methehighestdegree，butIcan’thelpmyself；shethatwill
　　beawhore，willbeawhore。’
　　Endof
　　Iwaivedthediscourseandbegantotalkofmybusiness；but
　　Ifoundhecouldnothavedonewithit，soIlethimalone，and
　　hewentontotellmeallthecircumstancesofhiscase，too
　　longtorelatehere；particularly，thathavingbeenoutofEngland
　　sometimebeforehecametotheposthewasin，shehadhad
　　twochildreninthemeantimebyanofficerofthearmy；and
　　thatwhenhecametoEnglandand，uponhersubmission，took
　　heragain，andmaintainedherverywell，yetsheranawayfrom
　　himwithalinen-draper’sapprentice，robbedhimofwhatshe
　　couldcomeat，andcontinuedtolivefromhimstill。
　　’Sothat，
　　madam，’sayshe，’sheisawhorenotbynecessity，whichis
　　thecommonbaitofyoursex，butbyinclination，andforthe
　　sakeofthevice。’
　　Well，Ipitiedhim，andwishedhimwellridofher，andstill
　　wouldhavetalkedofmybusiness，butitwouldnotdo。
　　At
　　lasthelookssteadilyatme。
　　’Lookyou，madam，’sayshe，
　　’youcametoaskadviceofme，andIwillserveyouasfaithfully
　　asifyouweremyownsister；butImustturnthetables，since
　　youobligemetodoit，andaresofriendlytome，andIthink
　　Imustaskadviceofyou。
　　Tellme，whatmustapoorabused
　　fellowdowithawhore？
　　WhatcanIdotodomyselfjustice
　　uponher？’
　　’Alas！sir，’saysI，’’tisacasetooniceformetoadvisein，but
　　itseemsshehasrunawayfromyou，soyouareridofher
　　fairly；whatcanyoudesiremore？’
　　’Ay，sheisgoneindeed，’
　　saidhe，’butIamnotclearofherforallthat。’
　　’That’strue，’saysI；’shemayindeedrunyouintodebt，but
　　thelawhasfurnishedyouwithmethodstopreventthatalso；
　　youmaycryherdown，astheycallit。’
　　’No，no，’sayshe，’thatisnotthecaseneither；Ihavetaken
　　careofallthat；’tisnotthatpartthatIspeakof，butIwould
　　beridofhersothatImightmarryagain。’
　　’Well，sir，’saysI，’thenyoumustdivorceher。
　　Ifyoucan
　　provewhatyousay，youmaycertainlygetthatdone，andthen，
　　Isuppose，youarefree。’
　　’That’sverytediousandexpensive，’sayshe。
　　’Why，’saysI，’ifyoucangetanywomanyouliketotakeyour
　　word，Isupposeyourwifewouldnotdisputethelibertywith
　　youthatshetakesherself。’
　　’Ay，’sayshe，’but’twouldbehardtobringanhonestwoman
　　todothat；andfortheothersort，’sayshe，’Ihavehadenough
　　ofhertomeddlewithanymorewhores。’
　　Itoccurredtomepresently，’Iwouldhavetakenyourword
　　withallmyheart，ifyouhadbutaskedmethequestion’；
　　butthatwastomyself。
　　TohimIreplied，’Why，youshutthe
　　dooragainstanyhonestwomanacceptingyou，foryoucondemn
　　allthatshouldventureuponyouatonce，andconclude，that
　　reallyawomanthattakesyounowcan’tbehonest。’
　　’Why，’sayshe，’Iwishyouwouldsatisfymethatanhonest
　　womanwouldtakeme；I’dventureit’；andthenturnsshort
　　uponme，’Willyoutakeme，madam？’
　　’That’snotafairquestion，’saysI，’afterwhatyouhavesaid；
　　however，lestyoushouldthinkIwaitonlyforarecantation
　　ofit，Ishallansweryouplainly，No，notI；mybusinessisof
　　anotherkindwithyou，andIdidnotexpectyouwouldhave
　　turnedmyseriousapplicationtoyou，inmyowndistracted
　　case，intoacomedy。’
　　’Why，madam，’sayshe，’mycaseisasdistractedasyourscan
　　be，andIstandinasmuchneedofadviceasyoudo，forIthink
　　ifIhavenotreliefsomewhere，Ishallbemademyself，andI
　　knownotwhatcoursetotake，Iprotesttoyou。’
　　’Why，sir，’saysI，’’tiseasytogiveadviceinyourcase，much
　　easierthanitisinmine。’
　　’Speakthen，’sayshe，’Ibegofyou，
　　fornowyouencourageme。’
　　’Why，’saysI，’ifyourcaseissoplainasyousayitis，youmay
　　belegallydivorced，andthenyoumayfindhonestwomen
　　enoughtoaskthequestionoffairly；thesexisnotsoscarce
　　thatyoucanwantawife。’
　　’Well，then，’saidhe，’Iaminearnest；I’lltakeyouradvice；
　　butshallIaskyouonequestionseriouslybeforehand？’
　　’Anyquestion，’saidI，’butthatyoudidbefore。’
　　’No，thatanswerwillnotdo，’saidhe，’for，inshort，thatisthe
　　questionIshallask。’
　　’Youmayaskwhatquestionsyouplease，butyouhavemy
　　answertothatalready，’saidI。
　　’Besides，sir，’saidI，’canyou
　　thinksoillofmeasthatIwouldgiveanyanswertosucha
　　questionbeforehand？
　　Cananywomanalivebelieveyouin
　　earnest，orthinkyoudesignanythingbuttobanterher？’
　　’Well，well，’sayshe，’Idonotbanteryou，Iaminearnest；
　　considerofit。’
　　’But，sir，’saysI，alittlegravely，’Icametoyouaboutmyown
　　business；Ibegofyoutoletmeknow，whatyouwilladviseme
　　todo？’
　　’Iwillbeprepared，’sayshe，’againstyoucomeagain。’
　　’Nay，’saysI，’youhaveforbidmycominganymore。’
　　’Whyso？’saidhe，andlookedalittlesurprised。
　　’Because，’saidI，’youcan’texpectIshouldvisityouonthe
　　accountyoutalkof。’
　　’Well，’sayshe，’youshallpromisemetocomeagain，however，
　　andIwillnotsayanymoreofittillIhavegottenthedivorce，
　　butIdesireyouwillpreparetobebetterconditionedwhen
　　that’sdone，foryoushallbethewoman，orIwillnotbe
　　divorcedatall；why，Ioweittoyourunlooked-forkindness，
　　ifitweretonothingelse，butIhaveotherreasonstoo。’
　　Hecouldnothavesaidanythingintheworldthatpleasedme
　　better；however，Iknewthatthewaytosecurehimwasto
　　standoffwhilethethingwassoremote，asitappearedtobe，
　　andthatitwastimeenoughtoacceptofitwhenhewasable
　　toperformit；soIsaidveryrespectfullytohim，itwastime
　　enoughtoconsiderofthesethingswhenhewasinacondition
　　totalkofthem；inthemeantime，Itoldhim，Iwasgoinga
　　greatwayfromhim，andhewouldfindobjectsenoughto
　　pleasehimbetter。
　　Webrokeoffhereforthepresent，andhe
　　mademepromisehimtocomeagainthenextday，forhis
　　resolutionsuponmyownbusiness，whichaftersomepressing
　　Idid；thoughhadheseenfartherintome，Iwantednopressing
　　onthataccount。
　　Icamethenextevening，accordingly，andbroughtmymaid
　　withme，tolethimseethatIkeptamaid，butIsentheraway
　　assoonasIwasgonein。
　　Hewouldhavehadmeletthemaid
　　havestayed，butIwouldnot，butorderedheraloudtocome
　　formeagainaboutnineo’clock。
　　Butheforbadethat，andtold