agrainoftruerepentanceforaviciousandabominablelife
　　fortwenty-fouryearspast，itwasthen。
　　On，whatafelicityis
　　ittomankind，saidItomyself，thattheycannotseeintothe
　　heartsofoneanother！
　　HowhappyhaditbeenformeifIhad
　　beenwifetoamanofsomuchhonesty，andsomuchaffection
　　fromthebeginning！
　　EndofPart5
　　Part6
　　Thenitoccurredtome，’WhatanabominablecreatureamI！
　　andhowisthisinnocentgentlemangoingtobeabusedbyme！
　　Howlittledoeshethink，thathavingdivorcedawhore，heis
　　throwinghimselfintothearmsofanother！thatheisgoingto
　　marryonethathaslainwithtwobrothers，andhashadthree
　　childrenbyherownbrother！onethatwasborninNewgate，
　　whosemotherwasawhore，andisnowatransportedthief！
　　onethathaslainwiththirteenmen，andhashadachildsince
　　hesawme！
　　Poorgentleman！’saidI，’whatishegoingtodo？’
　　Afterthisreproachingmyselfwasover，itfollowingthus:
　　’Well，ifImustbehiswife，ifitpleaseGodtogivemegrace，
　　I’llbeatruewifetohim，andlovehimsuitablytothestrange
　　excessofhispassionforme；Iwillmakehimamendsifpossible，
　　bywhatheshallsee，forthecheatsandabusesIputuponhim，
　　whichhedoesnotsee。’
　　Hewasimpatientformycomingoutofmychamber，but
　　findingmelong，hewentdownstairsandtalkedwithmy
　　landlordabouttheparson。
　　Mylandlord，anofficiousthoughwell-meaningfellow，hadsent
　　awayfortheneighbouringclergyman；andwhenmygentleman
　　begantospeakofittohim，andtalkofsendingforhim，’Sir，’
　　sayshetohim，’myfriendisinthehouse’；sowithoutanymore
　　wordshebroughtthemtogether。
　　Whenhecametotheminister，
　　heaskedhimifhewouldventuretomarryacoupleofstrangers
　　thatwerebothwilling。
　　TheparsonsaidthatMr——hadsaid
　　somethingtohimofit；thathehopeditwasnoclandestine
　　business；thatheseemedtobeagravegentleman，andhe
　　supposedmadamwasnotagirl，sothattheconsentoffriends
　　shouldbewanted。
　　’Toputyououtofdoubtofthat，’saysmy
　　gentleman，’readthispaper’；andouthepullsthelicense。
　　’I
　　amsatisfied，’saystheminister；’whereisthelady？’
　　’You
　　shallseeherpresently，’saysmygentleman。
　　Whenhehadsaidthushecomesupstairs，andIwasbythat
　　timecomeoutofmyroom；sohetellsmetheministerwas
　　below，andthathehadtalkedwithhim，andthatuponshowing
　　himthelicense，hewasfreetomarryuswithallhisheart，’but
　　heaskstoseeyou’；soheaskedifIwouldlethimcomeup。
　　’’Tistimeenough，’saidI，’inthemorning，isitnot？’
　　’Why，’
　　saidhe，’mydear，heseemedtoscruplewhetheritwasnot
　　someyounggirlstolenfromherparents，andIassuredhimwe
　　werebothofagetocommandourownconsent；andthatmade
　　himasktoseeyou。’
　　’Well，’saidI，’doasyouplease’；soup
　　theybringstheparson，andamerry，goodsortofgentleman
　　hewas。
　　Hehadbeentold，itseems，thatwehadmetthereby
　　accident，thatIcameintheChestercoach，andmygentleman
　　inhisowncoachtomeetme；thatweweretohavemetlast
　　nightatStony-Stratford，butthathecouldnotreachsofar。
　　’Well，sir，’saystheparson，’everyillturnhassomegoodinit。
　　Thedisappointment，sir，’sayshetomygentleman，’wasyours，
　　andthegoodturnismine，forifyouhadmetatStony-Stratford
　　Ihadnothadthehonourtomarryyou。
　　Landlord，haveyoua
　　CommonPrayerBook？’
　　IstartedasifIhadbeenfrightened。
　　’Lord，sir，’saysI，’what
　　doyoumean？
　　What，tomarryinaninn，andatnighttoo？’
　　’Madam，’saystheminister，’ifyouwillhaveitbeinthechurch，
　　youshall；butIassureyouyourmarriagewillbeasfirmhere
　　asinthechurch；wearenottiedbythecanonstomarrynowhere
　　butinthechurch；andifyouwillhaveitinthechurch，it
　　willbeapublicasacountyfair；andasforthetimeofday，it
　　doesnotatallweighinthiscase；ourprincesaremarriedin
　　theirchambers，andateightorteno’clockatnight。’
　　IwasagreatwhilebeforeIcouldbepersuaded，andpretended
　　nottobewillingatalltobemarriedbutinthechurch。
　　But
　　itwasallgrimace；soIseemedatlasttobeprevailedon，and
　　mylandlordandhiswifeanddaughterwerecalledup。
　　landlordwasfatherandclerkandalltogether，andwewere
　　married，andverymerrywewere；thoughIconfessthe
　　self-reproacheswhichIhaduponmebeforelayclosetome，
　　andextortedeverynowandthenadeepsighfromme，which
　　mybridegroomtooknoticeof，andendeavouredtoencourage
　　me，thinking，poorman，thatIhadsomelittlehesitationsat
　　thestepIhadtakensohastily。
　　Weenjoyedourselvesthateveningcompletely，andyetallwas
　　keptsoprivateintheinnthatnotaservantinthehouseknew
　　ofit，formylandladyandherdaughterwaitedonme，and
　　wouldnotletanyofthemaidscomeupstairs，exceptwhilewe
　　wereatsupper。
　　Mylandlady’sdaughterIcalledmybridesmaid；
　　andsendingforashopkeeperthenextmorning，Igavetheyoung
　　womanagoodsuitofknots，asgoodasthetownwouldafford，
　　andfindingitwasalace-makingtown，Igavehermothera
　　pieceofbone-laceforahead。
　　Onereasonthatmylandlordwassoclosewas，thathewas
　　unwillingtheministeroftheparishshouldhearofit；butfor
　　allthatsomebodyheardofit，soatthatwehadthebellsset
　　a-ringingthenextmorningearly，andthemusic，suchasthe
　　townwouldafford，underourwindow；butmylandlord
　　brazeneditout，thatweweremarriedbeforewecamethither，
　　onlythat，beinghisformerguests，wewouldhaveour
　　wedding-supperathishouse。
　　Wecouldnotfindinourheartstostirthenextday；for，in
　　short，havingbeendisturbedbythebellsinthemorning，and
　　havingperhapsnotsleptovermuchbefore，weweresosleepy
　　afterwardsthatwelayinbedtillalmosttwelveo’clock。
　　Ibeggedmylandladythatwemightnothaveanymoremusic
　　inthetown，norringingofbells，andshemanageditsowell
　　thatwewereveryquiet；butanoddpassageinterruptedallmy
　　mirthforagoodwhile。
　　Thegreatroomofthehouselooked
　　intothestreet，andmynewspousebeingbelowstairs，Ihad
　　walkedtotheendoftheroom；anditbeingapleasant，warm
　　day，Ihadopenedthewindow，andwasstandingatitforsome
　　air，whenIsawthreegentlemencomebyonhorsebackandgo
　　intoaninnjustagainstus。
　　Itwasnottobeconcealed，norwasitsodoubtfulastoleave
　　meanyroomtoquestionit，butthesecondofthethreewas
　　myLancashirehusband。
　　Iwasfrightenedtodeath；Inever
　　wasinsuchaconsternationinmylife；IthoughIshouldhave
　　sunkintotheground；mybloodranchillinmyveins，andI
　　trembledasifIhadbeeninacoldfitofague。
　　Isay，there
　　wasnoroomtoquestionthetruthofit；Iknewhisclothes，I
　　knewhishorse，andIknewhisface。
　　ThefirstsensiblereflectImadewas，thatmyhusbandwas
　　notbytoseemydisorder，andthatIwasverygladofit。
　　The
　　gentlemenhadnotbeenlonginthehousebuttheycameto
　　thewindowoftheirroom，asisusual；butmywindowwas
　　shut，youmaybesure。
　　However，Icouldnotkeepfrom
　　peepingatthem，andthereIsawhimagain，heardhimcallout
　　tooneoftheservantsofthehouseforsomethinghewanted，
　　andreceivedalltheterrifyingconfirmationsofitsbeingthe
　　samepersonthatwerepossibletobehad。
　　Mynextconcernwastoknow，ifpossible，whatwashisbusiness
　　there；butthatwasimpossible。
　　Sometimesmyimagination
　　formedanideaofonefrightfulthing，sometimesofanother；
　　sometimeIthoughthehaddiscoveredme，andwascometo
　　upbraidmewithingratitudeandbreachofhonour；andevery
　　momentIfanciedhewascomingupthestairstoinsultme；and
　　innumerablefanciescameintomyheadofwhatwasneverin
　　hishead，norevercouldbe，unlessthedevilhadrevealeditto
　　him。
　　Iremainedinthisfrightnearlytwohours，andscarceeverkept
　　myeyefromthewindowordooroftheinnwheretheywere。
　　Atlast，hearingagreatclatterinthepassageoftheirinn，Iran
　　tothewindow，and，tomygreatsatisfaction，sawthemallthree
　　gooutagainandtravelonwestward。
　　Hadtheygonetowards
　　London，Ishouldhavebeenstillinafright，lestIshouldmeet
　　himontheroadagain，andthatheshouldknowme；buthe
　　wentthecontraryway，andsoIwaseasedofthatdisorder。
　　Weresolvedtobegoingthenextday，butaboutsixo’clock
　　atnightwewerealarmedwithagreatuproarinthestreet，and
　　peopleridingasiftheyhadbeenoutoftheirwits；andwhat
　　wasitbutahue-and-cryafterthreehighwaymenthathad
　　robbedtwocoachesandsomeothertravellersnearDunstable
　　Hill，andnoticehad，itseems，beengiventhattheyhadbeen
　　seenatBrickhillatsuchahouse，meaningthehousewhere
　　thosegentlemenhadbeen。
　　Thehousewasimmediatelybesetandsearched，buttherewere
　　witnessesenoughthatthegentlemenhadbeengoneoverthree
　　hours。
　　Thecrowdhavinggatheredabout，wehadthenews
　　presently；andIwasheartilyconcernednowanotherway。