Areyoudistracted，indeed，orareyounot？
　　’Tisaweightyquestion，andIwishyouwouldmakeuseasy
　　aboutit。’
　　’Bymyfaith，madam，’saysRobin，’’tisinvaintomincethe
　　matterortellanymoreliesaboutit；Iaminearnest，asmuch
　　asamanisthat’sgoingtobehanged。
　　IfMrs。Bettywould
　　sayshelovedme，andthatshewouldmarryme，I’dhaveher
　　tomorrowmorningfasting，andsay，’Tohaveandtohold，’
　　insteadofeatingmybreakfast。’
　　’Well，’saysthemother，’thenthere’sonesonlost’；andshe
　　saiditinaverymournfultone，asonegreatlyconcernedatit。
　　’Ihopenot，madam，’saysRobin；’nomanislostwhenagood
　　wifehasfoundhim。’
　　’Why，but，child，’saystheoldlady，’sheisabeggar。’
　　’Why，then，madam，shehasthemoreneedofcharity，’says
　　Robin；’I’lltakeheroffthehandsoftheparish，andsheand
　　I’llbegtogether。’
　　’It’sbadjestingwithsuchthings，’saysthemother。
　　’Idon’tjest，madam，’saysRobin。
　　’We’llcomeandbegyour
　　pardon，madam；andyourblessing，madam，andmyfather’s。’
　　’Thisisalloutoftheway，son，’saysthemother。
　　’Ifyouare
　　inearnestyouareundone。’
　　’Iamafraidnot，’sayshe，’forIamreallyafraidshewon’t
　　haveme；afterallmysister’shuffingandblustering，Ibelieve
　　Ishallneverbeabletopersuadehertoit。’
　　’That’safinetale，indeed；sheisnotsofaroutofhersenses
　　neither。
　　Mrs。Bettyisnofool，’saystheyoungersister。
　　’Do
　　youthinkshehaslearnttosayNo，anymorethanotherpeople？’
　　’No，Mrs。Mirth-wit，’saysRobin，’Mrs。Betty’snofool；but
　　Mrs。Bettymaybeengagedsomeotherway，andwhatthen？’
　　’Nay，’saystheeldestsister，’wecansaynothingtothat。
　　Who
　　mustitbeto，then？
　　Sheisneveroutofthedoors；itmustbe
　　betweenyou。’
　　’Ihavenothingtosaytothat，’saysRobin。
　　’Ihavebeen
　　examinedenough；there’smybrother。
　　Ifitmustbebetween
　　us，gotoworkwithhim。’
　　Thisstungtheelderbrothertothequick，andheconcluded
　　thatRobinhaddiscoveredsomething。
　　However，hekept
　　himselffromappearingdisturbed。
　　’Prithee，’sayshe，’don’t
　　gotoshameyourstoriesoffuponme；Itellyou，Idealinno
　　suchware；IhavenothingtosaytoMrs。Betty，nortoanyof
　　theMrs。Bettysintheparish’；andwiththatheroseupand
　　brushedoff。
　　’No，’saystheeldestsister，’Idareanswerformybrother；he
　　knowstheworldbetter。’
　　Thusthediscourseended，butitlefttheelderbrotherquite
　　confounded。
　　Heconcludedhisbrotherhadmadeafull
　　discovery，andhebegantodoubtwhetherIhadbeenconcerned
　　initornot；butwithallhismanagementhecouldnotbring
　　itabouttogetatme。
　　Atlasthewassoperplexedthathewas
　　quitedesperate，andresolvedhewouldcomeintomychamber
　　andseeme，whatevercameofit。
　　Inordertodothis，he
　　contriveditso，thatonedayafterdinner，watchinghiseldest
　　sistertillhecouldseehergoupstairs，herunsafterher。
　　’Hark
　　ye，sister，’sayshe，’whereisthissickwoman？
　　Maynota
　　bodyseeher？’
　　’Yes，’saysthesister，’Ibelieveyoumay；but
　　letmegofirstalittle，andI’lltellyou。’
　　Sosheranuptothe
　　doorandgavemenotice，andpresentlycalledtohimagain。
　　’Brother，’saysshe，’youmaycomeifyouplease。’
　　Soinhe
　　came，justinthesamekindofrant。
　　’Well，’saysheatthedoor
　　ashecamein，’whereisthissickbodythat’sinlove？
　　How
　　doyedo，Mrs。Betty？’
　　Iwouldhavegotupoutofmychair，
　　butwassoweakIcouldnotforagoodwhile；andhesawit，
　　andhissisterto，andshesaid，’Come，donotstrivetostand
　　up；mybrotherdesiresnoceremony，especiallynowyouare
　　soweak。’
　　’No，no，Mrs。Betty，praysitstill，’sayshe，andso
　　sitshimselfdowninachairoveragainstme，andappearedas
　　ifhewasmightymerry。
　　Hetalkedalotoframblingstufftohissisterandtome，
　　sometimesofonething，sometimesofanother，onpurpose
　　toamusehissister，andeverynowandthenwouldturnit
　　upontheoldstory，directingittome。
　　’PoorMrs。Betty，’says
　　he，’itisasadthingtobeinlove；why，ithasreducedyou
　　sadly。’
　　AtlastIspokealittle。
　　’Iamgladtoseeyousomerry，
　　sir，’saysI；’butIthinkthedoctormighthavefoundsomething
　　bettertodothantomakehisgameathispatients。
　　IfIhad
　　beenillofnootherdistemper，Iknowtheproverbtoowellto
　　havelethimcometome。’
　　’Whatproverb？’sayshe，’Oh！
　　I
　　rememberitnow。
　　What——
　　“Whereloveisthecase，
　　Thedoctor’sanass。“
　　Isnotthatit，Mrs。Betty？’
　　Ismiledandsaidnothing。
　　’Nay，’
　　sayshe，’Ithinktheeffecthasprovedittobelove，forit
　　seemsthedoctorhasbeenabletodoyoubutlittleservice；
　　youmendveryslowly，theysay。
　　Idoubtthere’ssomewhatin
　　it，Mrs。Betty；Idoubtyouaresickoftheincurables，andthat
　　islove。’
　　Ismiledandsaid，’No，indeed，sir，that’snoneofmy
　　distemper。’
　　Wehadadealofsuchdiscourse，andsometimesothersthat
　　signifiedaslittle。
　　Byandbyheaskedmetosingthemasong，
　　atwhichIsmiled，andsaidmysingingdayswereover。
　　Atlast
　　heaskedmeifheshouldplayuponhisflutetome；hissister
　　saidshebelieveitwouldhurtme，andthatmyheadcould
　　notbearit。
　　Ibowed，andsaid，No，itwouldnothurtme。
　　’And，pray，madam。’saidI，’donothinderit；Ilovethemusic
　　ofthefluteverymuch。’
　　Thenhissistersaid，’Well，do，then，
　　brother。’
　　Withthathepulledoutthekeyofhiscloset。
　　’Dear
　　sister，’sayshe，’Iamverylazy；dosteptomyclosetandfetch
　　myflute；itliesinsuchadrawer，’namingaplacewherehe
　　wassureitwasnot，thatshemightbealittlewhilea-looking
　　forit。
　　Assoonasshewasgone，herelatedthewholestorytome
　　ofthediscoursehisbrotherhadaboutme，andofhispushing
　　itathim，andhisconcernaboutit，whichwasthereasonof
　　hiscontrivingthisvisittome。
　　IassuredhimIhadnever
　　openedmymoutheithertohisbrotherortoanybodyelse。
　　ItoldhimthedreadfulexigenceIwasin；thatmylovetohim，
　　andhisofferingtohavemeforgetthataffectionandremove
　　ittoanother，hadthrownmedown；andthatIhadathousand
　　timeswishedImightdieratherthanrecover，andtohavethe
　　samecircumstancestostrugglewithasIhadbefore，andthat
　　hisbackwardnesstolifehadbeenthegreatreasonofthe
　　slownessofmyrecovering。
　　IaddedthatIforesawthatassoon
　　asIwaswell，Imustquitthefamily，andthatasformarrying
　　hisbrother，Iabhorredthethoughtsofitafterwhathadbeen
　　mycasewithhim，andthathemightdependuponitIwould
　　neverseehisbrotheragainuponthatsubject；thatifhewould
　　breakallhisvowsandoathsandengagementswithme，be
　　thatbetweenhisconscienceandhishonourandhimself；but
　　heshouldneverbeabletosaythatI，whomhehadpersuaded
　　tocallmyselfhiswife，andwhohadgivenhimthelibertyto
　　usemeasawife，wasnotasfaithfultohimasawifeoughtto
　　be，whateverhemightbetome。
　　Hewasgoingtoreply，andhadsaidthathewassorryIcould
　　notbepersuaded，andwasa-goingtosaymore，butheheard
　　hissistera-coming，andsodidI；andyetIforcedoutthese
　　fewwordsasareply，thatIcouldneverbepersuadedtolove
　　onebrotherandmarryanother。
　　Heshookhisheadandsaid，
　　’ThenIamruined，’meaninghimself；andthatmomenthis
　　sisterenteredtheroomandtoldhimshecouldnotfindthe
　　flute。’Well，’sayshemerrily，’thislazinesswon’tdo’；sohe
　　getsupandgoeshimselftogotolookforit，butcomesback
　　withoutittoo；notbutthathecouldhavefoundit，butbecause
　　hismindwasalittledisturbed，andhehadnomindtoplay；
　　and，besides，theerrandhesenthissisteronwasanswered
　　anotherway；forheonlywantedanopportunitytospeakto
　　me，whichhegained，thoughnotmuchtohissatisfaction。
　　Ihad，however，agreatdealofsatisfactioninhavingspoken
　　mymindtohimwithfreedom，andwithsuchanhonest
　　plainness，asIhaverelated；andthoughitdidnotatallwork
　　thewayIdesired，thatistosay，toobligethepersontome
　　themore，yetittookfromhimallpossibilityofquittingme
　　butbyadownrightbreachofhonour，andgivingupallthe
　　faithofagentlemantome，whichhehadsooftenengagedby，
　　nevertoabandonme，buttomakemehiswifeassoonashe
　　cametohisestate。