SPECTATOR, VOLUME THE SECOND, LONDON: PRINTED FOR RICHARD EYRES, No. 186, FLEET-STREET, AND SOLD BY ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS IN GREAT-BRITAIN AND IRELAND, MDCCLXXVIII, SPECTATOR. N° 322. MONDAY, MARCH 10, 1712. THE I T is often faid, after a man has heard a story with extraordinary circumstances, it is a very good one if it be true; but as for the following relation, I fhould be glad were I fure it were falfe. It is told with fuch fimplicity, and there are fo many artless touches of diftrefs in it, that I fear it comes too much from the heart. figned by the minister, my husband, and the fervant I just now spoke of. After our nuptials, we converfed together very familiarly in the fame houfe; but the restraints we were 'generally under, and the interviews we had 'being stolen and interrupted, made our behavi our to each other have rather the impatient ⚫ fondnefs which is visible in lovers, than the re'gular and gratified affection which is to be ob'ferved in man and wife. This observation 'made the father very anxious for his fon, and • press him to a match he had in his eye for him. To relieve my husband from this importunity, and conceal the fecret of our marriage, which I had reafon to know would not be long in my power in town, it was refolved that I should ⚫ retire into a remote place in the country, and 'converfe under feigned names by letter. We long continued this way of commerce; and I with my needle, a few books, and reading over and over my husband's letters, passed my time in a refigned expectation of better days. Be pleased to take notice, that within four months after I left my husband I was delivered of a daughter who died within a few hours after her birth. This accident, and the retired manner of life I led, gave criminal hopes to a neighbouring brute of a country gentleman, whose folly was the fource of all my affliction. This ruftic is one of thofe rich clowns who fupply the want of all manner of breeding by the neglect of it, and with noify mirth, half understanding, and ample fortune, force themselves upon perfons and things without any fenfe of time and place. The poor ignorant people where I lay concealed and now paffed for a widow, wondered I could be fo fhy and strange, as they called it, to the fquire; and were bribed by him to admit him whenever he thought fit. I happened to be fitting in a little parlour which belonged to my own part of the house, and mufing over one of the fondeft of my hufband's letters, in which I always kept the cer tificate of my marriage, when this rude fellow came in, and with the naufeous familiarity of ‹ fuch unbred brutes, snatched the papers out of my hand. I was immediately under so great concern, that I threw myself at his feet, and A ⚫ begged · Mr. Spectator, S OME years ago it happened that I lived in the fame houfe with a young gentleman of merit; with whofe good qualities I was fo much taken, as to make it my endeavour to fhew as many as I was able in myself. Familiar converse improved general civilities into an unfeigned paffion on both fides. He watch⚫ed an opportunity to declare himself to me; and · I, who could not expect a man of fo great an eftate as his, received his addreffes in fuch terms, as gave him no reason to believe I was < difpleafed with them,tho' I did nothing to make him think me more eafy than was decent. His ⚫ father was a very hard worldly man, and proud; fo that there was no reafon to believe he would eafily be brought to think there was any thing in any woman's perfon or character that could balance the disadvantage of an unequal forIn the mean time the fon continued his application to me, and omitted no occafion of demonftrating the most difinterested paffion 'imaginable to me; and in plain direct terms · tune. < offered to marry me privately, and keep it fo 'till he fhould be fo happy as to gain his father's approbation or become poffeffed of his estate. 'I paffionately loved him, and you will believe 'I did not deny fuch a one what was my interest alfo to grant. However, I was not fo young as not to take the precaution of carrying with me a faithful fervant, who had been also my mother's maid, to be prefent at the ceremony: " < when that was over I demanded a certificate, |
