Mr. Longman returned from his office, and brought me the fifty pounds,

saying, I have entered this new article with great pleasure: 'To my Lady

fifty pounds: to be paid the same sum quarterly.' O sir! said I,

what will become of me, to be so poor in myself, and so rich in your

bounty!--It is a shame to take all that your profuse goodness would

heap upon me thus: But indeed it shall not be without account.--Make no

words, my dear, said he:

Are you not my wife? And have I not endowed you

with my goods; and, hitherto, this is a very small part.

Mr. Longman, said I, and Mrs. Jervis, you both see how I am even

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oppressed with unreturnable obligations. God bless the donor, and the

receiver too! said Mr. Longman: I am sure they will bring back good

interest; for, madam, you had ever a bountiful heart; and I have seen

the pleasure you used to take to dispense my late lady's alms and

donations. I'll warrant, Mr. Longman, said I, notwithstanding you are so willing to

have me take large sums for nothing at all, I should affront you, if

I asked you to accept from me a pair of gloves only, on account of my

happy nuptials. He seemed not readily to know how to answer; and my

master said, If Longman refuse you, my dear, he may be said to refuse

your first favour. On that I put twenty guineas in his hand; but he

insisted upon it, that he would take but five. I said, I must desire you

to oblige me, Mr. Longman, or I shall think I have affronted you. Well,

if I must, said he, I know what I know. What is that, Mr. Longman? said

I.--Why, madam, said he, I will not lay it out till my young master's

birth-day, which I hope will be within this twelvemonth.

Not expecting anything like this from the old gentleman, I looked at

my master, and then blushed so, I could not hold up my head. Charmingly

said, Longman! said my master, and clasped me in his arms: O, my dear

life! God send it may be so!--You have quite delighted me, Longman!

Though I durst not have said such a thing for the world.--Madam, said

the old gentleman, I beg your pardon; I hope no offence: but I'd speak

it ten times in a breath to have it so, take it how you please, as long

as my good master takes it so well. Mrs. Jervis, said my master, this is

an over-nice dear creature; you don't know what a life I have had with

her, even on this side matrimony.--Said Mrs. Jervis, I think Mr. Longman

says very well; I am sure I shall hope for it too.




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