It is neat and clean, Sir:  that’s all we pretend to.

Ay, mighty well—­very well—­a silk camblet, I think—­very well, truly!—­I am sure my wife will like it.  But we would not turn the lady out of her lodgings for the world.  The other two apartments will do for us at present.

Then stumping towards the closet, over the door of which hung a picture—­What picture is that—­Oh!  I see; a St. Cecilia!

A common print, Sir!

Pretty well, pretty well!  It is after an Italian master.—­I would not for the world turn the lady out of her apartment.  We can make shift with the other two, repeated I, louder still:  but yet mumblingly hoarse:  for I had as great regard to uniformity in accent, as to my words.

O Belford! to be so near my angel, think what a painful constraint I was under.

I was resolved to fetch her out, if possible:  and pretending to be going—­you can’t agree as to any time, Mrs. Moore, when we can have this third room, can you?—­Not that [whispered I, loud enough to be heard in the next room; not that] I would incommode the lady:  but I would tell my wife when abouts—­and women, you know, Mrs. Moore, love to have every thing before them of this nature.

Mrs. Moore (said my charmer) [and never did her voice sound so harmonious to me:  Oh! how my heart bounded again!  It even talked to me, in a manner; for I thought I heard, as well as felt, its unruly flutters; and every vein about me seemed a pulse; Mrs. Moore] you may acquaint the gentleman, that I shall stay here only for two or three days at most, till I receive an answer to a letter I have written into the country; and rather than be your hindrance, I will take up with any apartment a pair of stairs higher.

Not for the world!—­Not for the world, young lady! cried I.—­My wife, as I love her, should lie in a garret, rather than put such a considerate young lady, as you seem to be, to the least inconveniency.

She opened not the door yet; and I said, but since you have so much goodness, Madam, if I could but just look into the closet as I stand, I could tell my wife whether it is large enough to hold a cabinet she much values, and ill have with her wherever she goes.

Then my charmer opened the door, and blazed upon me, as it were, in a flood of light, like what one might imagine would strike a man, who, born blind, had by some propitious power been blessed with his sight, all at once, in a meridian sun.

Upon my soul, I never was so strangely affected before.  I had much ado to forbear discovering myself that instant:  but, hesitatingly, and in great disorder, I said, looking into the closet and around it, there is room, I see, for my wife’s cabinet; and it has many jewels in it of high price; but, upon my soul, [for I could not forbear swearing, like a puppy:  habit is a cursed thing, Jack—­] nothing so valuable as a lady I see, can be brought into it.