’Tis now almost three months since I was in Town about some Business; and the Hurry of it being over, took Coach one Afternoon, and drove to see a Relation, who married about six Years ago a wealthy Citizen.  I found her at home, but her Husband gone to the Exchange, and expected back within an Hour at the farthest.  After the usual Salutations of Kindness, and a hundred Questions about Friends in the Country, we sat down to Piquet, played two or three Games, and drank Tea.  I should have told you that this was my second time of seeing her since Marriage, but before she lived at the same Town where I went to School; so that the Plea of a Relation, added to the Innocence of my Youth, prevailed upon her good Humour to indulge me in a Freedom of Conversation as often, and oftner, than the strict Discipline of the School would allow of.  You may easily imagine after such an Acquaintance we might be exceeding merry without any Offence, as in calling to mind how many Inventions I had been put to in deluding the Master, how many Hands forged for Excuses, how many times been sick in perfect Health; for I was then never sick but at School, and only then because out of her Company.  We had whiled away three Hours after this manner, when I found it past Five; and not expecting her Husband would return till late, rose up, told her I should go early next Morning for the Country:  She kindly answered she was afraid it would be long before she saw me again; so I took my leave and parted.  Now, Sir, I had not been got home a Fortnight, when I received a Letter from a Neighbour of theirs, that ever since that fatal Afternoon the Lady had been most inhumanly treated, and the Husband publickly stormed that he was made a Member of too numerous a Society.  He had, it seems, listened most of the time my Cousin and I were together.  As jealous Ears always hear double, so he heard enough to make him mad; and as jealous Eyes always see thro’ Magnifying Glasses, so he was certain it could not be I whom he had seen, a beardless Stripling, but fancied he saw a gay Gentleman of the Temple, ten Years older than my self; and for that reason, I presume, durst not come in, nor take any Notice when I went out.  He is perpetually asking his Wife if she does not think the time long (as she said she should) till she see her Cousin again.  Pray, Sir, what can be done in this Case?  I have writ to him to assure him I was at his House all that afternoon expecting to see him:  His Answer is, ’tis only a Trick of hers, and that he neither can nor will believe me.  The parting Kiss I find mightily nettles him, and confirms him in all his Errors. Ben.  Johnson, as I remember, makes a Foreigner in one of his Comedies, admire the desperate Valour of the bold English, who let out their Wives to all Encounters.  The general Custom of Salutation should Excuse the Favour done me, or you should lay down Rules when such Distinctions are to be given or omitted.  You