Mr. B. maintains this point.  I have great doubts about it; particularly one; that if a matter be my duty, and he dispenses with my performance of it, whether, even although that were to clear me of the sin, it will not fall upon himself?  And a good wife would be as much concerned at this, as if it was to remain upon her.  Yet he seems set upon it.  What can one do?—­Did you ever hear of such a notion, before?  Of such a prerogative in a husband?  Would you care to subscribe to it?

He says, the ladies are of his opinion.  I’m afraid they are, and so will not ask them.  But, perhaps, I mayn’t live, and other things may happen; and so I’ll say no more of it at present.

FRIDAY.

Mr. H. and my Lord and Lady Davers and the excellent Countess of C. having left us this day, to our mutual regret, the former put the following letter into my hands, with an air of respect and even reverence.  He says, he spells most lamentably; and this obliges me to give it you literally: 

“DEARE GOOD MADAM,

“I cannott contente myself with common thankes, on leaving youres, and Mr. B.’s hospitabel house, because of thatt there affaire, which I neede not mention! and truly am ashamed to mention, as I have been to looke you in the face ever since it happen’d.  I don’t knowe how itt came aboute, butt I thought butt att first of joking a littel, or soe; and seeing Polley heard me with more attentiveness than I expected, I was encouraged to proceede; and soe, now I recollecte, itt camn aboute.

“But she is innosente for me:  and I don’t knowe how thatt came about neither; for wee were oute one moonelighte nighte in the garden, walking aboute, and afterwards tooke a napp of two houres, as I beliefe, in the summer-house in the littel gardin, being over-powered with sleepe; for I woulde make her lay her head uppon my breste, till before we were awar, wee felle asleepe.  Butt before thatt, wee had agreed on whatt you discovered.

“This is the whole truthe, and all the intimasies we ever hadde, to speake off.  But I beleefe we should have been better acquainted, hadd you nott, luckily for mee! prevented itt, by being at home, when we thought you abroad.  For I was to come to her when shee hemm’d two or three times; for having made a contract, you knowe.  Madam, it was naturall enough to take the first occasion to putt itt in force.

“Poor Polley!  I pity her too.  Don’t thinke the worse of her, deare Madam, so as to turn her away, because it may bee her ruin.  I don’t desire too see her.  I might have been drawne in to do strange foolish things, and been ruin’d at the long run; for who knows where this thing mought have ended?  My unkell woulde have never seene me.  My father too (his lordshipp, you have hearde, Madam, is a very crosse man, and never loved me much) mought have cutt off the intaile.  My aunte would have dispis’d mee and scorn’d mee.  I should have been her foolishe fellowe in earneste, nott in jeste, as now.  You woulde have resented itt, and Mr. B. (who knows?) mought have called me to account.