He began to instruct her in Literature and Musick,
and to use her by Degrees to repeat the Heads of Sermons,
which she heard, and to accomplish her with other Things,
which would afterwards be of Use to her. Now
these Things being wholly new to the Girl, which had
been brought up at Home, to do nothing but gossip
and play, she soon grew weary of this Life, she absolutely
refus’d to submit to what her Husband requir’d
of her; and when her Husband press’d her about
it, she would cry continually, sometimes she would
throw herself flat on the Ground, and beat her Head
against the Ground, as tho’ she wish’d
for Death. Her Husband finding there was no End
of this, conceal’d his Resentment, gave his
Wife an Invitation to go along with him into the Country
to his Father-in-Law’s House, for the Sake of
a little Diversion. His Wife very readily obey’d
him in this Matter. When they came there, the
Husband left his Wife with her Mother and Sisters,
and went a Hunting with his Father-in-Law; there having
taken him aside privately, he tells his Father-in-law,
that whereas he was in good Hopes to have had an agreeable
Companion of his Daughter, he now had one that was
always a crying, and fretting herself; nor could she
be cured by any Admonitions, and intreats him to lend
a helping Hand to cure his Daughter’s Disorder.
His Father-in-Law made him answer, that he had once
put his Daughter into his Hand, and if she did not
obey him, he might use his Authority, and cudgel her
into a due Submission. The Son-in-Law replies,
I know my own Power, but I had much rather she should
be reform’d by your Art or Authority, than to
come to these Extremities. The Father-in-Law
promis’d him to take some Care about the Matter:
So a Day or two after, he takes a proper Time and
Place, when he was alone with his Daughter, and looking
austerely upon her, begins in telling her how homely
she was, and how disagreeable as to her Disposition,
and how often he had been in Fear that he should never
be able to get her a Husband: But after much
Pains, says he, I found you such a one, that the best
Lady of the Land would have been glad of; and yet,
you not being sensible what I have done for you, nor
considering that you have such a Husband, who if he
were not the best natur’d Man in the World, would
scarce do you the Honour to take you for one of his
Maid Servants, you are disobedient to him: To
make short of my Story, the Father grew so hot in
his Discourse, that he seem’d to be scarce able
to keep his Hands off her; for he was so wonderful
cunning a Man, that he would act any Part, as well
as any Comedian. The young Lady, partly for Fear,
and partly convinc’d by the Truth of what was
told her, fell down at her Father’s Feet, beseeching
him to forget past Faults, and for the Time to come,
she would be mindful of her Duty. Her Father freely
forgave her, and also promised, that he would be to
her a very indulgent Father, provided she perform’d
what she promis’d.
Xa. Well, what happened after that?