Er. I commend you, that you are so religious, and yet not superstitious:  Here I think the old Proverb takes place:  Nec omnia, nec passim, nec quibuslibet, That a Person should neither speak all, nor every where, nor to all Persons.

Ga. I chuse me a Priest, that I can trust with the Secrets of my Heart.

Er. That’s wisely done:  For there are a great many, as is found by Experience, do blab out what in Confessions is discovered to them.  And there are some vile impudent Fellows that enquire of the Person confessing, those Things, that it were better if they were conceal’d; and there are some unlearned and foolish Fellows, who for the Sake of filthy Gain, lend their Ear, but apply not their Mind, who can’t distinguish between a Fault and a good Deed, nor can neither teach, comfort nor advise.  These Things I have heard from many, and in Part have experienced my self.

Ga. And I too much; therefore I chuse me one that is learn’d, grave, of approv’d Integrity, and one that keeps his Tongue within his Teeth.

Er. Truly you are happy that can make a Judgment of Things so early.

Ga. But above all, I take Care of doing any Thing that I can’t safely trust a Priest with.

Er. That’s the best Thing in the World, if you can but do so.

Ga. Indeed it is hard to us of ourselves, but by the Help of Christ it is easy; the greatest Matter is, that there be a Will to it.  I often renew my Resolution, especially upon Sundays:  And besides that, I endeavour as much as I can to keep out of evil Company, and associate myself with good Company, by whose Conversation I may be better’d.

Er. Indeed you manage yourself rightly:  For evil Conversations corrupt good Manners.

Ga. I shun Idleness as the Plague.

Er. You are very right, for Idleness is the Root of all Evil; but as the World goes now, he must live by himself that would keep out of bad Company.

Ga. What you say is very true, for as the Greek wise Men said the bad are the greatest Number.  But I chuse the best out of a few, and sometimes a good Companion makes his Companion better.  I avoid those Diversions that incite to Naughtiness, and use those that are innocent.  I behave myself courteous to all; but familiarly with none but those that are good.  If I happen at any Time to fall into bad Company, I either correct them by a soft Admonition, or wink at and bear with them, if I can do them no good; but I be sure to get out of their Company as soon as I can.

Er. Had you never an itching Mind to become a Monk?

Ga. Never; but I have been often solicited to it by some, that call you into a Monastery, as into a Port from a Shipwreck.

Er. Say you so?  Were they in Hopes of a Prey?

Ga. They set upon both me and my Parents with a great many crafty Persuasions; but I have taken a Resolution not to give my Mind either to Matrimony or Priesthood, nor to be a Monk, nor to any Kind of Life out of which I can’t extricate myself, before I know myself very well.