reach of it, and should be so still;
but I was sorry to tell him that there was an unhappy circumstance in
our case, which lay too close to my heart, and which I knew not how to
break to him, that rendered my part of it very miserable, and took from
me all the comfort of the rest.

He importuned me to tell him what it was. I told him I could not tell
how to do it; that while it was concealed from him I alone was unhappy,
but if he knew it also, we should be both so; and that, therefore, to
keep him in the dark about it was the kindest thing that I could do,
and it was on that account alone that I kept a secret from him, the
very keeping of which, I thought, would first or last be my destruction.

It is impossible to express his surprise at this relation, and the
double importunity which he used with me to discover it to him. He
told me I could not be called kind to him, nay, I could not be faithful
to him if I concealed it from him. I told him I thought so too, and
yet I could not do it. He went back to what I had said before to him,
and told me he hoped it did not relate to what I had said in my
passion, and that he had resolved to forget all that as the effect of a
rash, provoked spirit. I told him I wished I could forget it all too,
but that it was not to be done, the impression was too deep, and I
could not do it: it was impossible.

He then told me he was resolved not to differ with me in anything, and
that therefore he would importune me no more about it, resolving to
acquiesce in whatever I did or said; only begged I should then agree,
that whatever it was, it should no more interrupt our quiet and our
mutual kindness.

This was the most provoking thing he could have said to me, for I
really wanted his further importunities, that I might be prevailed with
to bring out that which indeed it was like death to me to conceal; so I
answered him plainly that I could not say I was glad not to be
importuned, thought I could not tell how to comply. 'But come, my
dear,' said I, 'what conditions will you make with me upon the opening
this affair to you?'

'Any conditions in the world,' said he, 'that you can in reason desire
of me.' 'Well,' said I, 'come, give it me under your hand, that if you
do not find I am in any fault, or that I am willingly concerned in the
causes of the misfortune that is to follow, you will not blame me, use
me the worse, do my any injury, or make me be the sufferer for that
which is n