a title to my regard, which I can better approve of; or
else you will not have so much merit with me, as you have with yourself.

But here, Sir, like the first pair, (I, at least, driven out of my
paradise,) are we recriminating. No more shall you need to tell me of
your sufferings, and your merits! your all hours, and all weathers! For
I will bear them in memory as long as I live; and if it be impossible
for me to reward them, be ever ready to own the obligation. All that
I desire of you now is, to leave it to myself to seek for some private
abode: to take the chariot with you to London, or elsewhere: and, if
I have any further occasion for your assistance and protection, I will
signify it to you, and be still further obliged to you.

You are warm, my dearest life!--But indeed there is no occasion for it.
Had I any views unworthy of my faithful love for you, I should not have
been so honest in my declarations.

Then he began again to vow the sincerity of his intentions--

But I took him up short: I am willing to believe you, Sir. It would
be insupportable but to suppose there were a necessity for such solemn
declarations. [At this he seemed to collect himself, as I may say, into
a little more circumspection.] If I thought there were, I would not sit
with you here, in a public inn, I assure you, although cheated hither,
as far as I know, by methods (you must excuse me, Sir) which, but
to suspect, will hardly let me have patience either with you or with
myself--but no more of this, just now: Let me, I beseech you, good Sir,
bowing [I was very angry!] let me only know whether you intend to leave
me; or whether I have only escaped from one confinement to another?

Cheated hither, as far as I know, Madam! Let you know (and with that
air, too, charming, though grievous to my heart!) if you have only
escaped from one confinement to another--amazing! perfectly amazing! And
can there be a necessity for me to answer this? You are absolutely your
own mistress--it was very strange, if you were not. The moment you are
in a place of safety, I will leave you. To one condition only, give me
leave to beg your consent: it is this, that you will be pleased, now you
are so entirely in your own power, to renew a promise voluntarily made
before; voluntarily, or I would not now presume to request it; for
although I would not be thought capable of growing upon concession, yet
I cannot bear to think of losing the ground your goodness had gi