t
was evident, and he might see it, that, as I was sensible of the
obligation I was under to him for saving me from the worst circumstance
it was possible for me to be brought to, I could deny him nothing; and
if I had had any greater favour to yield him, I should have done it,
that of matrimony only excepted, and he could not but see that I loved
him to an extraordinary degree, in every part of my behaviour to him;
but that as to marrying, which was giving up my liberty, it was what
once he knew I had done, and he had seen how it had hurried me up and
down in the world, and what it had exposed me to; that I had an aversion
to it, and desired he would not insist upon it. He might easily see I
had no aversion to him; and that, if I was with child by him, he should
see a testimony of my kindness to the father, for that I would settle
all I had in the world upon the child.

He was mute a good while. At last says he, "Come, my dear, you are the
first woman in the world that ever lay with a man and then refused to
marry him, and therefore there must be some other reason for your
refusal; and I have therefore one other request, and that is, if I guess
at the true reason, and remove the objection, will you then yield to
me?" I told him if he removed the objection I must needs comply, for I
should certainly do everything that I had no objection against.

"Why then, my dear, it must be that either you are already engaged or
married to some other man, or you are not willing to dispose of your
money to me, and expect to advance yourself higher with your fortune.
Now, if it be the first of these, my mouth will be stopped, and I have
no more to say; but if it be the last, I am prepared effectually to
remove the objection, and answer all you can say on that subject."

I took him up short at the first of these, telling him he must have base
thoughts of me indeed, to think that I could yield to him in such a
manner as I had done, and continue it with so much freedom as he found I
did, if I had a husband or were engaged to any other man; and that he
might depend upon it that was not my case, nor any part of my case.

"Why then," said he, "as to the other, I have an offer to make to you
that shall take off all the objection, viz., that I will not touch one
pistole of your estate more than shall be with your own voluntary
consent, neither now or at any other time, but you shall settle it as
you please for your life, and upon who you pl