o that, he said, it was not to be named, and he would not allow it
to be any consideration at all; that he could easily pacify the captain
of the ship by telling him the reason of it, and that if he did make
him some satisfaction for the disappointment, it should not be much.

"But, my dear," says I, "you ha'n't heard me say I am with child,
neither can I say so; and if it should not be so at last, then I shall
have made a fine piece of work of it indeed; besides," says I, "the two
ladies, the captain's wife and her sister, they depend upon our going
over, and have made great preparations, and all in compliment to me;
what must I say to them?"

"Well, my dear," says he, "if you should not be with child, though I
hope you are, yet there is no harm done; the staying three or four
months longer in England will be no damage to me, and we can go when we
please, when we are sure you are not with child, or, when it appearing
that you are with child, you shall be down and up again; and as for the
captain's wife and sister, leave that part to me; I'll answer for it
there shall be no quarrel raised upon that subject. I'll make your
excuse to them by the captain himself, so all will be well enough there,
I'll warrant you."

This was as much as I could desire, and thus it rested for awhile. I had
indeed some anxious thoughts about this impertinent girl, but believed
that putting off the voyage would have put an end to it all, so I began
to be pretty easy; but I found myself mistaken, for I was brought to the
point of destruction by her again, and that in the most unaccountable
manner imaginable.

My husband, as he and I had agreed, meeting the captain of the ship,
took the freedom to tell him that he was afraid he must disappoint him,
for that something had fallen out which had obliged him to alter his
measures, and that his family could not be ready to go time enough for
him.

"I know the occasion, sir," says the captain; "I hear your lady has got
a daughter more than she expected; I give you joy of it." "What do you
mean by that?" says my spouse. "Nay, nothing," says the captain, "but
what I hear the women tattle over the tea-table. I know nothing, but
that you don't go the voyage upon it, which I am sorry for; but you know
your own affairs," added the captain, "that's no business of mine."

"Well, but," says my husband, "I must make you some satisfaction for the
disappointment," and so pulls out his money. "No, no," says t