Jewkes, you may be sure, that if I can procure this
fair one's consent, I shall think myself--I interrupted the good man, and
said, Ah! Mr. Williams, take care, take care; don't let--There I stopt;
and Mrs. Jewkes said, Still mistrustful!--I never saw the like in my
life!--But I see, said she, I was not wrong, while my old orders lasted,
to be wary of you both--I should have had a hard task to prevent you, I
find; for, as the saying is, Nought can restrain consent of twain.
I doubted not her taking hold of his joyful indiscretion.--I took her
letter, and said, Here, Mrs. Jewkes, is yours; I thank you for it; but I
have been so long in a maze, that I can say nothing of this for the
present. Time will bring all to light.--Sir, said I, here is yours: May
every thing turn to your happiness! I give you joy of my master's
goodness in the living.--It will be dying, said he, not a living, without
you.--Forbear, sir, said I; while I have a father and mother, I am not my
own mistress, poor as they are; and I'll see myself quite at liberty,
before I shall think myself fit to make a choice.
Mrs. Jewkes held up her eyes and hands, and said, Such art, such caution,
such cunning, for thy years!--Well!--Why, said I, (that he might be more
on his guard, though I hope there cannot be deceit in this; 'twould be
strange villany, and that is a hard word, if there should!) I have been
so used to be made a fool of by fortune, that I hardly can tell how to
govern myself; and am almost an infidel as to mankind.
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