'Now he'd ha' been hanged before he would have said so complaisant
a thing, had he been married, I'm sure!'--Very true, aunt, said he: A
plain case that!--[Thought I, that's hard upon poor matrimony, though I
hope my lady don't find it so. But I durst not speak out.]--Who all so
much admire you, [said she,] 'I must repeat that--Pretty miss!--I wish
thou wast as admirable for thy virtue, as for that baby-face of thine!'--
And I hope to join you there by your tea-time in the afternoon!--'So,
you're in very good time, child, an hour or two hence, to answer all your
important pre-engagements!'--which will be better than going home, and
returning with you; as it will be six miles difference to me; and I know
the good company will excuse my dress on this occasion.--'Very true; any
dress is good enough, I'm sure, for such company as admire thee, child,
for a companion, in thy ruined state!--Jackey, Jackey, mind, mind, again!
more fine things still!'--I count every hour of this little absence for a
day!--'There's for you! Let me repeat it'--I count every hour of this
little absence for a day!--'Mind, too, the wit of the good man! One may
see love is a new thing to him. Here is a very tedious time gone since
he saw his deary; no less than, according to his amorous calculation, a
dozen days and nights, at least! and yet, TEDIOUS as it is, it is but a
LITTLE ABSENCE.
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