"You and he have made me think soe," he replyed. "First for yourself, dear Moll, putting aside for a Time the Consideration of your Youth, Beauty, Franknesse, Mirthfullenesse, and a certayn girlish Drollerie and Mischiefe that are all very well in fitting Time and Place,—what remains in you for a Mind like John Milton's to repose upon? what Stabilitie? what Sympathie? what steadfast Principle? You take noe Pains to apprehend and relish his favourite Pursuits; you care not for his wounded Feelings, you consult not his Interests, anie more than your owne Duty. Now, is such the Character to make Milton happy?"
"No one can answer that but himself," I replyed, deeplie mortyfide.
"Well, he has answered it," sayd Mr. Agnew, taking up the Letter he and Rose had beene reading when I interrupted them. . . . "You must know, Cousin, that his and my close Friendship hath beene a good deal interrupted by this Matter. 'Twas under my Roof you met. Rose had imparted to me much of her earlie Interest in you. I fancied you had good Dispositions which, under masterlie Trayning, would ripen into noble Principles; and therefore promoted your Marriage as far as my Interest with your Father had Weight. I own I was surprised at his easilie obtayned Consent . . . but, that you, once domesticated with such a Man as John Milton, shoulde find your Home uninteresting, your Affections free to stray back to your owne Family, was what I had never contemplated."
Here I made a Show of taking the Letter, but he held it back.
"No, Moll, you disappointed us everie Way. And, for a Time, Rose and I were ashamed, for you rather than of you, that we left noe Means neglected of trying to preserve your Place in your Husband's Regard. But you did not bear us out; and then he beganne to take it amisse that we upheld you. Soe then, after some warm and cool Words, our Correspondence languished; and hath but now beene renewed."
"He hath written us a most kind Condolence," interrupted Rose, "on the Death of our Baby."
"Yes, most kindlie, most nobly exprest," sayd Mr. Agnew; "but what a
Conclusion!"
And then, after this long Preamble, he offered me the Letter, the Beginning of which, tho' doubtlesse well enough, I marked not, being impatient to reach the latter Part; wherein I found myself spoken of soe bitterlie, soe harshlie, as that I too plainly saw Roger Agnew had not beene beside the Mark when he decided I could never make Mr. Milton happy. Payned and wounded Feeling made me lay aside the Letter without proffering another Word, and retreat without soe much as a Sigh or a Sob into mine own Chamber; but noe longer could the Restraynt be maintained. I fell to weeping soe passionatelie that Rose prayed to come in, and condoled with me, and advised me, soe as that at length my Weeping bated, and I promised to return below when I shoulde have bathed mine Eyes and smoothed my Hair; but I have not gone down yet.
Bedtime.
I think I shall send to Father to have me Home at the Beginning of next Week. Rose needes me not, now; and it cannot be pleasant to Mr. Agnew to see my sorrowfulle Face about the House. His Reproofe and my Husband's together have riven my Heart; I think I shall never laugh agayn, nor smile but after a piteous Sorte; and soe People will cease to love me, for there is Nothing in me of a graver Kind to draw their Affection; and soe I shall lead a moping Life unto the End of my Dayes.