Mr. Longman returned from his office, and brought me the fifty pounds,
saying, I have entered this new article with great pleasure: 'To my Lady
fifty pounds: to be paid the same sum quarterly.' O sir! said I,
what will become of me, to be so poor in myself, and so rich in your
bounty!--It is a shame to take all that your profuse goodness would
heap upon me thus: But indeed it shall not be without account.--Make no
words, my dear, said he:
Are you not my wife? And have I not endowed you
with my goods; and, hitherto, this is a very small part.
Mr. Longman, said I, and Mrs. Jervis, you both see how I am even
oppressed with unreturnable obligations. God bless the donor, and the
receiver too! said Mr. Longman: I am sure they will bring back good
interest; for, madam, you had ever a bountiful heart; and I have seen
the pleasure you used to take to dispense my late lady's alms and
donations. I'll warrant, Mr. Longman, said I, notwithstanding you are so willing to
have me take large sums for nothing at all, I should affront you, if
I asked you to accept from me a pair of gloves only, on account of my
happy nuptials. He seemed not readily to know how to answer; and my
master said, If Longman refuse you, my dear, he may be said to refuse
your first favour. On that I put twenty guineas in his hand; but he
insisted upon it, that he would take but five. I said, I must desire you
to oblige me, Mr. Longman, or I shall think I have affronted you. Well,
if I must, said he, I know what I know. What is that, Mr. Longman? said
I.--Why, madam, said he, I will not lay it out till my young master's
birth-day, which I hope will be within this twelvemonth.
Not expecting anything like this from the old gentleman, I looked at
my master, and then blushed so, I could not hold up my head. Charmingly
said, Longman! said my master, and clasped me in his arms: O, my dear
life! God send it may be so!--You have quite delighted me, Longman!
Though I durst not have said such a thing for the world.--Madam, said
the old gentleman, I beg your pardon; I hope no offence: but I'd speak
it ten times in a breath to have it so, take it how you please, as long
as my good master takes it so well. Mrs. Jervis, said my master, this is
an over-nice dear creature; you don't know what a life I have had with
her, even on this side matrimony.--Said Mrs. Jervis, I think Mr. Longman
says very well; I am sure I shall hope for it too.