But the thing was done; I was now in the arms of my new spouse, who
appeared still the same as before; great even to magnificence, and
nothing less than #1000 a year could support the ordinary equipage he
appeared in.
After we had been married about a month, he began to talk of my going
to West Chester in order to embark for Ireland. However, he did not
hurry me, for we stayed near three weeks longer, and then he sent to
Chester for a coach to meet us at the Black Rock, as they call it, over
against Liverpool. Thither we went in a fine boat they call a pinnace,
with six oars; his servants, and horses, and baggage going in the
ferry-boat. He made his excuse to me that he had no acquaintance in
Chester, but he would go before and get some handsome apartment for me
at a private house. I asked him how long we should stay at Chester.
He said, not at all, any longer than one night or two, but he would
immediately hire a coach to go to Holyhead. Then I told him he should
by no means give himself the trouble to get private lodgings for one
night or two, for that Chester being a great place, I made no doubt but
there would be very good inns and accommodation enough; so we lodged at
an inn in the West Street, not far from the Cathedral; I forget what
sign it was at.
Here my spouse, talking of my going to Ireland, asked me if I had no
affairs to settle at London before we went off. I told him No, not of
any great consequence, but what might be done as well by letter from
Dublin. 'Madam,' says he, very respectfully, 'I suppose the greatest
part of your estate, which my sister tells me is most of it in money in
the Bank of England, lies secure enough, but in case it required
transferring, or any way altering its property, it might be necessary
to go up to London and settle those things before we went over.' I seemed to look strange at it, and told him I knew not what he meant;
that I had no effects in the Bank of England that I knew of; and I
hoped he could not say that I had ever told him I had. No, he said, I
had not told him so, but his sister had said the greatest part of my
estate lay there. 'And I only mentioned it, me dear,' said he, 'that
if there was any occasion to settle it, or order anything about it, we
might not be obliged to the hazard and trouble of another voyage back
again'; for he added, that he did not care to venture me too much upon
the sea.