66 noe Mischiefe, and has beene a dis"creete and dutifull Child." "Then it "has beene alle your doing," says Mother, " and you have forced the Child into this "Match." "Noe Forcing whatever," says Father, "they like one another, and "I am very glad of it, for it happens "to be very convenient." "Convenient, indeed," repeats Mother, and falls a weeping. Thereon I must needs weepe too, but she says, "Begone to Bed; there noe Neede that you shoulde sit 'by to heare your owne Father confesse "what a Fool he has beene." 66 "is Το my Bedroom I have come, but cannot yet seek my Bed; the more as I still heare theire Voices in Contention below. Tuesday. HIS Morninge's Breakfaste was moste uncomfortable, I feeling like a checkt Child, scarce minding to looke up or to eat. Mother, with Eyes red and swollen, scarce speaking save to the Children; Father Father directing his Discourse chieflie to Dick, concerning Farm Matters and the Rangership of Shotover, tho' 'twas easie to see his Mind was not with them. Soe soone as alle had dispersed to theire customed Taskes, and I was loitering at the Window, Father calls aloud to me from his Studdy. Thither I go, and find him and Mother, she sitting with her Back to both. "Moll," says Father, with great Determination, "you have accepted Mr. "Milton to please yourself, you will marry “him out of hand to please me. "Spare 66 66 me, spare me, Mr. Powell," interrupts Mother, "if the Engagement may not be "broken off, at the least precipitate it not with this indecent haste. Postpone it till___” "Till when?" says Father. "Till the Child is olde enough "to know her owne Mind." "That is, "to put off an honourable Man on false Pretences," says Father, "she is olde enough to know it alreadie. Speake, Moll, are you of your Mother's Mind to 'give up Mr. Milton altogether?" I 66 66 66 trembled, D 66 trembled, but sayd, "No." "Then, as "his Time is precious, and he knows "not when he may leave his Home 66 agayn, I save you the Trouble, Child, "of naming a Day, for it shall be the Monday before Whitsuntide." Thereat Mother gave a Kind of Groan; but as for me, I had like to have fallen on the Ground, for I had had noe Thought of suche Haste. "See what you are doing, "Mr. Powell," says Mother, compassionating me, and raising me up, though somewhat roughlie; "I prophecie Evil of this "Match." "Prophets of Evil are sure to "find Listeners," says Father, "but I am not "one of them;" and soe left the Room. Thereon my Mother, who alwaies feares him when he has a Fit of Determination, loosed the Bounds of her Passion, and chid me so unkindlie, that, humbled and mortified, I was glad to seeke my Chamber. Entering the Dining-room, however, I uttered a Shriek on seeing Father fallen back in his Chair, as though in a Fit, like unto that which terrified us a Year Year ago; and Mother hearing me call out, ran in, loosed his Collar, and soone broughte him to himselfe, tho' not without much Alarm to alle. He made light of it himselfe, and sayd 'twas merelie a suddain Rush of Blood to the Head, and would not be dissuaded from going out; but Mother was playnly smote at the Heart, and having lookt after him with some anxietie, exclaimed, "I shall neither "meddle nor make more in this Busi 66 nesse: your Father's suddain Seizures "shall never be layd at my Doore;" and soe left me, till we met at Dinner. After the Cloth was drawne, enters Mr. Milton, who goes up to Mother, and with Gracefulnesse kisses her Hand; but she withdrewe it pettishly, and tooke up her Sewing, on the which he lookt at her wonderingly, and then at me; then at her agayne, as though he woulde reade her whole Character in her Face; which having seemed to doe, and to write the same in some private Page of his Heart, he never troubled her or himself with further Ere further Comment, but tooke up Matters just where he had left them last. we parted we had some private Conference touching our Marriage, for hastening which he had soe much to say that I coulde not long contend with him, especiallie as I founde he had plainlie made out that Mother loved him not. Wednesday. OUSE full of Companie, leaving noe Time to write nor think. Mother sayth, tho' she cannot forbode an happy Marriage, she will provide for a merrie Wed ding, and hathe growne more than commonlie tender to me, and given me some Trinkets, a Piece of fine Holland Cloth, and enoughe of green Sattin for a Gown, that will stand on End with its owne Richnesse. She hathe me constantlie with her in the Kitchen, Pantrie, and Storeroom, telling me 'tis needfulle I shoulde improve |