( 8 )
ged it gladly, he forcedly,. At length riſing
from her chair, methinks, ſays ſhe, we are all
merry only that gentleman at the lower end of
the table is melancholy, but I know the cauſe,
it is perhaps becauſe he is placed ſo low: but
it that be his diſeaſe. I have got for it a preſent
remedy : when walking to him where he ſat,
ſhe deſired him to remove for ſhe had another
place for him. He intreated her not to torment
him any farther, refuſed to riſe, but ſhe wouldnt.
enforce him. the reſt likewiſe perſauded,
as wondering what farther ſport ſhe would make
him. Well ſaid he I am yours to day, but
will be my own ever hereafter, and ſo being
drawn by her to the upper end of the room,
like a bear to the ſtake, where her huſband's
chair ſtood empty: now ſirs ſays ſhe, with a
more ſerious countenance than before, my new
husband, ſit there in my old huſband's chair
and bid take your gueſts welcome; ſtill he fretted,
and they laughed as before, then ſhe craved
pardon for ſo abuſing his patience only
proteſted that this meeting was purely for his
ſake, and to make them wittneſſes of their
Preſent contract ; for if he refuſed her to wife ſhe
vowed never to wed another huſband acknowledging
that all her fortune next to divine providence
came by his goodneſs, omitting the
former circumſtanceſ and that ſhe knew no better
way to expreſ her gratitude, than to confer
them on him by whom they firſt came. They
were contracted, the ſuitors wintneſſes, and
after married.
Thus ends as famous and entertaining a hiſ-
tory as ever was publiſhed in ſo ſmall a volume.
FINIS.
