 Weight of that, heaviest of all Things,
when it can be at all said to lie heavy on our Hands.
    I had spent full ten Weeks almost entirely by myself, having seen no body
all that Time, except my Servants, and a very few Visitors, when a young Lady, a
Relation of my Husband, came from a distant Part of Ireland to visit me. She had
staid once before a Week at my House, and I then gave her a pressing Invitation
to return; for she was a very agreeable Woman, and had improved good natural
Parts by a proper Education. Indeed she was to me a most welcome Guest.
    A few Days after her Arrival, perceiving me in very low Spirits, without
enquiring the Cause, which indeed she very well knew, the young Lady fell to
compassionating my Case. She said, Tho' Politeness had prevented me from
complaining to my Husband's Relations of his Behaviour, yet they all were very
sensible of it, and felt great Concern upon that Account; but none more than
herself: and after some more general Discourse on this Head, which I own I could
not forbear countenancing; at last, after much previous Precaution, and enjoined
Concealment, she communicated to me, as a profound Secret - that my Husband kept
a Mistress.
    You will certainly imagine, I heard this News with the utmost Insensibility.
- Upon my Word, if you do, your Imagination will mislead you. Contempt had not
so kept down my Anger to my Husband; but that Hatred rose again on this
occasion. What can be the Reason of this? Are we so abominably selfish, that we
can be concerned at others having the Possession even of what we despise? Or are
we not rather abominably vain, and is not this the greatest Injury done to our
Vanity? What think you, Sophia?«
    »I don't know, indeed,« answered Sophia, »I have never troubled myself with
any of these deep Contemplations; but I think the Lady did very ill in
communicating to you such a Secret.«
    »And yet, my Dear, this Conduct is natural,« replied Mrs. Fitzpatrick; »and
when you have seen and read as much as myself, you will acknowledge it to be
so.«
    »I am sorry to hear it is natural,« returned Sophia; »for I want neither
Reading nor Experience, to convince me, that it is very dishonourable and very
ill-natured: Nay, it is surely as ill-bred to tell a Husband or Wife of the
Faults of each
