 nothing of his being married, having upon my return been so taken up with

my domestick affairs, that I had no leisure to make or receive visits, from which I could receive any information concerning what had happened in my absence.


I was a little surprised to find that you had been introduced to me under a feigned name, and that you were not called Benson, but Courteney. However, I made no reflections upon that circumstance, till, about t•d•s afterwards, I accidentally heard that Mr. Bale had been married two months; then it was, that in my astonishment at his so contiously avoiding any mention of his wife, I was led to reflect upon what you yourself had informed me of your situation, your flight from your friends; Mr. Bale's apparent tenderness for you awakened suspicions: I own it disadvantageous to you.


I waited impatiently for the ho• of Mr. Bale's visiting you, and the moment I saw him wished him joy on his marriage, expressing my surprise that I should not have heard of that event from himself. He coloured, and seemed in great confusion; and, after a little pause, Have you said any thing of it to miss Courteney? said he.


"I replied that I had heard the news but an "hour before, and had not seen you since.

You will oblige me (said he) if you will not mention it to her— I stared— My wife (continued he) is the most unreasonable woman in the world; she has taken it into her head to be horribly jealous of me, though we have been married so short a time— It was a match (and he sighed) of my father's making — but I assure you I am very unhappy.


I am sorry for it, sir (interrupted I) but what reasons have you for concealing from miss Courteney that you are married?


It is a sad thing, Mrs. Willis (said he) when a man is not master in his own family. I hope that is not your case, sir, answered I. Indeed but it is, he replied. Miss Courteney, you know, is agreeable. Oh! very agreeable, said I. My wife is of such an unaccountable humour (resumed he) that I durst not offer miss Courteney, though my father is her guardian, an asylum in my house, till her relations were reconciled to her, lest I should be teazed with jealousy and suspicions.


I am persuaded, sir (said I) that miss Courteney has too much good sense to take 〈◊〉•iss that
