Upon this I called his sister into my chamber the next morning, and letting her know the discourse her brother and I had been upon the evening before, I conjured her to tell me what she had said to him, and upon what foot it was that she had made this marriage.  She owned that she had told him that I was a great fortune, and said that she was told so at London.  ‘Told so!’ says I warmly; ‘did I ever tell you so?’ No, she said, it was true I did not tell her so, but I had said several times that what I had was in my own disposal.  ‘I did so,’ returned I very quickly and hastily, ’but I never told you I had anything called a fortune; no, not that I had #100, or the value of #100, in the world.  Any how did it consist with my being a fortune,’ said I, ’that I should come here into the north of England with you, only upon the account of living cheap?’ At these words, which I spoke warm and high, my husband, her brother (as she called him), came into the room, and I desired him to come and sit down, for I had something of moment to say before them both, which it was absolutely necessary he should hear.

He looked a little disturbed at the assurance with which I seemed to speak it, and came and sat down by me, having first shut the door; upon which I began, for I was very much provoked, and turning myself to him, ‘I am afraid,’ says I, ‘my dear’ (for I spoke with kindness on his side), ’that you have a very great abuse put upon you, and an injury done you never to be repaired in your marrying me, which, however, as I have had no hand in it, I desire I may be fairly acquitted of it, and that the blame may lie where it ought to lie, and nowhere else, for I wash my hands of every part of it.’

‘What injury can be done me, my dear,’ says he, ’in marrying you.  I hope it is to my honour and advantage every way.’  ’I will soon explain it to you,’ says I, ’and I fear you will have no reason to think yourself well used; but I will convince you, my dear,’ says I again, ‘that I have had no hand in it’; and there I stopped a while.

He looked now scared and wild, and began, I believe, to suspect what followed; however, looking towards me, and saying only, ‘Go on,’ he sat silent, as if to hear what I had more to say; so I went on.  ‘I asked you last night,’ said I, speaking to him, ’if ever I made any boast to you of my estate, or ever told you I had any estate in the Bank of England or anywhere else, and you owned I had not, as is most true; and I desire you will tell me here, before your sister, if ever I gave you any reason from me to think so, or that ever we had any discourse about it’; and he owned again I had not, but said I had appeared always as a woman of fortune, and he depended on it that I was so, and hoped he was not deceived.  ’I am not inquiring yet whether you have been deceived or not,’ said I; ’I fear you have, and I too; but I am clearing myself from the unjust charge of being concerned in deceiving you.