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must oblige her to it, though extremely against her inclination; and, therefore, determining to put it in execution as soon as possible, she composed herself to rest for that night. The next day Sawney went purposely out of the way, not without a longing expectation of deriving extraordinary advantage from his wife's conduct. Hamilton appeared as usual; and, protesting his love for her was the sincerest in the world, said, that it was impossible for him to enjoy a moment's rest, without tasting those joys she could so easily afford him. Mrs. Cunningham, at first, reproved him for such a bare declaration of his desires, and said:—

"That, so long as her husband lived, she could not, without the most manifest breach of conjugal fidelity, and an eternal infamy. to herself, give way or comply with his demands."—"Your person, Mr. Hamilton," said she, "is none of the worst, neither is your sense to be despised; but, alas! heaven has decreed it, that I am already another man's wife, and therefore deprived from gratifying you as I would were the case otherwise. And I have apprehensions of my husband, who is a choleric person, and urged to passion upon the most trifling affair, which either he doth not like, or squares not with his happiness or interest."—"Interest," replied Hamilton, "why, if that be the case, neither your husband nor you shall have any reason to complain; for, let me tell you for once and all, I do not require a gratification from any one without making a suitable return; your circumstances, madam, are not unknown to me, and I am sorry to think that, after having brought Mr. Cunningham so plentiful a fortune, I should have a just occasion to say that you are poor; but, mistake me not, I scorn to make a handle of your circumstances; neither do I believe Mrs. Cunningham would ever consent to my desires on such servile terms."

Upon this, madam answered him with a great deal of prudence and art; she told him,

"That he pleaded handsomely for himself, and if she was not a married woman, there should be nothing to obstruct their desires."

Mr. Hamilton hearing this, made her along harangue, in which he endeavoured to shew how weak her objection was, with respect to her husband, concluding, that what they did might be so artfully contrived that neither Mr. Cunningham nor the world should know any thing of it. In fine, the lawyer pleaded as if it were for life, for her consent, which madam observing, and not caring to prolong the time too far, but dispatch a great deal of business in a little time, artfully told him,